Tiller or console steering

CraigS

CraigS

Well-known member
Which do I want ?

I have the plans for the Devlin Honker, wanting a bigger boat to take more people hunting. What are the advantages of console steering over tiller? I have always had tiller on my smaller boats, the largest engine I have had is a 25hp. The plan is to put a 75hp on the Honker.

I have no idea what a larger motor will be like in tiller or console.

Will kids (13- 15yrs) or the Wife be able to handle a tiller that size?
 
Which do I want ?

I have the plans for the Devlin Honker, wanting a bigger boat to take more people hunting. What are the advantages of console steering over tiller? I have always had tiller on my smaller boats, the largest engine I have had is a 25hp. The plan is to put a 75hp on the Honker.

I have no idea what a larger motor will be like in tiller or console.

Will kids (13- 15yrs) or the Wife be able to handle a tiller that size?
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Couldn't pay me enough to have a wheel on a duckboat, but that is just me.
 
With that size engine and boat I would go with a console. Moving toward the middle of the boat you get a better view of where you are going. I always have gear and decoys blocking my view as it is, couple that with 0-dark thirty lighting and bad weather, you want the best view you can get.


It doesn't have to be a major console which takes a lot of room, here's my mini-console.



My buddies console is much bigger, maybe easier to stand up and drive though...

Just takes a whole lot of room out of the boat and restricts you to hunting two guys instead of three.
 
Tiller gives you way more space
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That's why I like the mini-console I designed, best of both worlds. I just sit on a cooler that doubles as my hunting seat and can be moved around the boat, as well as being good storage space.
 
I went with a tiller for more space... If I had a console, I would not be able to put my layout in the cockpit when trailoring...

Remote steer is easier on the arm.... If I was to put a console in... It would HAVE to be a CC....
 
Craig~

Another option is an old way - "stick steering". A tiller attaches to the motor via cables but just sticks up on the starboard side of the cockpit. Push it forward to go to port - pull it back to go to starboard. I once drove an airboat with such a system.

I did not know they were commercially available but a quick search found http://www.ezyglide.com/

The airboat system was strictly mechanical but the above uses cable. Having said that, my partners use tiller 60s on their 17' TDB and 19' Carolina Skiff.

Finally - 75 horses is a lot of power in anybody's hand - so very thorough training would be needed for anyone using a tiller.

Hope this helps,

SJS
 
As Steve suggests, go stick. I had stick steering on my wooden duck boat in Vermont. It was at least 16ft and I ran it with 50hp evinrude. I had traditional controls mounted on the gunnel directly behind and slightly below the stick. I ran this standing. When I finally get around to finishing the Dave Clark Cackler on Steroids hull, it will have stick steering for sure.
 
Craig, I ran a 75 Honda on a 20' Alaskan with side console. I now run a 19' bailey bridge boat with a 60 Yamaha tiller. I can say this, working off the back of the boat has never been so easy, not to mention the space gained. I run all long lines for sea ducking, it is so much easier with the tiller, my only complaint...the location of the key is not the most convenient, but it works, just afraid my knee or the dog will get it one of these days.
 
Craig, just come back to Iowa and see what a honker with the 60 tiller feels like

I must say, a standard honker with a 75 horse, would be a freaking rocket ship !!!
 
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Several years ago I took the counsel out of my 16' Lund fishing boat and haven't had a second thought. I converted my 75 hp. Evinrude to a tiller with factory parts and the only thing I would do different would be to use the tiller off of an 85 not a 60 which is longer. I may get a longer one and use the one I have on a 50. Steering wheels belong on a car or truck.
 
Craig~

Another option is an old way - "stick steering". A tiller attaches to the motor via cables but just sticks up on the starboard side of the cockpit. Push it forward to go to port - pull it back to go to starboard. I once drove an airboat with such a system.

I did not know they were commercially available but a quick search found http://www.ezyglide.com/

The airboat system was strictly mechanical but the above uses cable. Having said that, my partners use tiller 60s on their 17' TDB and 19' Carolina Skiff.

Finally - 75 horses is a lot of power in anybody's hand - so very thorough training would be needed for anyone using a tiller.

Hope this helps,

SJS
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This looks interesting, like the best of both worlds. I think we may have a winner.

My biggest concern is will the Wife and kids be able to handle a 75 hp tiller and am leaning toward a console or stick of some type for ease of handling and peace of mind.

Thanks for all the replies and information!
 
Craig, just come back to Iowa and see what a honker with the 60 tiller feels like

I must say, a standard honker with a 75 horse, would be a freaking rocket ship !!!
Click to expand...

Talked about that with the Wife last Fall, going up to hunt the Mississippi, the in-laws have a big motor home they don't use in the fall / winter, the only problem would be backing a motor home down a boat ramp to launch! Might be easier to take the truck and just stay in motels though!
 
Obviously, the best would be a console for the long, straight trips, and switch to a tiller for putting out and picking up Dekes. I get a little fatigued when driving up long trips out to the blind, but I sure like the instant manueverability of the tiller for picking up dekes. I can't tell you how many times I would've wrapped up a decoy line in the prop had I not had a tiller, especially in rough water.

I have a tiller, and as Tod said earlier, "Couldn't pay me enough to have a wheel on a duckboat, but that is just me."

Jon
 
Another advantage of tiller I didn't see mentioned: maneuverability in reverse. Tiller hands down on this aspect.
 
We run a 70 tiller on our Bankes boat and even the kids can run it with ease. As someone said previously training the kids is essential.
 
You guys are making it tuff to make a decision on this!

I like the tiller for simplicity of the build and room in the boat.


Thanks

Craig
 
Craig,

Due to a nerve issue I've developed in my left shoulder I can't run my tiller motor more then a couple of miles until my entire left hand is numb. I had been considering a different boat with a console but until my wife is back to work and some school loans are paid off I will keeping the boat I have. So I'm developing a swing away console. I got the idea from seeing a microskiff at a boat show in Florida that had a setup similar to this. http://www.ganatswingaway.com.au/

I'm building a blind on my boat this year so my setup will be a bit different. It will still be based on aluminum tubing and swinging out of the way but mine will sit at an angle and will swing down against the hull as not to interfere with the blind structure.

Hope this helps.
 
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