Tiller or console steering

I'll vote for the side console. Never thought I would like it till I had my first console on the Smokercraft. I like the improved visibility (especially over the blind) and having my weight towards the middle of the boat. All decoy lines are run from the console forward, so getting lines in the prop rarely occurs.

It does take up some room for hunting, but up to 3 people can still sit and shoot no problem out of the Alaskan 1600. If we have a fourth shooter one person may end up taking a turn out, not necessarily a bad thing.

Just make sure to grease the end of the steering cable/rod where it slides through the outboard so that it doesn't seize up.
 
Last edited:
I can't address the issue on a Honker. I have a console in my 19 foot Bankes and wouldn't run it with a tiller even though I know guys who do. At 40+ mph or in rough water a tiller would not be any fun. It is common out here in the PNW for guys to have 150+ HP jets on tiller steer in fishing guide boats so it can be done. I like having something solid to hold on to and to have my instruments right in front of me.
 
You asked for advantages of a console over a tiller steering system, not personal preferences.

A center console yields a better sightline while underway. It enables better trim, alone or with a load, without major weight redistribution. Backing is quite easy, since all you have to do is face aft at the helm station to run in reverse with the wheel centered behind you. Running a 75hp pretty much demands tilt-trim, tachometer, fuel and battery guages with ergonomic placement;pretty difficult to achieve with a tiller set-up. Personally, even in low hp putt-putt duckboats, I don't like the blindspot that occurs at sub-planing speeds with a tiller.

A Bankes owner referenced his kid's ease of use of the boat, running a tiller. They are wide boats, and consequently "eat-up" top-end over steering mistakes better than a narrower hulled boat. While the Honker is the same width, I think it is significantly lighter.





Love 'em!

Behind a center console, a stick steered system like Steve Sanford's post outlines would be my second choice. I spent seven years on the Great Lakes working out of a 20' center console with twin 75hp engines rigged with one of these to bottom trawl, as well as set and pull gill-nets from. The controls were mounted adjacent the steering "stick" on the gunnel. There was only one small blindspot on the front port quarter up by the bow. We quickly learned that when the gillnet buoy "disappeared" in this spot, all one need do was swing the bow over to starboard a little and it would be in the right spot for the crew to grab it with a boat hook to lift the anchor and net. When you were at the helm a quicker response could be achieved by simply "splitting" the engines (one in forward;one in reverse) with the stick locked hard against your thigh.
 
Last edited:
I've run boats commercially for 50 years so I have no problem with tillers on large motors, and is what I use. But...for that size motor, unless your used to it, a small side console is safer, especially if inexperienced operators are going to use it.
If you do go with a tiller,make sure your trim tab is adjusted to counter the motors torque. you should be able to let the tiller go and the boat will run straight.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top