TOPIC:

Hello everyone. Hope to gain and share some great info with everyone. Haven't been out on the water just yet, but hopefully soon enough. In the meantime, I have been thinking about buying a bigger boat and I wanted to get some opinions on the topic of Tiller vs Console. What do you all think are the pros and cons?

Welcome to the site! I have a 16' aluminim deep-vee that's really wide and deep with a Tiller and I know it's far from a big boat but I like not feeling the waves as much from the back of my boat than I do in the middle of my boat. I also love the open floor plan, not having a console in my way when I'm trying to unhook a fiesty steelhead snaking around the floor of my boat with a mouth full of hooks. One big con of the Tiller I've noticed is any guest on your boat that can get seasick will get seasick but I'm sure that happens on all boats. Also you gotta love the weather since there's no windshield to protect you from the elements.

Welcome to the site. There are a lot of members here with years of experience that can answer any of your question. From small boats to bigger boats. I personal know nothing about tiller models and how they run.

welcome aboard
they make some big tiller boats these days just make sure its wide deep and safe if you want to venture out on the big lake
take a look at a HEWES CRAFT 180 OPEN FISHERMAN OR SOME THING LIKE IT

I am no expert by any means and am new to the big lake. I had a very narrow 16' tiller before I moved to the Alumacraft Sport. Personally I would never go back to a tiller. I like having the back of the boat to land the fish and as long as I have at least two on the boat - one can drive the boat until it is time to net and I dont have to worry about the person steering the boat. I also think the boat handles better than a tiller but that could just be the change in size.
Personally I wouldn't want to be out in some of the weather I have been in without the windshield and I am not sure I would want to be at the back of the boat steering it in some of the uglier weather/waves I have been out in. I also like how much easier it is to steer with a wheel then the tiller. Not that is part matters much but I can't remember seeing a tiller out far on the big lake.
I can't say I have had any issues with a fish on the boat with the console but I tend to whap them on the head in the net if they are too wild or as soon as they hit the floor. Personally it seems the smaller space gives them less room to run away before I can "calm them down".
Others may have better insight since I am only a couple years into the big lake fishing so take it for what its worth- just my .02

i132.photobucket.com/albums/q22/hondacat...%20shop/DSC_0064.jpg
i132.photobucket.com/albums/q22/hondacat...%20shop/DSC_0063.jpg

not a typical tiller boat you might expect to see
available with or with out a center or side console tower is a calumet marine accessory

Welcome to the site.

On this question it has so many variables and I could give a very, very, very long answer as everyone who has ever stopped by any of my boats could tell ya, I just dont seem to shut up. But I will try to give you the short version. Comfort and experience, that is what you should keep in mind. I will break it down for ya.

Experience, I have seen way too many people get into a boat they are not ready for and get turned off by the purchase, sell it and sometimes stop boating all together. It is a very big lake, can get really nasty and even deadly. Dont mean to scare you but I dont care what you are out there in if you do not have the experience to operate it properly it can turn tragic. So evaluate you experience and fit that to the boats you look at. You can go with something a little out of your confort zone but dont swing for the fence.

So now to the Comfort. with your experience in mind look at what will make you comfortable taking friends and family out on the water and get back safe. Room to do the kind of fishing you want to do, where you want to fish, and enjoy it. The key factor is the enjoyment part. Again if you are not enjoying it you will sell it and likely stop all together. I have know plenty of people over the years with "Footitis".

Footitis- the Nautical term for the boat owner that is always is looking for a bigger boat. a 16 turns into an 18, into a 25, into a 28, etc, etc. I seem to have 10 footitis and fleetitis as I owned a 14', a 25', and a 36' all at the same time.so yes watch out what you ask for it can get expensive. LOL.

OK, bottom line is it comes down to personal preference. What works for me doesnt work for you, or Bill, or Bob, maybe Greg and Jim, etc, etc. Experience and comfort, oh yeah and the checking account. Good luck. If you would like the long version I am availble most weekends for the deck show.

Well said!

just to add a comment after what Net said (and said very well). If you are not in a hurry and have some time to make a decision maybe see if you can tag along with someone who has a similar sized boat in other options or in a tiller to see how it handles on the big lake. I was never planning on really going on the big lake when I first got my boat but someone got me hooked. Not sure I would have changed my decision but would have been nice to go out in a few different boats to see what I liked or didn't like about them on a big lake like Michigan.

Thanks everybody. I guess I will go the route of patience, and tag along with some other boaters to get a better experience.