Future of TILLER steering???

[Wags]

There is a significant trend in this industry where manufacturers are pushing away the technological advances in tiller boat design... Outboard mfg.'s are very slow to adapt tiller handles to fit in with their new technology... and boat mfg.'s aren't much more serious about making it better... It seems Warrior is very serious about making tillers grow, and Ranger is spending money with their new 617 Tiller, but where will tillers end up in the long run? Where will your preference be in the future?

[TIM]

I FOR ONE LOVE TILLERS. I'M GOING TO BUY A NEW BOAT NEXT YEAR AND I WAS GOING TO BUY A CONSEL BUT I LOVE TILLERS SO MUCH I'M GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME MAKING UP MY MINE. THERE ARE SOME GREAT BOATS OUT THERE THAT ARE BIG ENOUGH FOR ERIE AND OTHER BIG WATER. LUND ALUMACRAFT WARRIOR TO NAME A FEW. I'M GOING TO NEED HELP!!!!!!!! TIM

[Fishnwiz]

Tim, I too was in the same boat that you are in regarding tiller boats! I loved my tiller lund but wanted to get into a glass boat. After much soul searching, I decided to go with a tiller again. After 18 years in a tiller boat, I could not get comfortable in the console boat again! I set my sites on a Yar Craft boat and after extensive talks with Bob (CEO) of Yar Craft, and an invite to see the boats made at the factory, I bought a 17.5 tiller that is an awesome rig! Check out their boats on their web site and if you have any questions, the CEO of the company will get back to you with an answer ASAP. Only time spent on the water in this new rig will tell if I made the right choice or not! Fishnwiz

[Richard]

The tillerman is a rare breed of fisherman. Usually had an early experience with a tiller that was almost religious. (Mine was a 12' Alumacraft with a 6HP Evinrude on the Missouri river in Bismarck,ND) We are generally hardcore livebaiters and jiggers. Tillers are the muscle version of boats. The adrenaline rush of twisting the throttle must be similar to riding a Harley, a little on the wild side. I think there is a bit of tillerman in all of us. Old tillers never .....Sorry,back to the subject. Will manufacturers faze out the tillers? Money talks. If there's demand for a product, someone will produce it. My preference will remain with the tiller. Good Fishing!!!

[AquaMan]

I don't believe there is a "controversy" over the tillers, but I do know that it is all about the style of fishing (or other uses for that matter) you do and the type of boat control you need that determine one type or the other.

I don't aggree that there is a decline in tiller popularity. The percentages between tillers and wheels is probably different today then 30 years ago. In fact, if there is a change, my guess is that tillers have made a slight increase over tillers of yesterday. Look at the motor sizes offered for new tillers. A 150HP tiller on a 20 footer..who would have ever guessed that one? I doubt the MFR's would spend that kinda doe-ray-me if tillers weren't a popular rig.

The tiller will never die just because it offers the most versatility to the average and hardcore fisherperson. Wheels are great for big water and long runs. Tillers are very impracticale for some applications and the only choice for others. Tillers offer the most usable room, are easy to trailer, load, unload, easier to control on the water, provide the best overall economy (No need to have sets of depthfinders at the wheel AND the deck), All the seats can be used by fisherpeople(the wheel seat is usually abandoned once you get to "the spot."

No, I think that you might have missed some information on your observation. Tillers are very stong and popular. The dealer's, however, would rather fill the showroom with bigger boat/motor packages and so you won't see many on display. But you can get one from the stockroom!

Guess what I like and I have had both..<grin>

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Fishnwiz]

My hat comes off to all of the diehard tiller fans out there!!! Long live the tillerman!! WIZ

[Famous]

Fishing at a pro level for the past 5 years in a tiller has had a few diadvantages, along with some advantages, mainly backtrolling. Fishing the east side of the PWT this year I had some tough decisions to make.Do I buy a wheel boat for a few tournys and suffer my hundred other days on the water here in Minn? Then Warrior offered me a 20ft boat with a 150 digital opti. The choice was simple. I can run at close to 50, troll at 1.2mph, and backtroll with main motor or electric as needed. The Pro Tiller Steering System offered by Warrior I feel is a must though with this much power. Thanks to Warrior competing in a tiller is still an option, and not a tough choice for me.
Gotta tell ya guys, way sweet rig! I dont think the manufacturers dare give up on such a large part of the fishing market.

[twc]

Most of the pros that were in the NAWA tournament last year that did any good were all in consoles because of the long distances they had to run to catch fish.Thats a fact!

[TerryMac]

Once ya get there...you can't beat them.
Look at Ron Seelhoff.......he does pretty decent with a tiller. Love the room of the tiller boats.
I have compromised...now run a Lund 1900 Pro-V LE, but, I have a Yammy T-9.9 high thrust, 4-stroke kicker (tiller) and wave wackers.
Toss the drift sock off the bow...backtrolls real nice. I lost very little room in the boat with the single console and I don't have a sore neck after 25 mile, down wind runs from pulling on the old tiller handle as main power.
There will always be tillers, they fish too good to go away.

[TIM]

THANKS FISHNWIZ I'LL HAVE TO CHECK THE YARCRAFT OUT. ALLWAYS DID LIKE THE LOOKS OF THOSES BOATS. GREAT POSTS EVERYBODY, GOOD SUBJECT. GOOD-FISHEN TIM

[Richard]

twc....We both know that everybody should have 2 rigs. A console boat with 150+HP for those end runs and pulling cranks, and a tiller boat with a 50-80HP for finessing. We both also know that we can only afford one rig. So....what to do? We compromise. We lean one way or the other and call it good. Have a good one!!!

[Tim]

For us smaller lake guys,there isn't any question.
Tillers are the most effective all things considered. I've gotten into tough spots
with my tiller and caught some nice fish
when the console boats had control problems.
But to each his own,it's just great to be
fishin out of one!

[Tim]

For us smaller lake guys,there isn't any question.
Tillers are the most effective all things considered. I've gotten into tough spots
with my tiller and caught some nice fish
when the console boats had control problems.
But to each his own,it's just great to be
fishin out of one!

[Fishnwiz]

Its not the cost of the second boat thats the killer...it is the cost of building the garage to keep both rigs in that is killing me!!! LOL;} Wiz

[HUMP]

More tournamants are won by how slow you fish when you get there rather than how fast you get there.

[Beaver]

I bought a Ranger 237T Cherokee in '98. It`s got a 75 Mariner tiller on it,and I think it`s the best multi-species boat around. It holds more and handles better than the Lund Pro Angler I used to have. I love tillers. Better handling response, more room, just to name a couple of things. One draw back though, I entered the RedMan Tournaments on the Mississippi River this year and found out my boat doesn`t meet their criteria. It doesn`t have a steering wheel! Anyway, looking at a tiller boat, check out the Ranger Cherokee Series. They`re not glass, but you`d never know it. All welded hull and baked enamel finish have had more than one person say "That`s aluminum?"

[Wags]

I know a guy that recently bought a 237T Cherokee... His was a '97 or '98 with a 75 Merc Tiller... He fished out of four different Lunds before buying the Cherokee... He swears up and down that the ride is ten times better, smoother, drier, etc... I, too, am hoping that Ranger will continue advances with tiller boats...

[fission]

Boat dealers will carry the models that they think will sell in their area. I think dealers who cater to the more sophisticated fishing crowd will always have a shiny new tiller boat front and center in the showroom. Dealers who cater to people of wealth who want to decorate their driveway will not have one on the lot. I want the dealer who offers a choice. I chose tiller.

[John]

As a 1946 baby boomer,born and reared in tiller controlled boats, I swore I would always enjoy the direct -immediate response of the tiller. Arthritis and shoulder surgery mandate the purchase of another Lund,my first with a wheel. As Bob Dylan stated, "The times they are a changing..." God bless technology!!!!

[Glenn]

Hey Guys,
I to love tillers,my first Ranger was a 680T with
a Classic Merc 50 justed loved this boat.Lots of
room and it was rock solid. Always wanted a little
more horse power though. My present and second
Ranger is a 690 with a 150 Merc. Love this boat
too runs fast eats alot of gas. Looking at getting
my third Ranger and I'll admit I'm looking serious
at the 617TVS. With a 80 Yamaha it should be pretty respectible for speed if anybody out there
has experienced this boat let me know.And long live the tiller guys. Thanks

[dummie]

Me thinks that as long as there are just ordinary fisherman there will be tillers. We don't fish tournaments and are not concerned with hole shots. Consoles are nice and I have owned three of them . Just bought a new tiller for more fishing space and to be where the action is. I'm not shooting darts at tournaments or console lovers. I believe to each his/her own. As these replies have noted there always will be tillers and am I glad of that. My neck still has a kink in it.

[Floater (MN)]

Wags,

Just a bit confused and curious. You have stated that you are "in the industry". In what capacity would that be? Where? What?

You have also asked and said things about boat and motor manufacturers not building what you would like to see. What boat manufactureres have you looked at? From what I've read here and on "Boats and Motors" I've seen many examples of very good walleye boats with big tiller motors. Most with quite good floor layouts and features. What are you after?

I'm sure you've seen the boats that are out there. The Champions, Yar-Crafts, Warriors, etc. At least one of these boat companies offers a boat that should serve anyone's needs quite well. As for the "Tiller Controversy", if there is one (which I doubt), when one company can put an Evenrude 175, or another a Merc 150 Optimax, both with a tiller handle on them, on the water, what can you be looking for?

If you want the industry to design a boat to fit your needs, just ask them, all of them. My choice would not be the right one for everyone but I'll take the Warrior 2090, 150 Optimax.....

[Wags]

Hey, Glenn... The 617 TVS is a winner, especially with the F80 Yamaha... But don't count out the new Evinrude 75 Ficht Tiller, either... This boat is responsible for my questions regarding a tiller "controversy" - not that I believe there is a controversy in tiller designs - I just a needed a title that would provide a deep response from the rest of our readers... By the way, the 617 tiller is a sweet package - 17'8" and spacious - runs out in the high thirties with a few guys running low forties... You need to run the boat to really appreciate it... As for why this post existed in the first place... I have spent a great deal of time working with tiller customers (toughest ones in the bunch) and have had a very difficult time in getting guys to accept new ideas and changes in hull design... (like the "vs" hull on the 617 TVS) This hull is dry, fast, and very appropriate for back-trolling... Especially with the splash guards we just put the finishing touches on last week... They fit the "VS" hull like a traditional guard... See Ya!