17' glass tillers

[Mattman]

Yes, I've been searching the archives...

I'm seriously looking for a new boat now. 17' - 18'. Tiller. Bunk trailer. I would really like a glass boat, but would consider tin if the layout is what I like and hull design is good. Under 100 horse power. I fish mostly smaller lakes in MN with the occasional bigger body of water in MN/Ontario. I'm a multi-species angler that fishes Crappie in the spring and fall, Walleye mostly early and late season, quite a bit of Bass fishing during the summer, and a little Muskie fishing. And will often throw a fly for every one of those fish.

I really like the looks/layout of the Skeeter. And right now, am leaning towards their tiller boat. Although, the model shown on the website and the model in the brochure I just got are different. And the web site model is different than the two Skeeters I just saw at Dogtooth over the 21st. And I don't know that I like the website model as well as the one in the brochure. 1790 in the brochure and 1775 on the web. Can anyone shed some light on that?

Any idea what I can expect to pay for a 17' glass tiller with an 80hp 4-stroke?

Any other glass tillers in that size/hp range I should be looking at? And, if you feel its superior, why that model over this particular Skeeter?

Any pros/cons for the Skeeter would be welcomed.

Thanks in advance.





Better to have and not need than to need and not have!

Matt Davis

[Arch]

I have a Ranger 681T with a 60 hp Suzuki and I fish everything under the water as you do. I have also fished with a guide who ran a Skeeter with a yamaha, so I can compare those two boats (the Ranger 618 Tiller is coming back). They are both great in my opinion. One thing about a 17 foot glass tiller, they are heavy and won't break any speed records. I can eek about 34 mph out of my ranger on a good day. Usually 32 with a full load.

I think you would be happy as heck with a Skeeter or Ranger tiller. My advice is to look at as many models as you can and see what layout is best for you. Don't forget that Tuffy makes another high quality tiller for multispecies fishing. I don't know too much about warrior or any of the others. Also, a good trailer is a huge plus. My Ranger trailer has bunks, but in shallow water, you can crank up a line of rollers between the bunks to allow you to load the boat by hand. A big help on some launches. Finally, I'd lay out all the brochures with price quotes and see what feels best. If you end up with a skeeter, I'm sure you'll be really happy with a great fishing boat.

[Mille Lacs Guy]

I would seriously look at the Warrior. The 177 and the 1890 would be the ones to look at. These are very nice boats. I also like the Ranger a lot.

One thing I would be sure to do is test drive whatever boat you plan on getting. I have been hearing from a lot of people that some of the 4 strokes just don't have enough low end torque to get the best performance out of the bigger glass tillers.

Next year Merc is coming out with 75 and 90 horse motors with direct injection. They will be in the Opti max series. These direct injection motors are very nice and are similar to the 4 stroke in fuel consumption and emissions.

[liteyear]

I would also recommend the Warrior 177 or 1890 eagle models. I absolutely love my 1890 XST back troller with the Pro Tiller steering. If you live in central Minnesota and would like a demo ride give me an Email.
liteyear@hutchtel.net Rick Grates

[Mille Lacs Guy]

Hey Rick, where are you from?

[sheb]

I have a 1992 warrior Python (now the 177 eagle) It is a tiller with a 75 suzuki. I can do 42-43 with two big guys in the boat and a ton of equipment. I cant believe the speed but it really goes for a 7r on a 17ft boat. You may want to look at Euroline Boats right here in my home state of Wisconsin. literally nobody has ever heard of them but they make several tiller models used for Muskies and Walleyes. You can buy factory direct and they make a 17ft glass tiller that can take a 90 horse, and I guarantee it is alot cheaper than any other tiller you will ever find. I saw two guides up in Northern wisconsin running them and they looked like really nice fishing boats and the seventeen was nice and deep the nineteen footer was real shallow made for muskies. But a 17ft witha 90 on it would move. They have huge amounts of storage and a monster 50" livewell, asnd a bait well I believe. E-mail me at raleonhard@matrixpm.com I will tell you everything I know about Euroline. I was thinking of selling my 1992 Warrior and buying a Euroline. Because I could not find more boat for the dollar. Hope any of this info helps you.

[sheb]

I have a 1992 warrior Python (now the 177 eagle) It is a tiller with a 75 suzuki. I can do 42-43 with two big guys in the boat and a ton of equipment. I cant believe the speed but it really goes for a 7r on a 17ft boat. You may want to look at Euroline Boats right here in my home state of Wisconsin. literally nobody has ever heard of them but they make several tiller models used for Muskies and Walleyes. You can buy factory direct and they make a 17ft glass tiller that can take a 90 horse, and I guarantee it is alot cheaper than any other tiller you will ever find. I saw two guides up in Northern wisconsin running them and they looked like really nice fishing boats and the seventeen was nice and deep the nineteen footer was real shallow made for muskies. But a 17ft witha 90 on it would move. They have huge amounts of storage and a monster 50" livewell, asnd a bait well I believe. E-mail me at raleonhard@matrixpm.com I will tell you everything I know about Euroline. I was thinking of selling my 1992 Warrior and buying a Euroline. Because I could not find more boat for the dollar. Hope any of this info helps you.

[GJS]

I would have to agree with Mille Lacs Guy, I have a Warrior V177 with a 70 Suzuki 4 stroke. I love the boat, but I think the 70 isn't enough hp for this size of boat. I have a lot of trouble getting on plane with more than 2 people on board. I would like to try 75 ficht, I would think it would have a little better snap to it. For now I am going to try a new prop.

[Stormsearch]

Matt,

I am on my second season with a 2001 1775T w/ Yamaha F80 on it (bought new in Jan 2002). I do a ton of trolling with it on Lake Erie and it has been incredible for the size of boat. The 2002 models (1790) and later have been redesigned to the ones you have seen in person and shown in the brochure. The one shown on the website is a 2001 model. The main differences are bigger pad for 4 stroke motors, higher gunnels up front, more aft interior space, redesign of the bow storage with the addition of center rod locker, and addition of electronic's locker in the back. I was looking at new boats for over two years and was set on getting a Lund 1775 pro-v tiller with the same yamaha until I saw their new 2002 layout that included a center rod locker. Honestly, I do not agree by adding a center rod locker on this size of a boat. It takes too much storage and eats up rear aft space. The newer Skeeters now have 3 rod lockers in a 17' boat (one in the middle and two on the sides).

I couldn't find a leftover 2001 Lund, so basically starting going down my list which was a Skeeter. Did some searching and found they also modified their layout for 2002 which I didn't like, basically copying Lund. I was able to find a dealer, with help from this board, in MN that had two 2001's left over. I probably could have lived with the center rod locker on the 2002, but didn't like the electronic's locker. It is too small and sits too far back for my main use. It was perfectly designed for a single unit while back-trolling. I also hand-line out of my boat too so that was another major reason. I paid $18,500 for it.

I looked at a lot of boats and some of the things that I liked with the Lund and Skeeter is a larger bow deck for bass/crappie/perch fishing which I do about 30% of my time. Most models are designed with more aft space. The remaining time I forward troll with 1 - 3 people in the boat and don't have many issues with space, although definitely cramped with 3 of us. I seriously looked at Yarcraft, Ranger, Alumacraft, and Crestliner. All had really nice boats. There were no dealers for Warrior in MI so didn't have a chance to look at them. I believe I would have been happy in most of them, but some of them would not have suited me for all the kinds of fishing I do and Lund and older Skeeter did. Layout and fishability for my needs were or was the only main factor. Choose the layout that will suit you better, and the ones that I have mentioned again are really nice.

I have not had a chance or heard of how the newer Skeeter's handle. But I get 37 mph (GPS) topped out. As others have mentioned it is a heavy boat which I believe lends itself to a flaw that the boat porpoises very easily. The only other negative I can give the boat is that the control switches are on the side where I net quit often, turning on/off pumps, aerators all of the time. I don't use my front live well so I ended up disconnecting those lines. A big bonus this boat had was storage, lots of it and most of it was in the bow where I wanted it. A final deciding factor was the trailer. Lund would have an Eagle, the Ranger had their own (pretty good), and the Skeeter has custom EZ loader (also really good). The other trailers I just didn't have that much confidence in them. If you have any more questions, shoot an e-mail and would be happy to help out. Good luck.

[sheb]

I have the 17ft with the 2 stroke 75 hp suzuki it goes over 40 wih two big guys that is on gps and graph speed. I would really love it with a 90 but oh well.

good fishing

[liteyear]

Mille lacs guy

I live in Litchfield, but have a place at Hunters Point.

Rick

[RAD]

The stories have been wrong...the normal17-18ft. tiller boat is over weight and underpowered whick makes the four stroke the perfect motor for them.A Honda75/Yamaha80 develops more torque at lower RPM than the 2-stroke ever will,but the 2-stroke will probably over come it on top end.Plus you don't have to choke on the smoke when trolling.
To the post...It will be hard to beat the Skeeter package on price but before you buy be sure to check out the Yar Craft BT's.Tuffy also makes a nice BT but tend to take water over the bow at slow speed in ruff water.

[Eyecon]

I have owned several 17' boats including, Lund, Warrior, Skeeter and Yar Craft. I would highly recommend the 1785 Yar Craft, its my current boat and by far my favorite!

[Eyecon]

I have owned several 17' boats including, Lund, Warrior, Skeeter and Yar Craft. I would highly recommend the 1785 Yar Craft, its my current boat and by far my favorite!

[Eyecon]

I have owned several 17' boats including, Lund, Warrior, Skeeter and Yar Craft. I would highly recommend the 1785 Yar Craft, its my current boat and by far my favorite!