center console or stick steering?

[stinkbait85]

i am in the process of converting an aluminum bass boat into a wide open catfishing machine. i have removed a good portion of the front deck leaving only enough to stand on when throwing a cast net for bait. also i have removed the rear deck leaving only the section that houses the batteries, fuel tank. and bilge area. i have removed the side console as well. my reason for doing all this is simply to make more room because with 2 people, 30 gallon bait tank, anchors, 15 to 20 rods, food and drinks,etc. it was seriously not practical and cluttered. anyways.......i'm tossing two ideas around in my head for a steering setup. stick steering-vs-center console. if i decide to go with a center console i will build it only wide enough to house my existing rotory steering unit, essential guages, and a depth finder on top. my thoughts on this.......
GOOD
1 good visibility at night because i can see over the bow
2 provides a place to mount guages and such.
3 extra storage space inside console
4 don't have to buy new cables as i will be mounting so i won't have to

BAD
1 creates an obsticle to get around when a rod sounds off
2 takes up space. which i'm trying to eliminate
3 adds much more weight to the boat


ok now for the stick steering. i installed a stick steering setup in my brother in law's boat last year and it worked out great. however he wanted his in the rear of the boat so that's where it is. now for good and bad

GOOD
1 if mounted in front it provides excellent visibility past bow of boat
2 lighter weight than console
3 nothing to manuever around
4 more space in boat

BAD
1 if mounted in front i am gonna get my teeth rattled out on a windy day
2 gotta spend more money to buy steering setup
3 can be confusing in hairy situations
4 gotta buy longer throttle and shift cables
5 kinda scary with nothing really between me and water at wide open throttle or at any other range for that matter.

ok i like both ideas and just can't make my mind up. if i decide to go with stick steering i have an idea how to make it a little less confusing to work 2 levers in tight spaces. my idea is to integrate a motorcycle twist throttle and the stick steering lever together. i have several throttles at my folks from many tore up dirt bikes from my.....wilder days. the problem with this is how in the world will i attach the cable to my throttle linkage on my motor? the cable on it now has a plastic end on it that snaps onto a "knob" on the carb linkage. but that's another thread. so, whatcha think?

 

[rednekbowfisher]

Re: center console or stick steering?

my 2 cents for ya

center consolds are great if your boat is something like an 1860 or 1872 an bigger depens
on your boat lay Out and what you like all 7 of the aluminum boats that I have gutted for bowfishing I have placed side consolds in them I just make them a bit higher than your normal one so I can stand and drive or sit I am currently building an 1872 like this to. stick steering I do not much care for but thats just me

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: center console or stick steering?

86 the twist throttle... nothing like hitting full throttle when swerving around a stump.... standard shifter/throttle in one hand and steering in other.... if you will always be seated you could pick up a used hotfoot

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: center console or stick steering?

i have had both, like both. need a lot more info on your boat. length, width. all you have told us is it is an aluminum boat.

 

[John_Michael]

Re: center console or stick steering?

I don't know anything about catfishing, but a 30 gallon bait tank? That sure is a lot of worms

 

[stinkbait85]

Re: center console or stick steering?

i have had both, like both. need a lot more info on your boat. length, width. all you have told us is it is an aluminum boat.

The boat measures 16ft 8in. 62in wide inside at the widest point and narrows up towards the front. With what I have removed from the boat I now have just under 10 feet of open space.

 

[stinkbait85]

Re: center console or stick steering?

I don't know anything about catfishing, but a 30 gallon bait tank? That sure is a lot of worms

Lol the tank is a white plastic 55 gallon drum cut down to the 30 gallon mark. With a painted plywood lid and 2 800 gph aerators in it. Serves 2 purposes 1 to keep 40 to 50 shad,bream, knotty heads,or war mouths in. And 2 to put ole stink nasty flathead in on the way to the weigh in

 

[Azonic]

Re: center console or stick steering?

your beam is just wide enough...
but that depends on how wide you make your console..

The open space you have is located where in the boat?

I am converting a 16' with 54" beam to a CC...

however, I am making a custom narrow console....

and my entire deck will be open...other than the console, livewell/seat...