thought i'd do a review since i think im the first to switch from remote steer to tiller steer.
1848 pd hull, extended front deck, dual 6 gallon gas tanks up front with spare battery for trolling motor/frogging
36 pd fpr, hydraulic trim and hydraulic reverse
REMOTE - 69 hours
28.8 deep water
29.6 shallow water
both times with me (140), 12 gallons of gas, 2 batteries
PROS: easy to operate on the long runs, especially those cold runs to the duck blind. easy to operate in the stumps (as long as the reverse latch isnt locked, ask me how i know). center console was great for holding my rods, had rod holders on each side. console was a good backrest for passengers when i had my gun box against it. i liked how i could stand up and drive all of the time.
CONS: running the swamp was a pain in the a$$. once you get stuck, it was very hard to work the motor side to side, especially with the cable steering. upgraded to hydraulic steering, but still a pain. console took up alot of room in the boat, kinda hard to move around when frogging, crawfishing, etc. constantly a two-handed operation. gotta keep one hand on the wheel and one on the throttle to keep it from backing down. steering wheel felt cheap, thought i was gonna break it a couple times.
TILLER - 18 hours
29.3 mph deep water
30.1 mph shallow water
both times just me (140), 6 gallons gas, and 1 battery
PROS: alot easier to run the swamp. working the motor side to side is alot easier and quicker in the mud and veggies. love the amount of space i have now. got plenty room to throw all of my junk. still a two-handed operation (one hand on the tiller, cold beer in the other). installed a folding seat on my box which makes it a very comfortable and laid back ride.
CONS: since removing the console and reducing weight, have problems sometimes with the front end wanting to bounce. got to throw everything i have in the front to control it. not a problem with passengers. learned the hard way not to put your knee under the tiller while running over stumps and logs! not too comfortable on long choppy runs. also find the throttle is very sensitive between idle and midrange, guess thats just something i've gotta get used to.
overall im satisfied with the outcome. at times i do miss the remote steering, but for what i do the tiller is more practical. as long as i have a rig to wack some ducks, snatch some frogs, catch some fish and get some mud bugs, im happy
