I'm building a house right now and I've been thinking about what kind of boat i want to keep on the lift in the back yard. My two choices are:

1. 17-18' mod v with 60-70HP tiller
2. 17-18' light v center console with 90-115

I will be living in stephensville, so the majority of the time will be in the Lake Palourde/Grassy Lake area. I will occasionally run north to Verret and south east to turtle bayou/bayou chene.

The activities with this boat would be (in order of frequency)
Rod/reel fishing
Limb lines, jug lines, trotlines
Crab drop nets, crab traps
A little shad gill netting
Occasional light frogging

I have a GTR on trailer for shallow water activities

So it comes down to choosing speed/comfort or versatility. Opinions??

I've had console and tiller outboard rigs and in my opinion you can't beat a tiller. In the off season i do everything you have mentioned besides the crab traps and gil netting and I hated doing it with a steering wheel. If i were in your position my ideal righ would be a 1860-1954 with a 90 tiller. Safe, stable, but still nimble enough to play around with.

I have a 20' 60" bateau, I had a 90 merc tiller on it and just changed out to a 115 Suzuki 4stroke. I built a center console for it and I do the same type of activities. I ran the tiller for 4 years and found that the CC is much more comfortable. I spent the day running jugs and it was just easier. Plus I doubled my fuel mileage and load capacity. By myself I can run 52mph and with 4 people and tackle I can still cruise at 45 and 48 wide open. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1456754019.843823.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1456754047.707656.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1456754076.891690.jpg


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