Tiller controls in 17 ft range
Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2021 11:31 am
Hi,
I am currently working on my "practice" canoe and I am looking forward to my main goal of a larger boat. I'll start with the probable program for the boat and then get to my thoughts.
The program: Eastern Idaho, so mostly lakes/reservoirs, maybe some rivers, but I don't imagine I'll try running rapids or anything too fast in it. We do get some high winds in this area, so it won't always be glassy, but it certainly won't be anything like big-water. I would like to have a ride that is comfortable and dry enough to convince my girlfriend to come along though. It will be used for casual lake-style fishing and I'd also like to troll for Kokanee out of it, so I will mount two downriggers. In a perfect world, I'd like to be able to troll with four people on board, but that will probably be the exception. I can see ferrying four people to camping spots (or whatever) as a somewhat common use-case. When being used solo or tandem, stability enough to move around (I don't want to feel captive in my seat, like a canoe).
Layout: I imagine your typical center console layout, minus the center console. So forward lockers/bench and rear lockers/bench with an open floor plan in between that can be arranged as need for the day's use. Folding deck chairs, cooler, etc. Not a truly wide-open boat, but not a center console.
Engine: Looking at the project right now, I can imagine finishing the boat and not wanting to lay out the cash for a new 70 HP outboard right away. One of the appeals of a tiller control layout, is that I can find a "good enough" (read: cheap) used outboard and strap that to the boat while I save-up for the real powerhouse. I get the sense that swapping outboards on a center console is much more expensive and time-consuming with all of the remote control lines having to be re-bought and re-ran depending on the engine models. I am not really concerned with speed, coming from the kayak/canoe world. So, if I ran the boat at very low speeds with an under-powered engine for a year or two, I don't think I would be too torn up about it.
My thoughts: It comes down to the usual suspects; FS17, OB17, OD16/18. It seems that if you finish them to the same standard, they will use similar amount of materials. I am most attracted to the hull of the OB17; it seems to have enough capacity and stability while maintaining the vee hull that I might prefer for comfort (and aesthetics). However, it is the only hull of the three that I haven't seen use tiller steering. I've read in other posts that at this size of boat, tiller controls are becoming unsuitable, but I have seen at least the OD16/18 with a tiller set-up.
My questions are: can the OB17 be arranged for tiller controls? How do the FS17 or the OD16/18 (more likely the 18) run with tiller controls? Is one preferable to the other? Is one better at low/displacement speed if I severely under-power it for a while? Is there something else I'm missing?
Oh, I was also wondering what the cockpit depth is for the standard sheer FS17 and OD16/18. I think that's the right term. Sole to gunwale depth.
This has gone on much longer than expected. I appreciate any input. Thanks.
I am currently working on my "practice" canoe and I am looking forward to my main goal of a larger boat. I'll start with the probable program for the boat and then get to my thoughts.
The program: Eastern Idaho, so mostly lakes/reservoirs, maybe some rivers, but I don't imagine I'll try running rapids or anything too fast in it. We do get some high winds in this area, so it won't always be glassy, but it certainly won't be anything like big-water. I would like to have a ride that is comfortable and dry enough to convince my girlfriend to come along though. It will be used for casual lake-style fishing and I'd also like to troll for Kokanee out of it, so I will mount two downriggers. In a perfect world, I'd like to be able to troll with four people on board, but that will probably be the exception. I can see ferrying four people to camping spots (or whatever) as a somewhat common use-case. When being used solo or tandem, stability enough to move around (I don't want to feel captive in my seat, like a canoe).
Layout: I imagine your typical center console layout, minus the center console. So forward lockers/bench and rear lockers/bench with an open floor plan in between that can be arranged as need for the day's use. Folding deck chairs, cooler, etc. Not a truly wide-open boat, but not a center console.
Engine: Looking at the project right now, I can imagine finishing the boat and not wanting to lay out the cash for a new 70 HP outboard right away. One of the appeals of a tiller control layout, is that I can find a "good enough" (read: cheap) used outboard and strap that to the boat while I save-up for the real powerhouse. I get the sense that swapping outboards on a center console is much more expensive and time-consuming with all of the remote control lines having to be re-bought and re-ran depending on the engine models. I am not really concerned with speed, coming from the kayak/canoe world. So, if I ran the boat at very low speeds with an under-powered engine for a year or two, I don't think I would be too torn up about it.
My thoughts: It comes down to the usual suspects; FS17, OB17, OD16/18. It seems that if you finish them to the same standard, they will use similar amount of materials. I am most attracted to the hull of the OB17; it seems to have enough capacity and stability while maintaining the vee hull that I might prefer for comfort (and aesthetics). However, it is the only hull of the three that I haven't seen use tiller steering. I've read in other posts that at this size of boat, tiller controls are becoming unsuitable, but I have seen at least the OD16/18 with a tiller set-up.
My questions are: can the OB17 be arranged for tiller controls? How do the FS17 or the OD16/18 (more likely the 18) run with tiller controls? Is one preferable to the other? Is one better at low/displacement speed if I severely under-power it for a while? Is there something else I'm missing?
Oh, I was also wondering what the cockpit depth is for the standard sheer FS17 and OD16/18. I think that's the right term. Sole to gunwale depth.
This has gone on much longer than expected. I appreciate any input. Thanks.