*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Random Quote: Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a mystery, Today is a gift that's why it's called present. "Enjoy life"
Does anyone have experience with dual steering station center console towers on a 23-25 ft. boat? I'm curious if you're happy with the boats stability in choppy seas.
I'm curious myself, as I'm considering one on a 26' express cuddy with a 'wide' beam... you see lots of towers and 2nd stations down south on smaller 8' beam boats.
You'd hate to install it and end up regretting it after running it in a rough sea.
I'm sure each hull reacts differently based on the boat's weight, beam, deadrise, center of gravity, among other factors.
I'd also like to hear some comments from those who have or had.
I have ran many tower boats fun to run if calm, but I would never own one. I feel it makes the boat act different under all conditions, when I was looking for a used boat most had T-tops or towers so I ordered a new boat without either. Makes me wonder, about half of the boats sold under 25ft have no tower or T-top yet few of them come up for sale. Most of the people I fish with have switched to bimini tops, after owning towers or T-tops on boats under 25ft. Big advantage to be able to fold the top down & way better sun protection, the excuse of its hard to fish around is weak because the T-top legs take up walk around room on small boats.
__________________ Avenger 23TE by Marauder Marine inc.
DF250 Suzuki & Owens & Sons Trailer
I have an mini-tower on my 2350 Bluewater. I use it, but only on flat days. Great for spotting birds, fish, weedlines and debris. It's just not comfortable up there otherwise. I can't imagine getting enough use out of it to justify a 2nd operator station up there.
Sailfish offers a removable four posted tower/observation post. It takes 8 allen bolts to secure. It's a lot of fun spotting birds and watching the spread when it isn't too rough. With a three person crew it would be great to be able to drive from it. The Sailfish 2360 is 23'6" with a wide 9' beam.
I saw a contender 25 last year while I was in Key Largo that had a 2nd station-
You would stand on top of the console-looked like a slick set up-
I am also interested in getting some feedback on this type of set up?
Tim
Fish a tarpon tourney every year out of Oriental NC with a buddy with a 23 Maycract with a small tower and secondary controls. He lives in Hatteras and uses the tower for sight casting to cobia and red drum. The tower is da bomb for this! .
He has it rigged so that it will fold down when trailering & when he pulls it in the winter.
I've spend some time in the tower and it's OK but not the best place for an old phart like myself when it's a little sporty in 3' + seas & around inlets. I would have definitely added some padding around the rails.
On the deck I don't notice any real problem with rolling due to a higher center of gravity and we have spent a fair amount of time running & anchored in the short, square, hard 3' waves in the Neuse River & lower Pamlico Sound..
BTW, he also went with Morse control in the boat & tower (added immediatley after he got the boat. Apparently they are significantly less $$ to put with a second station.
__________________ Life is like a jar of jalapeņos. What you do today, might burn your arse tomorrow
Seen one on a 25' Parker, they have a wide beam though. A few boats in this size at the marina have them, just for observation, no controls. Not sure if there are not many due to the added height for trailering. I guess if you use it enough it would be worth the price. I would imagine that it could get unconfortable standing up there in a sea due to the raised center of gravity.
BaitWaster - 3/7/2007 12:05 PMFish a tarpon tourney every year out of Oriental NC with a buddy with a 23 Maycract with a small tower and secondary controls. He lives in Hatteras and uses the tower for sight casting to cobia and red drum. The tower is da bomb for this! . He has it rigged so that it will fold down when trailering & when he pulls it in the winter. I've spend some time in the tower and it's OK but not the best place for an old phart like myself when it's a little sporty in 3' + seas & around inlets. I would have definitely added some padding around the rails. On the deck I don't notice any real problem with rolling due to a higher center of gravity and we have spent a fair amount of time running & anchored in the short, square, hard 3' waves in the Neuse River & lower Pamlico Sound..BTW, he also went with Morse control in the boat & tower (added immediatley after he got the boat. Apparently they are significantly less $$ to put with a second station.
Bernie, killintime will be up there with drum dum this summer. I think he is working on a collapsible tower for the Sailfish now. Should be sweet. I'm thinking that Owen is putting it on there so he doesn't have to listen to Clyde and myself talk trash to him all the time.
I am not sure what the question is. Are you curious about the boat being top heavy? or how ruff it is to drive from up top when it is ruff?
The practicality of dual station tower boats depends on where you fish. I have a 24' Privateer with a dual station. I fish alot on the west coast of florida where I can run the flats and 15 minutes later being chasing tarpon in the pass... all while driving and spotting from the tower. With out a tower, my 24' Privateer wouldn't be very practical for the type of fishing I like to do... but with a tower, it makes it one of the best.
FWIW.. when I'm running in a snotty 2 to 3 ft chop, you wont see me in the tower.. its ruff and dangerous.
Adding a second station can be trickier than some first thing. You will need to add a steering helm with 3 hoses. And if you are using throttle and shift cables(as opposed to electric) you will have to replace the bottom controls when you add a second station.
My father had a 20 Seacraft Potter Cuddy with a 10 ft folding tower with dual stations. I ran it from up there plenty of times, but not in rough water. We went to the bahamas in it several times and it was real useful navigating those Bahamian waters. Sorry Pics are a little old
__________________ 2006 Sea Pro 196 / Yam 150 4-Stroke
They seem useful if you're chasing tarpon the beach, or if looking for dolphin in weed lines. While it would be fun to ride up there on flat days, they would be downright scary on a rough day. It would be extremely unlikely for one to cause the boat to flip, but it sure might feel like it!
Bernie, killintime will be up there with drum dum this summer.* I think he is working on a collapsible tower for the Sailfish now.* Should be sweet.* I'm thinking that Owen is putting it on there so he doesn't have to listen to Clyde and myself talk trash to him all the time.
Will be neat to see a tower on the Killintime.
I know Capt George Beckwith put a tower on his Parker & on the 1st day when they were riding around breaking in the motors, he caught a 50-60# cobia sight casting. "Death from above"
My father had a 20 Seacraft Potter Cuddy with a 10 ft folding tower with dual stations. I ran it from up there plenty of times, but not in rough water. We went to the bahamas in it several times and it was real useful navigating those Bahamian waters. Sorry Pics are a little old
WOW! My father had one just like it in his old Bertram 25. Sure brings memories, dived off it all the time as a kid. As you know the B25 is pretty wide so it worked extremely well when trolling, even when rough, we had steering up there but no engine controls. Was great to find dolphin. You did not want to be up there while running though.
I have one on my 27 Whaler Offshore. I use it when trolling looking for birds, watching the lures etc. I do not use it a lot, but it is nice to have when you want to look around. Great fun to drive from when calm too.
My only regret with this one was waiting toolong to upgrade from the bimini, and then I didn't get the 2nd station.
I'm thinking of putting one on the 27. Nothing like it.
__________________
"Destination"
2005 Contender 27 Yamaha F225's
Actually, You DON'T disagree with me. You THINK you disagree with me, but you're mistaken. You're simply experiencing an illusion caused by the limits of your comprehension. -Dilbert
I have a crow's nest on my boat, and if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't have it. Definately love the view (i.e. birds, weedlines,flotsam, etc.), but we usually only fish 3 people. This is where the problem comes, as getting up and down is a pretty slow process due to clearance from the radome. When lines start screaming, this man has become useless, leaving 2 of us with the full spread. For many, it's not a concern, but we are not that experienced as a crew. It also doesn't take long cooking in the S. Fla sun, because I have no cover, for the man to say he's ready to come down. It's one more thing to have to break down and secure for trailering ( which is most of my boating). Traveling with a cross-wind on the water, I find myself adjusting the tabs much more than when it is not on. If I had controls for those trolling times, I might feel different, but mine is just fine in the garage. Good luck on your choice!
center console towers on 23-25 ft. boats 
. 
