Stick Steer Boat

Anyone here drive a stick steer boat? I was thinking of getting a 16' Stick Steer with a 30 HP for the wife and I. This would be my first step up from a 16' Jon with a 9.9. I've found a good deal locally on one and am in the final stages of the decision. Can anyone suggest why I would or wouldn't be better with a 16' or 17' side console with a casting deck instead?

Any help welcome. I got the go ahead to get a new boat from the wife and she's actually excited. In fact, when I was talking about patio furniture she said "Yep, that's the top priority after a boat..." Last year she scoffed at me, now that we've been moved back to Arkansas for about a year she's realized what a paradise it is here.

Rough ride

I prefer to stay in a 16' boat for price and ease of storage for myself, and it appears the rough ride might be true for most boats in this category. It's tough. Just like buying a truck or a house, you go in thinking exactly what you want and then you keep looking at the next step up, the next step up from that, and then all of a sudden you're way above where you wanted to be originally. Each time you think "Oh, that's only $2000 more dollars and that might be worth it for what I'm getting..." Then you see the next model and you think the same thing again.

What lakes do you plan on fishing?

We have one and the turning isn't that great but if you are fishing open water that might not be a problem. I prefer a tiller or a wheel.

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Originally Posted by creekslick

What lakes do you plan on fishing?

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I'm in Central Arkansas and used to always use Conway. I'd like to start branching out and try out Maumelle, Dardanelle, and some of the lakes out east. I want to start getting on some of the rivers too occasionally. I'm not one that needs a big lake but I'd like to be able to get on some of the bigger lakes every once in a while.

The reason I ask is because if you plan on fishing some of the big open lakes, Maumelle or Greers, gomer snerd is right about it being a rough wet ride in rough water.

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Originally Posted by creekslick

The reason I ask is because if you plan on fishing some of the big open lakes, Maumelle or Greers, gomer snerd is right about it being a rough wet ride in rough water.

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That's definitely a good consideration.

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Originally Posted by Kilgore Trout

Anyone here drive a stick steer boat? I was thinking of getting a 16' Stick Steer with a 30 HP for the wife and I. This would be my first step up from a 16' Jon with a 9.9. I've found a good deal locally on one and am in the final stages of the decision. Can anyone suggest why I would or wouldn't be better with a 16' or 17' side console with a casting deck instead?

Any help welcome. I got the go ahead to get a new boat from the wife and she's actually excited. In fact, when I was talking about patio furniture she said "Yep, that's the top priority after a boat..." Last year she scoffed at me, now that we've been moved back to Arkansas for about a year she's realized what a paradise it is here.

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If you decide on one Ihave 2009 tracker panfish 17 for sale, 25hpmercury take $5000.00for it

I have had one for the past year and love it. I have a tracker panfish 16 with the 30hp on it. I will always have one now. I made a Walkaround video ad posted it on here last week. Just search and you can watch it. It might give you some ideas if you get one. My opinion doesn't amount to anything but I love mine.

Bass Tracker Panfish 16 Walkaround - YouTube

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Originally Posted by creekslick

The reason I ask is because if you plan on fishing some of the big open lakes, Maumelle or Greers, gomer snerd is right about it being a rough wet ride in rough water.

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I agree with slick and gomer cause I have owned one. On a windy day the front seat gets the rough ride and the passenger in the back seat gets soaked.
Personally, if I was going for a 16 footer, I would opt for 16' wide beam with a tillar and casting deck for the room and the freedom of movement. I used one for 8 years and loved it untill I recently bought my Lowe 18'. The resale is high and they are easy to sell.
Been there, done that.

Great responses so far. Like I said earlier, it's easy to think you know what you want until you really start looking around. I was the same way with my pickup. The wife and I don't have kids yet and she wants to go the boat out of the way before then so we can have one and take our theoretical future kids fishing. I might see what I can price a 16' or 17' console steer as well.

Stick is all I'v ever owned. I fish fish all waters with it we even scuba dive on Ouachita with it
Love them. Probly biggest drawbacks are... In rain you are up in it when running. Been caught in big T storms on Ouachita what fun. And in stumpy lakes ( Conway) don't run fast in boat lanes its easy to lose your seat lol

Well before I ever read any of the others comments here's what I've seen having my father just bought one and my buddy as well. They are more expensive when you look into the longer cables for them if you ever have to go that route. Also they take up more room in a smaller boat which isn't a good thing when your cramped for room already. Now, don't get me wrong I like them in other ways....never have to get up and down to run the boat when you can stay seated and idle over to your next spot all from one place. If you do any troutlines they come in handy also. All in all they are easy to operate and I kinda like em. Now if your like me and you wanna get all the speed out of an already small setup with me big butt holding the front of the boat down that kinda sucks instead of both guys sitting at the back where the vessel can get on plane better. Here's the thing on that though....small boats are only going to get you there so fast to begin with and added decking, added weight that is, is a must in my opinion come those windy Spring days so I've grown not to worry about speed as much on smaller setups. Once again I'd stress added weight with decking as most older small boats don't have????? Now the newer ones utilize space much better for storage, stability, and weight all in one. Newer motors are definitely the way to go also, carbs equal a lotta problems! Long as the hulls in good shape and stable in the water + doesn't leak any old hull will work. Good luck and hope you get a good boat outa the deal.

All in all I fish out of an older skeeter, 18' with 150 Merc. but if I was to get a smaller crappie boat I'd for sure wanna get at least a 17 and 1/2' boat with at least a 40 and prolly more like a 60-90 range motor on it just for the added room, stability, storage, all with about the same gas mileage. I'd look to go 4 stroke with a console and either bench or just the 2 seats with front seat. I've owned a 14' alumaweld with 20 horse tiller drive on it that we fixed up with deck, live well ect. and riding in several smaller boats none of them are very stable when it comes to any kinda chop in the water like just a bigger boats going to give you. Now the price will go up on a job like that but like I said earlier older boat will work fine long as it don't leak, (welded boat) and is big/stable enough then for just under 10K you should be able to put a motor, TR motor and electronics of your choice on it just about. Last I checked you can get a 50 horse for around 5K so for a 75ish or even maybe a 90 you should still be under the 10K mark and have $ left over for the other items. New boats these days are too high, I'd say whatever you get look for used, same a new cars vs used ones.....let em sit on them new prices and you'll still be happy!

Had a stick steer Duracraft with a 25 hp loved it.The only draw back(If it is) is you are setting up front and if you hit something,log,stump,high hard wave if you don,t have your life jacket and kill switch hooked up it will throw you forward and could throw you out of the boat and could possibly run over you.Great boats!!! Please be careful!!!

I have used a 15' 4 stick steer for 3 years now and couldn't be happier! Have to disagree about the rough wet ride. I handle a foot to foot and a half chop at 25/30 MPH with no problems. Lack of a steering console frees up space in a smaller boat, making plenty of room to fish 2. Being up front means you don't have to move around, that you have a better view of the water in front of you than looking over the bow through a windscreen so it is easier to see obstructions and a breeze to load on the trailer. Oh, and you only need one fishfinder..... with a 'ducer on the stern and one on the TM and a selector switch, you are good to go!
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I have a 754VS WarEagle stick steer and wouldn't trade it for anything but the 17 ft Seaark like Cache22 has. No real rough ride, passenger dosnt get wet and love the fact I drive up to a spot ready to fish. Legs don't work as good as they used to. No decks to climb off and on. That 30 on a 16 should be plenty of motor set up right. Just a little tricky to learn to drive at first. If you get one take it out without tackle to someplace you can practice especially backing up so you are comfortable especially around a crowed ramp.

I have used one since '98. It is a 16' Tracker with a 40hp Merc. I never thought I would need another boat until I inherited the gkids. It is a little small now. Also, it is hard for my 77yold father to get in and out of. There is also no place for his naps.
DP

Personally, I would get a jock strap and big tube of preparation H to go with it...but if you are a fair weather fisherman go for it...

If you fish smaller protected areas, especially flooded cypress swamps the stick steer is really a neat unit. I prefer the console steer because of the rough water wet ride issue. When you are trying to beat out a storm and the wind is ripping, it can get real hairy in the front of a stick steer boat. Some of my buddies have the 16 ft stick steer models and they can zip around from spot to spot and drop the TM and be fishing while I am climbing from the conslole to the front.
But when it gets rough, I feel safer back in the boat with a console to hide behind.
Both have their strong and weak points.
SeaRay

I used a stick steer for 25 yrs. hunted and fished out if it. Makes a great dock shooting rig to because you're lower in the boat opposed to being on top of a deck. In big rough water they can be tricky, but with the 40 on it, it will lift ya out of the chop unless the conditions are extreme. Great choice for 2-3 people, but now I'm a console guy. I fish bigger water now tho.

BillyE uses a stick steer boat everywhere!!!!!


Big River Marine
Bill Burnett
870-635-0202

We sell XPRESS, EXCEL, and ALWELD Boats. Yamaha, Suzuki, Evinrude, Mud Buddy, and Tohatsu/Nissan Engines.
Pro Staff, Southern Pro Tackle and Ozark Rods.
Member, Tri-State Crappie Anglers

I sell the Xpress and the Excel stick steer boats really well. People that use em, love em. The Xpesss is a 16'er, and the Excel is a 17'er.

I'm gonna get me another one so I can compete with Hawgdog on those docks at Horseshoe!! ;)


Big River Marine
Bill Burnett
870-635-0202

We sell XPRESS, EXCEL, and ALWELD Boats. Yamaha, Suzuki, Evinrude, Mud Buddy, and Tohatsu/Nissan Engines.
Pro Staff, Southern Pro Tackle and Ozark Rods.
Member, Tri-State Crappie Anglers

I own both I have a 98 xpress with a 40 horsepower and. A new ranger bass boat that I bass fish with the stick steer boat is great for crappie fishing running lines etc I really like mine ride isn't like a big fiberglass boat but it isn't bad at all I fish in the winter out of mine in wind rough water I think you will find that it's a good choice happy fishing

I always thought the SeaArk forecast 15 was a well laid out boat.That one looks perfect.

ive had every kind of boat made...where i fish the stick steer is the choice.i now have a g3 with a 50 yamaha...with 2 people you will need at least a 40 hp motor.it would be ideal for lake conway.. i grew up in little rock...i fished conway as a youngster and a teen..i fished conway in 1958

I have one and it fits me,I can operate the boat and fish by myself if I want to go and nobody wants to go. It is a rough wet ride at times,I'm not real good at operating mine just got it last year. 16 ft G3 with 25 Yamaha. Like someone said it doesn't turn real good in tight places, but overall I'm pleased with it.

I have 16' g3 40 HP Yamaha handles great everything you need is within arms reach!!

I had a Tracker stick before moving to Kansas City. They are right, I'd have it out on Maumelle and hated the ride in the wind. It will literally beat your kidneys to death. If you're sticking with smaller waters, your fine, but big open lakes, don't do it. I found myself "reconsidering" fishing trips due to the rough ride.

lots of good info thanks for sharing

I have a 17 ft war eagle with 50 mercury. I love it. I can trim the motor up enough in windy conditions to keep me up high and dry. I have had many boats and I told my wife this is the boat I will retire with.

I just bought a 1648 alumiweld with a 25 tohatsu 4 stroke. My first stick I looked at was a tracker, but the way it was laid out with the livewell in the middle of the boat there was no room for a cooler or anything big in the boat. The only thing I have found that I don't like about my boat is the flat nose does make for a rough ride on windy days. Another must with a stick steer boat is power tilt.

I've got a Seark McCrappie 15' with a mercury 25. I love it! I have thought about a new motor, not really a fan of the cold natured mercury. For crappie fishing it's a great setup.

I have a SeaArk Rebel 15 with a 40hp that has power trim/tilt. The ride is not that rough. I fish by myself a lot and you cant beat it.Just my 2 cent

Love my SeaArk Forecast 156. Neither wet or rough. With 40HP needs power trim for sure due to prop torque!Attachment 152508

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Originally Posted by cache22

Love my SeaArk Forecast 156. Neither wet or rough. With 40HP needs power trim for sure due to prop torque!Attachment 152508

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if i ever got rid of my Wareagle that in the new 17 they have is what i would get. Really nice boat.