Single console, duel console or full windshield

Looking at a boat with a single console. My question is, Am i better off getting a full windshield or get the single and add the second console if I find I need it. Never have been in a single or duel console boat. How uncomfortable is it for the rider. This will not be a family boat and the wife will not fish unless its 80 and calm. Thanks for any input.

I would say that it really depends upon 2 things; 1) what type of fishing method(s) do you utilize the most, 2)keep in mind storage concerns relative to freeboard/windshield height while on a trailer. As Matt pointed out, many of the newer bass boats, (Nitro) in particular, offers a removable dual console arrangement for 2nd person riding int the passenger seat. The console is removable for those times fishing alone, or if you need more space in the cockpit area. Also I would recommend the casting platforms, especially if you primarily fish Bass, Muskie, i.e., casting type situations more often. If you find your self more likely to be set up for trolling, big water, and doing more stationary styles of fishing, i.e. jigging, slip bobber style, or lindy rigging per se., then I can see where a dual console, or a full windshield will be a better choice. Casting will not be as much of factor where the windshield will "reach out and grab a way-ward rod", if you know what I mean. Given that the wife has a say in the matter, you may end up with this as your choice, regardless! Lund, Crestliner, Tracker, et all, have this feature available on most of their Deep V series of boats. Hope this info helps; feel free to PM me for any other details! I do sell plenty of fishing boats! Lou

Many of the new bass boats come with a removable console. If I had 30K laying around that is the route I would go. I mainly fish alone, so the majority of time I would probably leave it out, but if the family decided to come with I would install it for their comfort.

"This will not be a family boat and the wife will not fish unless its 80 and calm." If that's the case and you are OK being cold and wet than I'd recommend a tiller. Tillers have the best fishability hands down. I've got a full windshield cause I fish 12 months of the year and making runs in Dec/Jan can get cold. Plus the wife wanted a windshield. The single or double bubble boats really don't provide much protection from the elements. So knowing that, you'll be cold behind a single counsel anyhow (to a point).

I fish Green Bay most of the time with the "boat" and would never have one without the windshield. My four deep Vs have all had windshield. I fish with no more than two guys, so the space the windshield and consoles isn't a problem. When it's windy, it is very nice to get behind the windshield. Wouldn't have a boat without one. SR

I fish mainly winnebago and the Green Bay and i would never buy a side console. When the weather gets alittle hairy your partner will thank you. Especially nice for younger anglers.

I had the same exact thoughts when I bought all three of my new boats I started with a tiller Lund which by far had the most room and was set up nice becasue there was no cockpit per say to walk around when fishing. Had that for about 2 years before I decided that the tiller drive was not for me so I went to a full windshield as I thought the two single windshields were not a good design in anyones book. But the full windshield was alwasy being opened and closed or left open as we fished and it was more of a pin than it was worth honestly So today I am in a 17' Crestliner single console and I LOVE LOVE IT The layout was the bog thing as it has a smaller console than others so there is not as much of the floor taken up by it I bought from Cedar Lake Sales who treated me right from day one and has excellant service and I drive to them over 1 hour 30 minutes to get to them for my service from my home in Illinois So that tells you something about how well they treat their customers Best of luck

I have a single console Lund Predator. I had a full windshield Alumacraft, and a dual console Skeeter before that. I am looking to get rid of the single console and get a tiller boat. Too mush room is wasted with any sort of console in my opinion. Although I don't fish any real big lakes except when I go to canada for a week during the year.

I have a full windshield Alumacraft Trophy - would not trade the windshield for anything. Only downside is the wind will catch that windshield and blow you around a little more - but the protection from weather and being able to put the top cover up is unbeatable. No doubt you loose some room but 3 people in a 17'-18 boat works just fine. If you want a straight up hardcore fishing boat get a tiller - dont under estimate how functional they can be If you are dead set against tillers get a single console. Dont get a duel console - may as well just get the full windshield at that point.

I have a duel console on a 1775 Pro V with a 150 hp. My passengers all hide behind the console when we are running thru slight swells and the spray is coming over the sides. Can you live without it you bet. Since I rarely fish more than three guys including me I don't miss the room. Of course I'm in the front where there is plenty and the other 2 guys can fight over the other 11 feet. That is a fair amount of room if you have ever combat fished.

It matters how big of a boat it is. I have a 18' tracker targa with the full wind shield. It comes handy a lot protecting the driver and navigator on unfamiliar lake. I have a gps fish finder combo but in rough water and wether it's hard to watch for waves and watch the gps at the same time. I also use a 16' John boat hand tiller with out the shield of coarse and wouldn't change that boat because wind shield would take up to much room. So it comes down to the size of the boat and fishing style.

If all I fished was big water I would have at least a 18ft and 20 would be better with a full windshield.But I fish Lot's of lakes and reservoirs that range from 500 hundred acres to the great lakes so I have a side council 17ft with a 92in beam.There is just so much more room then a full windshield.I always give any one I am fishing with the option to drive the boat behind the shield,and almost all would rather sit in the passenger seat and face the stern.

I have a single console and would rather have bought a full. Like whats been said, it is nice to have the windshield to block the weather. My brother has a full console. Compairing the two boats. My boat is a foot longer and 4in narrower. I dont feel that his boat, due to the full console is laking any space for comfort. You never said how old of boat your looking at. The newer boats seem to be set up as make life much better with full consoles. Aslo, if going to a full console you will add much weight to the boat. Then you have glass vs alum. My boat is glass my brothers is alum. Weight difference isn't all that much. just something to think about. good luck

Had a 1650 FishHawk tiller, loved it. Nice and wide open. Only problem is that I fish Green Bay most of the time and making the 20 minute run from one side to the other in anything more than 1 footers lets just say I could have swam across and stayed drier. Made the move to a 1775 Impact with full windshield, as said earlier I did lose some fishability. But, for trolling and use on the Bay, it's a better fit than my previous setup. It's all up to your personal opinion and what your fishing style is.

See the trend of personal opinions... everyone's answer will be driven by how they use the boat. You really need to look at what you are doing and wanting. I've talked to boat dealer friends that they rarely get customers who regret having a full shield, but do have the voiced regrets of those that don't have it. I have a full shield, and you do lose space, and some fishing convenience. That said, I fish alone a lot, and it isn't an issue then, and I would only buy a boat with the full shield. I know I am giving up some fishability, but it is an acceptable loss for me. There have been plenty of times every year that if I am anchored up, and the breeze is just a bit cool or much, having the full windshield closed helps cut the wind. Rough water riding with splash, rain, cold, it all is good. Deep sided V boats, flatter deck boats, single, double, or full shield, it all comes down no one boat is perfect, it is all about measuring the compromises. Enjoy the process on the purchase. I have a 17' Lund Deep V Fisherman with a full shield.

I have a 1750 fish hawk single console. Best decision I made. Great for family, great space, and no complaints from passengers about not having console in front of them. I fish mostly lakes and can't always get up north in October so cold weather hasn't been an issue. We did get into a driving rainstorm and my passenger just faced backwards. If you fish big water in cold weather, get the full windshield. If you don't, get single console. I'm not a fan of duel console. Just personal preference...