175 VS 185 Competitor Tiller

Have always had a tiller. Bought a wheel boat a few years ago 165CS Competitor. Really missing my tiller. Looking at a 175 or 185 anyone have either. Just wondering if you like or wish you would of got something different. Thanks

I have a Mid 2000’s Tournament Pro 175 with a 90 horse Yamaha on it. I really like it! I definitely get wet when the winds blowing hard. It’s no glass boat, but it does pretty good in the waves. I wish I could have a 115 or 150 on the back like their counsel versions do. I can get about 35 mph out of it which isn’t bad at all.

rjthehunter wrote:

I have a Mid 2000’s Tournament Pro 175 with a 90 horse Yamaha on it. I really like it! I definitely get wet when the winds blowing hard. It’s no glass boat, but it does pretty good in the waves. I wish I could have a 115 or 150 on the back like their counsel versions do. I can get about 35 mph out of it which isn’t bad at all.

Glass boats get wet in the windy waves too. Don’t let anyone kid you that they don’t

I have owned 2 Alumacraft Competitor 185 Tillers. Only had 2 items of concern that I have brought to the attention of the factory. 1 is the live wells don’t drain all the way. I use a sponge to sop up any excess water. Not sure why the drain wouldn’t be the lowest point inside the live well, but… secondly they need to switch the rear live well and battery compartments. I have to stand up and reach behind the seat to access the rear live well. They are switched in the console model but not in the tiller model. I’d rather have the convenience in rough water to not have to stand up to access the live well. Didn’t get great feedback from my email, something to the effect that wouldn’t we all like to design our own boats. Seems to me they’d like some feedback from those that actually use it to create better functionality for the fisherman. Other than that absolutely love the boat! Handles amazing and I don’t use any tiller assist. My Yamaha 4 stroke is a solid motor!

My last boat was a wheel boat and last year I bought a Competitor 175 LE tiller with a Yamaha 75 on it it. I have absolutely no regrets. I have 3 kids 13 and under and can fish with all four of us if I need to. In my situation all the extra floor space is worth it. I went with the 175 over the 185 because of garage space. I wanted to keep the boat indoors year round. Honestly I dont think its a huge difference between the two. But the difference between a 165 and 175 is huge. The 96″ beam that you get when you step up to the 175 or bigger is huge and makes all the difference in my opinion.

rainylakebacktroller wrote:

I have owned 2 Alumacraft Competitor 185 Tillers. Only had 2 items of concern that I have brought to the attention of the factory. 1 is the live wells don’t drain all the way. I use a sponge to sop up any excess water. Not sure why the drain wouldn’t be the lowest point inside the live well, but… secondly they need to switch the rear live well and battery compartments. I have to stand up and reach behind the seat to access the rear live well. They are switched in the console model but not in the tiller model. I’d rather have the convenience in rough water to not have to stand up to access the live well. Didn’t get great feedback from my email, something to the effect that wouldn’t we all like to design our own boats. Seems to me they’d like some feedback from those that actually use it to create better functionality for the fisherman. Other than that absolutely love the boat! Handles amazing and I don’t use any tiller assist. My Yamaha 4 stroke is a solid motor!

Very much agree with switching the livewell and battery position. Thought the same thing after day 1.

Thanks for the input guy’s..