I need a bigger boat i have 2 boys and wife that goes fishing once in awhile. I wanted to stay with an 18 foot or bigger with a full windshield. The problem is i cant find a 18 foot boat with a 150 in my price range. I did find a alumacraft 175 cs in my price range with a 130.
My question is what are the pros and cons on a single console compared to full windshiel? What do people know about this boat?
I’ve got a single console bass boat and anything above fast enough to keep it on plane and my wife is screaming at me to slow down. A full windshield is definitely more family friendly. I don’t know much about the Alumacraft, but have you looked for a Crestliner 1850? I believe those are rated for 150 and can be had for a reasonable price.
Picure your wife and/or kids getting blasted by wind and bugs, losing hats and possible eye injurys while you sit behind the one windshield. I recommend a full windshield.
Full windshield and you will blow around like a sailboat and lose floor space. 
Single console and the wife will hate you, but you will have more floor space. 
You have to live with her, it’s your choice. 
WHat’s your average trip length?? If it’s like 20 miles then I could see doing the full windshield.. Other than that it’s ALL possitives to not having one.
Here’s what I would do,, Go fishing for a day in a single or even a tiller and see how nice it is moving around compared to the training wheels models. I, for one don’t get why anyone would ever get a full shield set up.
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WHat’s your average trip length?? If it’s like 20 miles then I could see doing the full windshield.. Other than that it’s ALL possitives to not having one.
Here’s what I would do,, Go fishing for a day in a single or even a tiller and see how nice it is moving around compared to the training wheels models. I, for one don’t get why anyone would ever get a full shield set up.
From a drivers perspective I concur. Single consoles are especially appealing to people without friends that fish alone.
I have a single console and like fishing out of it. If I cared about who was fishing with me, a full windshield hands down would be my choice. Having the ability to put the top up if it is raining or snowing is a huge plus (especially if you have the family with you). Try slip bobber fishing with a little wind out of both boats. You’ll be fat and happy sitting behind the windshield out of the wind. Single or double console… not so much. Trolling with a full windshield is the same story. Good luck.
price range and year you are looking at? Maybe we can help
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From a drivers perspective I concur. Single consoles are especially appealing to people without friends that fish alone.
You’re such a Dbag (yes, I namecalled on IDO)
You are in a tough spot, but very similar to where I was earlier in the year. Pros and Cons of all IMHO
Tiller: Roomy, great floor space
Cons: Sore arm, poor visibility, cold
Single counsel: Better for long runs, Less floor space, more comfortable
Cons: passenger comfort, cold often narrower boats
Full Windshield: Comfort and happy wife
Cons: Floor space
To me it is a no brainer to get a full windshield. In the future I have no doubts I will go back to a single or a tiller, but the full windshield has many advantages that outweigh the negatives. The kids love it and so does the wife.
As far as being able to find a boat in your price range, I will wish you good luck. If you find what you want, be prepared to buy it immediately as they do not stick around long. Walk in the door with cash in your hand and be ready to make a quick decision. Good deals do not stick around long. Every boat will have positives and negatives. Get as many high priorities as you can, and let some lower ones go.
Good luck. Boat hunting is fun, but can be a killer at times.
A place that seems to get some quality boats is
Or keep your eyes on Craiglist, just be ready to jump.
dual console with bubble windshields!!! best of both worlds 
I am thinking the same thing dual counsale. I even talked to alumacraft to see if i could get another counsel installed on the boat. They stated they could not.
The boat is a 2004 navigator cs 175 with a 1997 130 evenrude for 10.
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I am thinking the same thing dual counsale.
As you have already seen you will get allot of different answers here it all comes down to personal preference. The thing you might want to think about with a dual console is it will take up as much room as a full windshield so why not go with the full windshield then you have the option to have a bimi top. I have a single console now but my next boat will be a full windshield with a bimi top. I troll allot in the summer on Pepin and I need to be careful with the sun as I have had skin cancer in the past so a bimi top would be great to get out of the sun.
i have a side console…my sons enjoy the ride..i would love to fish out of a tiller but would rather run in a full wind shield.. single console was the compromise i choose..wife hates it but only fishes with me a couple times a year
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