4.5 Centre or Side

[McGyver]

G'day all, soon i will be in the market for a upgrade and have decided on the poly 4.5.

The only problem i have is that i can not decide between a centre or side console, i have done some reading and this is what i have so far

Centre Console, good vision for driving picking up pots etc, more dry ride, and im thinking better weight distribution(forward and back), but a bit hard with 2 people (standing off centre to ballance passengers weight), loss of open space

Side console, comfy sit down to drive style, second seat for passenger, more room, but more wet ride not as good vision being right at the back, and all the weight at the back (not sure how they cope with this). seeing as i will be going for a max hp fourstroke i wonder how the large amount of weight at the back effects the SC.

Really i have never been in either so i would much appreciate any thoughts from anyone who has.

ps if it makes any difference i fish the passage, creeks and dams. thanks in advance

[fred]

Hi Have been in both ,in side con the driver is futher forward, the moving around the boat is the main addvantage and the comfort of being able to sit down , Let me tell you far more comfortable on a long run if a bit of chop .Where are you ,some one might take you out for a run Iain

[Craiglh]

I believe you can get a SC where the seats are in the middle of the boat not on the back deck.

While the SC seats would give a more comfortable ride in relatively smooth conditions I would have thought that in bigger chop etc the semi standing position of the CC would give a better ride (use your legs to absorb shock)?

I have a SC 4.1 and am slowly gathering the funds for a move to the 4.5 and was thinking of the CC as it allows rod storage down both sides where they are out of the way.

cheers

Craig

[McGyver]

thanks for the replies, fred i think you are spot on i might have to line up a trip out in both to really see which way to go, i live a little west of caboolture but i am on bribie most w/e's. Craiglh i had the idea that one side would be enough storage for about 4 rods am i wrong? also if you do how do you go with 2 people in your side console, if you both sit at the back how does she ride?

thanks again

[Craiglh]

Most of my rods are 7' long so in the 4.1 they hang over both the rear and front casting decks and three is all I can fit - shorter rods could fit within the two casting decks and hence more rods could be stacked - just have to watch the room between the rods and the passenger seat (may be worth while having the passenger seat located a bit more inboard).

My side console has the seats in the middle - there is room for a large tackle box behind the the seat in the gap between the seat and the rear casting deck (or storage bins) - so the boat isn't "bum" heavy at all. Under each seat is a battery; one for starting the outboard and one for the Minn Kota so weight distribution is pretty good.

I have a 50hp 4 stroke yamaha and that pushes the boat along well, jumps up on the plane easily etc. But I reckon if the driving position was located at the back (plus the passenger seat) the outboard would struggle and either trim tabs or a permatrim would be necessary.

I think it would be the same in the 4.5 - sitting at the rear would result in an inefficient load distribution - better to sit further forward??

cheers

Craig

[McGyver]

ok well i am a little confused when looking through the polycraft site i have never seen a centre option for a side console they always look to be at the back, the more questions i ask the more i realise i dont know. I think i will really have to pester some people at boat ramps to check out set ups as i can not decide. I only have one chance at getting it right.

[fred]

Have alook at the photos I put on the other thred

[fred]

Sorry back I have 4 rods on side and 3 on passangers console, just have to watch witch way the seat turns .Iain

[Andy]

Are you going to spend more time in the boat by yourself, or with someone else?

Are you going to use the boat in heavy chop, or estury..

MY experience with side consoles are that solo you always have an unblanaced boat. With the big revers chine on the poly that is a real pain in the arse cause the boat is always going to turn.

If you are using the boat in big seas, then you wont be sitting down unless you are going everywhere at 5 knots.

CC is better for open waters in my opinion. SC, esturine conditions.

[McGyver]

9 out of 10 times i will be with another person, and the as i said in the first post i will be using it in the bribie passage, surrounding creeks and dam fishing.

cheers

[Fishmarket]

McGyver, I'm in exactly the same position as you. Most of my fishing is with another person and I've been to look at a CC and the room does seem a little limited though could fish 2 comfortably if you had some good storage built in. The SC would open up a lot of room but like a few have said you will get wet in a bit of chop. I'm still undecided, but I procrastinate ... so I'll keep doing that for a while longer!!!!!

Thanks
Matt

[Andy]

9 out of 10 times i will be with another person, and the as i said in the first post i will be using it in the bribie passage, surrounding creeks and dam fishing.

cheers

Looks like you have your answer then :)

[McGyver]

Yes very true Andy seams i have, i would still be very interested to hear from anyone with a side console with regard to the majority of weight being at the back (2 people and outboard), fred i looked at your photo's i may be wrong but is yours not a frontrunner?

thanks again everyone

[fred]

Hi I think it is , the format allows 2 fuel tanks in back passager pod ,2nd battery under passager seat have to put esky on drivers side to balance up with 2 .with 3 people it travels spot on .Iain

[Jabiru658]

I have a 4.55 centre console and it has an esky seat, so if I want to sit down I can sit down and the boat always feels balanced.

If you are worried about comfort and that's putting you off the CC then an Esky with padded seat may be an option.

[Bones]

I have a 4.55 centre console and it has an esky seat, so if I want to sit down I can sit down and the boat always feels balanced.

If you are worried about comfort and that's putting you off the CC then an Esky with padded seat may be an option.

Exzachary what he said the CC is both effective and more of a all round boat. The esky idea works a treat.

Remember different boats for different blokes a wise old RAAF gentleman once told me that.


Cheers Bones