I've officially decided to pull the trigger on a Majek Illusion. I had pretty much decided on a raised console, but, my neighbor who has a raised Shallow Sport 21 told me last night he wouldn't have one again. Anyone else who's had a raised console share this opinion?

It gives you better vision while driving, but if there's waves or chop, you swing back and forth that much more with the roll of the boat. I have to question how much better you really can things being a few feet higher at 30mph, more exposed to the wind and weather.

Personally it would annoy me to not be standing on the sole, and be able to feel what the hull is doing with my feet. I like to drive as close to waterlevel as possible, personally.

I agree with Mouth personally but to each his own.

I used to have a Blue Wave - loved the center console and standing while driving!

Can you even call it a bay boat if it doesn't have a center console?!?

Well, there's a standard center console like what I have and then there's raised ones, either molded with a higher standing position and leaning post, or short "tower" consoles. Towers have been all the rage for a while, but damn it has to catch wind and get in the way while casting from the boat.

Oh I missed the point about "raised". Yeah, that might bug the tar out of me. I like standing at water level - it seems the most natural.

My second Shallow Sport had a raised deck. It was closed. I liked it very much. It was great for guys. Height was an advantage for spotting especially from the top of the console.

The only thing I didn't like was it wasn't dry storage. Only marine caulked which allowed water to seep.

It was not as friendly for young kids coupled with the fact that I had a tower on both ends.

I really like towers or the raised deck console for drifting as you can see so much better.

My plan was a raised console on aluminum poles so it wouldn't be closed, but, you'd have a sight advantage and extra storage space. My neighbors argument was that it makes a rough boat seem worse in chop and that stepping up and down becomes a pain in the ass

Where and what type of fishing?

Illusion is a great boat BTW

Seadrift/POC

I mainly wade, but, now that my boys are going to be joining me I'll be chunkin' bait and popping shrimp more frequently.

Just like everything else when building a boat, there are pros/cons to every decision.

Just think about how you intend to use it. If you plan to search for reds a lot or run shallow frequently, a raised console may have more advantages.

I will say this, the boats I've been on with raised consoles on posts rattled my teeth out. That's something to think about, especially on an Illusion. I agree, a great boat, but can be a rough ride in certain conditions.

Since I have no boat, whatever you decide, I'll still be jealous. Congrats on the new rig!

I never noticed any difference as to roughness. The stepping up and down was not an issue. Moving around can be an issue especially for kids. You lose the ability to cut thru behind the steering wheel and the raised deck encroaches on the space aft.

[This message has been edited by Sunchaser (edited 4/23/2014 1:14p).]

I have observed that raised consoles are more common on bay boats that are 23' or larger. I'm not sure 21 footer is long enough to have a raised console because of the deck space you give up. Also, I don't consider a Majek Illusion to be a real shallow running boat so I am not sure how much benefit you would get from the height advantage anyway. I know they are good for other reasons, but I always thought the ability to see in shallow water was a big advantage.

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I don't consider a Majek Illusion to be a real shallow running boat

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A boat that runs in 8" and gets up in 10" isn't shallow? Also they are 22.5' not 21'. Maybe you're thinking of the wrong boat?

Illusion is plenty shallow. I've fished in them in the POC area, you'll have no problems in the lakes and back bays - just be mindful of the tides.

I like the raised consoles personally. Good luck on the new sled! They are great fishing platforms in my opinion.

I was mistaken. I was thinking about the majek extreme. The Extreme might be a shallow running boat, but it appears to have more of a V hull so I assumed it didn't run as shallow as the illusion. I used to fish on the redfish line and it would get scary skinny. I hated going across the bay in it, but once we hot into the back lakes it was awesome.