Ep2 - The Console Aka The Heart and Soul

Welcome back to Out to Sea — I’m Tom, and this is Episode 2 of the 11-episode series where I walk through how I run a 14-foot boat with a 20hp tiller and somehow make it work for chasing bluefin tuna, thresher sharks, mahi, and whatever else decides to show up 10–15 miles offshore.

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EPISODE 1 WHY:    • Ep1 Why a 14ft Boat?  

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In this episode, we’re talking about the console — the heart and soul of this tiny operation. When you only have 14 feet to work with, every inch matters. This setup was all about solving real problems: staying organized, keeping gear dry, managing electronics, and being able to lift the whole thing in and out after every trip. No fancy marine-grade showroom stuff here — a lot of this is wood, garage scraps, and “this should work for now” thinking. Because it is temporary… everything on this boat has been an evolution.

I walk through:

Why I ditched the old Rubbermaid tote setup

How I designed the console around real scenarios (not theory)

Dual-purpose features to save space

Battery, wiring, bilge pumps, switches, and electronics

Storage for safety gear, tools, knives, and the chaos that happens when reels start screaming

What I’d do differently next time (because there’s always a next time)

If you’re building on a small boat, thinking about a removable console, or just like seeing how people make things work without going overboard (financially or mentally), this one’s for you.

This whole series is a walkthrough of the boat before the rebuild, so some of this stuff won’t exist much longer — but it’s all part of the process.

I’m learning as I go, trying to improve, and hoping some of this helps someone else get out there and get after it — even if your boat is a little smaller than most.

Appreciate you watching. See you in the next one.

⚠️ DISCLAIMER:

This series is meant to document my personal boat, experience, and decisions — not to tell anyone what they should or shouldn’t do on the water. Offshore conditions change fast, small boats have limits, and what works for me may not be safe or appropriate for others.

I’ve spent years learning, testing, and building redundancy into this setup, and I never go offshore without carefully checking weather, sea state, and safety gear. If you choose to attempt anything similar, do your own research, follow local laws, respect your vessel’s limits, and put safety first — always.

Bottom line: Don’t push your comfort zone or your boat just because you saw it on the internet. The ocean doesn’t care about views.

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