After using my 1801 again recently, I realized that most of the crowding between the helm and the seat/livewell is actually the fixed steering wheel hitting my six pack abs. This forces me to stand upright, to slightly leaning back, when the more natural, and comfortable position, is to lean into the chop. I am considering using a piece of starboard to move the helm a few inches forward, but now, I am wondering if a tilt wheel helm will solve the problem. Of course, I am 3 hours from the boat when this question pops onto my head.
Mine is a 2000. Do newer 1801's come with tilt steering, and does this eliminate the problem of feeling jammed in behind the wheel? If your boat is handy, how far from the aft edge of the console to the center of the helm, right on the fiberglass? And how far from that aft edge of the console, to the nearest point on the wheel, when tilted up? My wheel protrudes into the space aft of the console, does your tilt steering clear that vertical line up the rear of the console?