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2026 Smoker Craft Freedom 160 TL

Boat Reviews

Boat Review by: Rick Layzell

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When an independent boat brand can state with pride that their heritage takes them back to 1903, it’s a bit of a given that these folks know darn well how to build one heck of a boat. Smoker Craft is one of the few, if not only, US manufacturers that can make and stand behind that statement.

From early years crafting wooden boats to their transition in the mid-20th century to aluminum, Smoker Craft have made literally hundreds of thousands of boating dreams come true.

So when we are asked to test something smaller in their lineup, the answer was unequivocally ,yes!.’ We knew going in that the Freedom 160 TL (tiller) would be built with the same commitment to quality and craftsmanship as her larger siblings, and from the moment I walked down the docks I sensed we were in for a treat.

Knowing the 160 is available as a side console, center console, or tiller made it clear Smoker Craft can meet the needs of a multitude of users. I was pleased to test the tiller variation as I always believe a tiller gives us true performance testing since I can feel the results more intimately being close to the transom.

With a 60 HP Yamaha strapped to her transom, this package sits intentionally tall (think dry ride) on the dock. Dressed in non-painted hull sides and squarely aimed at the fishing guide, camp, and utility market, she glistened at the dock with reflections of lily pads from the neighboring slip.

Gazing into her interior from the bow she sports a wide 89” (2.29 m) beam and the grey vinyl flooring accented the non-painted hull sides and interior walls perfectly.

Storage solutions are well positioned in this interior which also comes standard with a pair of folding seats and three seat bases. There’s a sizeable storage locker under the bow (which is also pre-wired for a trolling motor of your choice). There is a lockable rod storage on the starboard side, more storage on the port side, and there’s even accessory battery storage in the floor towards the bow.

Fishing features are well thought out and functional with IGTS – Integrated Gunnel Track System – running bow to stern on both sides of the craft. It readily adapts to your daily angling needs and those of your crew. You’ll find a livewell on the port side as well as a fish filet station near the stern.

The piece de resistance has to be the shore lunch box integrated into the floor. What a brilliant idea! Easy enough to lay ice in the pan in the early morning for your crews catch of the day. A pair of grab handles make pulling this up and out of the boat a breeze. So easy to create incredible shore lunch experiences for your guests.

Her helm seat sits perfectly positioned and adjacent to the beefy Yamaha tiller handle with trim and RPM settings at your fingertips. A tidy dash panel rests below with fuel gauge, livewell, and toggle switches at the ready.

This is just a really well thought out interior from all perspectives.

We moved out to the testing grounds on a cool September afternoon with bright sunshine, limited boat traffic, and only modest winds. The combination of hull and engine paired nicely and I can’t honestly imagine the need to bring up her max HP of 75. The 60 did an excellent job here. Hole shots yielded a consistent 5.5 second result. Keeping in mind I was running solo with only half a tank of fuel and base safety gear, adding crew and gear for a day of fishing will stretch that out modestly.

She corners playfully and that tall bow feel at the docks remained as we churned up the waters to test and experience her dry ride. My choice cruising speeds were 17 and 22 MPH with the boat playfully skipping along in 12” chop of my own creation. GPS tracked top speed came in at a comfortable and very respectful 34 MPH.

The Freedom 160 is a capable player that will deliver plenty of fishing memories for many a crew. Check this package out at a local boat show or your local dealer. List out your needs and desires in advance and she will check off many of the boxes for you. She sure made me smile out there!