SPECIFICATIONS
Length: 34 feet, 10 inches
Beam: 10 feet
Hull weight: 9,432 pounds
Deadrise: 24 degrees
Approx. draft: 25 inches
Recommended power range: 500 to 900
Fuel capacity: 355 gallons
The Triton 351 Express
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It’s a 34-footer with center-console helm, lounge seating foward, and a forward cabin.
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Triple 250-horsepower Mercury Verado 4-strokes can push this boat to the 60 mph mark, but it’s said to perform nicely with twins, topping out at respectable 40 mph. Keep in mind those are 600-plus-pound motors on a 10,000-pound hull. This is a rig most at home in a wetslip or perhaps a lift behind a waterfront home.
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View of the helm station. . .
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And view from the helm station. With trim tabs down, we found the boat provided good visibility for the captain while getting up on plane. A minor downside was, this station was subject to some spray when quartering a steep, 3-foot chop in 20-knot winds. Isinglass curtains are easy to install beneath the hardtop, and would be recommended in Florida’s breezy winter sailfish season.
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Cabin view looking forward over food prep station toward vee berth and drop-down dinette table.
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Interior electrical systems, with accessory plug, diesel level indicator for generator, DC/AC inverter, and stereo. Air-conditioning and refrigerator make this more than just a place to stow rods.
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Standup head with shower and sink.
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Aft berth for the kids–or for suitcases and more gear for an extended island trip.
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Molded steps from the lounge to the bow.
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A really sweet feature: Standup work space beneath the console, with easy access to generator, batteries, fuel tanks and wiring.
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Detail of wiring behind helm.
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Plenty of space for two 12-inch or greater multi-function screens. Binnacle is electronic model for Verados, and analog/digital gauges can be customized for display fuel levels, speed and vital engine performance data.
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Battery switches right there where anyone can find them.
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A somewhat narrow, 25-gallon transom livewell (or fishbox, as you prefer) may not hold quite enough goggle-eyes for tournament kite-fishing, but certainly more than enough for the average weekend angler. And check out what’s back there. . .
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That’s right–built-in tuna tubes. This boat isn’t made just to stay in Florida and chum pilchards for whimpy kings and sails. . . it’s built to travel to marlin country, where slow-trolling live bonitos or skipjacks can produce big results. Those active baits are also dynamite for wahoo and super-smoker kingfish.
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Vertical rod racks tucked behind the transom.
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That big in-deck storage hatch aft? It’ll hold bumpers. . .
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Or better yet, 5-gallon buckets.
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Accessing a cavernous, gelcoat-finished bilge.
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Lots of storage on this boat. Fish boxes alongside the console are good for groupers and school dolphin, but if you’re after a triple-digit wahoo, swordfish or yellowfin, you’ll need to bring a good fish bag on this boat. Again, the 351 looks like it has the layout of a catch-and-release marlin trolling boat, or else a day-boat for pelagics.
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Lockable overhead hardtop box will likely house a VHF and CD/MP3 stereo, with room to spare for charts and other vital items.
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The top is sweet–rod racks, space for life vests, built-in lights. Put a 4kW open-array radar up there and you’re in business.
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Tackle storage center behind the captain’s seat.
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With a latch that keeps it closed–a little touch that means a lot in the long run.
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Under-gunnel storage for rods, boat hooks, brushes, you name it.
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Triton boats (www.tritonboats.com) are composite uni-body construction, with limited lifetime hull warranty. Based on the builder’s reputation on the bass and inshore circuit, the growing fleet of offshore Tritons is worth a look.
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Transom tuna doors on outboard rigs aren’t really practical for hauling aboard fish. But this one will come in handy for accessing the motors, or admitting snorkelers.
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Rear bench seat is comfortable in most sea conditions, and easily folds up and away when not in use.
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© 2011 InterMedia Outdoors