April 18, 2014
By Florida Sportsman
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 |
It's a 34-footer with center-console helm, lounge seating foward, and a forward cabin. |
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. |
View of the helm station. . . |
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. |
Cabin view looking forward over food prep station toward vee berth and drop-down dinette table. |
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. |
Standup head with shower and sink. |
Aft berth for the kids--or for suitcases and more gear for an extended island trip. |
Molded steps from the lounge to the bow. |
A really sweet feature: Standup work space beneath the console, with easy access to generator, batteries, fuel tanks and wiring. |
Detail of wiring behind helm. |
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. |
Battery switches right there where anyone can find them. |
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. . . |
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. |
Vertical rod racks tucked behind the transom. |
That big in-deck storage hatch aft? It'll hold bumpers. . . |
Or better yet, 5-gallon buckets. |
Accessing a cavernous, gelcoat-finished bilge. |
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. |
Lockable overhead hardtop box will likely house a VHF and CD/MP3 stereo, with room to spare for charts and other vital items. |
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. |
Tackle storage center behind the captain's seat. |
With a latch that keeps it closed--a little touch that means a lot in the long run. |
Under-gunnel storage for rods, boat hooks, brushes, you name it. |
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. |
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. |
Rear bench seat is comfortable in most sea conditions, and easily folds up and away when not in use. |
