Pros and Cons of Triumph Ownership

[Triumphant]

I agreee with you Ron's 195 DC. If I had bought my boat new I certainly would have gone over it thoroughly before heading home with it. Unfortunately I bought it used. Barely used... only 8 hrs on it. I got a great deal on it so maybe complaining about fit and finish is redundant on my part. Ok, I'll shut up and be happy for what I have. You guys are a hard bunch to sell. Maybe once I fill the boat with lobster crud and striper blood I won't be such a whiner. Sorry guys.

[MartyM]

I really like my 170, but I agree that the fit and finish isn't that great. I think some of it is the material itself and some of it is just bad workmanship.
I was at a boat show this spring and looked at either the 195 or 210 with a bow pulpit. The seam where the pulpit met the bow looked like it was glued on by a 5 year old. Very sloppy.
I think most of us can overlook some of the defects because the boats are priced at the lower end of the spectrum and they are made of a tough, low maintenance material. However as the price climbs it becomes harder to justify the lower quality
.

[Thfireman]

I was like Ron. I think I drove the guys at Huntley Marine crazy. Me and my Wife went by the dealership 5 or 6 times and went over the boat from one end to the other. Yes we found a few items that we thought was a little sloppy for a $32,000.00 boat (We didnt pay that by the way) but it was things that were due to the materials and we knew they did what they could with that type construction. Over all it is a super sharp looking rig and I am pleased. One thing I am having a hard time understanding is why do all the compartments leak so bad. Triumph knows because there is a drain hole in every one of the compartments. Are other boats like this also? Other brands? I know it is a fishing and also in my case a recreational boat but I want a dry place to put certain things without soaking it or getting mildew on it.

It is a tank, it is a tank, it is a tank. A very sweet looking Tank!

[Trooper1]

I had an 04 190 Bay which was a great boat. Fit and finish were good not great by any means. I now own an 07 215 Tourn Edition and think the workmanship looks better. I did however have some real serious electric problems that the factory QC were to blame. But the dealer fixed them and she seems like she will be a great boat to. My fit and finish is much better I think.

[PileDriver]

I have always found this site as well as the previous one to be a useful for resolving technical issues by asking for advice from the fellow members, discussing and showing off the user modifications, talking about fishing and ultimately sharing our expereinces and passion for our boats.

Since I commented earlier in this thread about our boats you should all realize that I am a big fan of Triumph boats, so be advised this is my opinion and I am not speaking for anyone else on this site. But ever since I posted to this link all I have read is one complaint after another about Triumph. In fact several threads are dedicate to bashing the caftsmanship of these boats. Yes some people have some very valid issues and I personally have never know Triumph to leave them hanging. Yes it might take more time then we like but ultimately these problems are resolved.

So I would like to state a few things here.

1. Triumph does not warranty or build the outboard motor. (if you are having engine problems it is of no reflection of Triumph's Craftsmanship).
2. Typically the dealer installs the motor, this is especially true if you buy a hull with a motor other then those offered by Triumph. So electrical connections, linkage adjustments, etc may be the result of the dealer's craftsmanship.
3. Triumph does not built the trailers.
4. If you bought your boat used, you really dont know how the previous owner maintained their boat so dont blame Triumph for the use/abuse of the boat.
5. All boats have issues!
6. And last but not least, Quit acting like someone held a gun to your head and forced you to buy a Triumph.


So if you have an issue wilt the boat, just ask how to resolve it. I think you will be amazed at how much information you will receive. There are a lot of owners here with tons of expirence and I can alomst bet any issue (with the exception of the bow eye poppoing out) that one of us has gone through it and figured out how to resolve it.

So with that said, if you still think your Triumph is a piece of dung, then sell it and buy a Bayliner!

[NCangler]

Piledriver, thank you for making your last post. I have been thinking about saying something but have hesitated. I probably would not have put it as forcefully as you have in a couple of places in your post , but I agree with you in principle. I know for a fact that the folks at Triumph are working hard to make these boats better and they are listening and responding to owner concerns. Much of what we cover here are modifications that we choose to make as well as suggestions for future options. We are not a factory service center, nor are we connected directly with Triumph. But we do communicate with the factory and share owner suggestions and concerns.

That said, there are really only a handful of issues that crop up and get rehashed, so as you said, if someone has a problem, state the problem and ask for possible solutions. Please refrain from "throwing out the baby with the bath water". Folks here can help. Your dealer, if you have a good relationship with one, can help, and if necessary Triumph can get involved. The first line of inquiry though should always be your local dealer. It doesn't contribute to the owner community here if you have a problem or concern and post about it before talking to your dealer about it. Do that first then let us know if you found a solution and if it was satisfactory or not. Answers are available, put please keep your posts up beat and positive. It will be okay, really.

[ILLOGICAL GGC]

the only thing i have to say regarding fit and finish is for all you fortunate one's able to afford a new 07 model to spend a day on my 01 210 cc and you will see just how far the line has come. the original 210 and 190 aluminum molds were finished with hand grinders ,so they look like flags waving down the gunnels. the plant was able to use cnc machines to give the molds that slick smooth finish ya'll now enjoy. envious---dang right ,but i got a bargain on my 01 and it has never let me down. i know where every wire and hose goes and have enjoyed upgrading my boat as my fellow owners/factory have come up with improvements. it is such a relief to be able to work on my boat all day and at the end of the day not having my hands and arms looking like they had been put through a fiberglass shredder

i accept the things you guys are complaining about as just how the poly reacts as a building substrate. the process will continue to improve---as evident between how my boat was made and the current models..but genmar missed the opportunity in my view to take the market over years ago and the brand recognition and attention to fit and finish has suffered as a result.
just my 4 cents--- 2 ea for each model i have owned

[Trooper1]

Hey I am by no means bashing the Triumph boat. I will never own another glass boat again. I think they make a great product and seem to have good customer service. I have had many problem free hours on my old boat and think the my new boat is even better. I was in no way putting down the brand.

[Thfireman]

I look at it as brain storming with other owners. By discussing dislikes as well as likes maybe it will give Triumph engineers a better idea where they need to focus improvements. I aint complaining trust me, just made an observation that there wasnt a dry place to store dry items. That would be nice but for now I am using dry bags to keep my items happy. I love my boat. I love my Wife too but when I see where there should be room for improvement I tell her..... Then I make up the couch and go to sleep.

[OspreyVic]

Thefireman, I sure can't speak from experience in that we have a 210. Wife is happy with the "mega hold" of the 210 because it holds her porta pottie and she can use it without getting wet and being seen unless another boat is right along side.

Yes, I wish we had more dry storage, but with wife being happy, and I am very happy with the boat, we just grin and bear it when it comes to any other shortcommings.

We decided a long time ago that there was no perfect boat. We found what was perfect for us and go from there. It was like last weekend and with the high winds when we went to put the boat back on the trailer we knocked the rub rail off for a few feet on the port bow side. Wife was having a cow until we got home and she pushed it back into place on her own as I was pressure washing the other side of the boat.

What works for you, and my wife, may not work for others. We try and respect others opinions and feelings, but sometimes we fail there to.

Every boat can be improved, and I think every tow vehicle could be better. We may not say it but we sometimes think that we ourselves could be better. NO, I refuse to comment on my better half. I would rather be alive tomorrow and the next day to take the boat out.

If we look back over the years, I truly believe that the factory has listened. Maybe they have not listened as fast as we wanted, but our best friends are that way sometimes. As long as the factory keeps listening and making a better product, we all gain. After all, being plastic, what ever the factory improves on we can probably copy. For proof, I suggest you ask some old Logic owners such as MolarBoater and Illogical Green Grass Clogger. They have made their boats as good as or better than the newest Triumphs.

We love our wifes and our boats, but sometimes frustration rules the day.