Worlds Toughest Boat?

[Mike in Maine]

If the Triumph is "The Worlds Toughest Boat" then why must they come with and be loaded on a bunk trailer? I've always liked the roller trailers for many reasons over the bunk types. I was told by my dealer that the Triumphs must be loaded on and transported on a bunk trailer. After seeing the Bubba video I'm wondering whats the big deal? Maybe Dick or NCangler might know.

Thanks, M I M

[fattiresc]

I understand what you are saying, but I think you may have misinterpreted what they are saying, and I could be wrong. Please someone gently correct me if I am wrong... :-)

It is the "Worlds Toughest Boat" in the sense of running aground or banging docks or hitting rocks. BUT, and there always is one, Triumphs are obviously not made of fiberglass, but of Ropelene. The Ropelene is softer and more shock resistant, which is why you can run them into a dock and it bounces back instead of cracking like fiberglass. Ropelene can have a memory though. If you do not support it well enough it will develop sags that are not easily correctible. The flex in the material allows for flex in the unsupported less rigid areas. Therefore you need the bunk system to support those crucial areas. I realize this is one of those hardcore fiberglass folk’s reasons to knock the Triumph, but personally and somewhat privately, I think this is the best boat you can buy. I live in Columbia, SC. I have never told anyone other than those that experienced it with me the story of running aground. Lake Murray is the lake I live near and visit. Murray has been down almost 10 feet for the last 4 years. I bought my boat earlier this year and enjoyed taking it to the lake a couple of times and then to the beach for three weeks. Upon my return home, some buddies and I went to Lake Murray and had a cookout. This included a few adult beverages, but nothing too sloshy. We went out on the lake to go fishing around midnight. I went out around the **** and we just kind of putted along taking in the sights and weather. We noticed a sailboat off the port side and I gave way big time since it was so late and dark. Didn’t realize where I was at the time, just happy to have seen the sailboat. we were going about 23 - 27 mph, next thing I know the motor made a weird noise, we slowed to a stop quickly. I turned on the surround lights and we are sitting on land. The fact that the lake was down 10 feet, had exposed a bar that was made of mud and rock. I was freaking out. I had only had the boat 3 months and now I had run it aground.

When I got out of the boat I walked out in the water and the entire boat was on land. Luckily it was somewhat soft (muddy) but included plenty of rocks. I was so sad thinking that I had ruined my brand new boat. We somehow flagged down someone to pull us off (whole different story). We headed back to the landing and loaded the muddy 190 bay up and traveled home.

The next morning I got up and pressure washed the boat. To my surprise there were a few scratches but nothing major at all. The 2006 Yamaha took a bit of a beating... prop was a bit mangled and the bullet has some deep dings. I have never gotten over how well the boat handled the impact. there were two scratches that would be considered very deep on a fiberglass boat, but on the Triumph it was really nothing.

To make a long story short, I agree with Triumph. There are much prettier boats out there, the pretty light and dark blue hulls, or the fighting lady yellow but none of them can stack up to the Ropelene. If I EVER get another boat, I will buy the much touted, never before seen 23footer. But, the 190 Bay is one awesome, go ANYWHERE boat. I am a believer!

[Mike in Maine]

Thanks F T,
My main concern is painting the bottom (I'll leave my boat in the salt water for the summer), I've done this on roller and bunk trailers and it is more easily done on the roller type trailers. And also hauling the boat out of the water. It is so easy to just drive the boat on tothe trailer up the bow roller. Thanks for the story I'm glad to hear how well the boat held up after the accident.

Happy Thanksgiving to All, M I M

[ILLOGICAL GGC]

fattire
you must have had willie and jo-jo shealy from batesburg on the southern end of the lake with you to have run aground. sounds like something they would do!!!!esp. after a few barley pops. i love to come in a little hot to the landing and give my 210 a good bounce off the dock---love those looks from the glass boys as their mouths drop as they dont see any damage!!!!
berto

[fridaysoff]

Mike,
I have the 170CC and I "drive" it on my bunk trailer up to the bow roller evey time I take it out of the water. I also back the trailer in far enough when I launch it to float the boat a little. It is easy to slide a Triumph off of the bunks because the roplene is slick. I will not unhook the strap until I'm at the bottom of the ramp because the boat will probably slide off the trailer while I'm backing down. I like the "Bubba" commercial; I don't want to be in one.The bunk trailers work well with a little adjustment and getting familiar with launching off them. I'm like you. I always had roller trailers before I bought the Triumph. I like the bunk type now because I do not have to worry about greasing the rollers.
John D.

[pamarine]

Mike,

To put it simply, all boats should be hauled on trailers with bunks instead of rollers. Rollers simply do not support the hull properly. However, larger/heavier boats generate a lot of friction on all-bunk trailers, so normally you will see either combination bunk/roller systems or all-roller systems. Rollers place a lot of small pressure points on the hulls, kind of like an inner-spring mattress does on your body. Eventually, your boat's hull will begin to feel like your back on a worn out mattress, sore and outta whack. Most FRP hulls are rigid enough that the lack of support would take decades to change the hull shape, however the Triumph hulls have more flex and therefore need to be properly supported.

Frank Dixon
Princess Anne Marine Service
Norfolk, VA
Owner: 2003 170 CC

[jebsr50]

Well said Pamarine...JEB

[ReelDive]

Had my fiberglass hull crack after hitting a railroad crossing a bit fast on my fiberglass Geenoe, right where the foward roller suport put a presure point on the keel foward of the trailer bunks. Never had a problem with either of the roplene huls that I've owned - and belive me I've taken them on some very bumpy roads.