170 CC Flats Boat

I am presently in the market for a new boat that I can use to fly fish on the flats of Biscayne Bay and Florida Keys, and on occassion cruise my family around. The 170CC has definitely caught my eye. Very impressed with everything Ive read about the toughness and versatility of these boats. I even like what Ive read on this forum with poling platform modification.

After weeks of research, only doubt left is how shallow can this model go? Manufacturers website list the draft at 6". This draft is very comparable to any other top of the line flats boat. Id like to hear some feedback from other shallow anglers experiences with this model. How quiet is the hull? How shallow can this boat really float in with two avg. men without hitting bottom? How well does it pole?

Thanks

[wpschaef]

Hi Leo,with the motor trimmed down and 2-250lb guys + gear and 3 batteries, trolling motor etc. I dinged my prop in a little less than 1.5 feet on the fish finder. But I also didn't really notice the boat drafting much more when we added another guy at 370lbs other than having to be more conscious of distribution. (By the way I believe that exceeds the weight limits a little.) I haven't had the opportunity to fish flats but am very satisfied with the versatility of my 170CC. I use it for everything from lunch or dinner cruising with on board BBQ to downrigger trolling or Bass fishing.

[BarryB]

If you can wait until toward the end of the year, Triumph may have some new stuff out there. However, I have a 170CC and with the motor tilted up, is does draft about 6 inches. Also, the boat does not kill your back in rough water like an aluminium boat (Well, that is what my brother in law states).

[cagrove]

I've had my boat in water so shallow that I could not use my trolling motor. With the main engine trimmed up, I used my spare paddle to push me through some weed beds and it was no more than eight inches deep...maybe less. The six inch draft is for real. If you're looking for a flats boat...you found it.

Tight lines.

[Putershark]

I live on the Flats and I have the same issue with my 190. It will float where the Trolling Motor will not work without splashing. Now I would like to see Triumph come out with a "Real" Flats Boat and when you look at the design of a Hewes, Maverick, Ranger, etc. etc. which are purpose built for such, you will see how the current 170 (though will work and at a much lower cost) still misses the target.



What you need is...

• A Polling Platform
• A smaller console
• lockable rod storage
• Tunnel or step hull
• 360 walk around on a flush deck
• At least one release well that will fit 2 slot sized Redfish

The end game being able to compete with the other makers in the Redfish Tour events and though close, the short falls of the current 170 and 190 models would make it hard to compete. I know I have been trying to make up for them for years now with my 190 and though much closer than many stock boats now, I still do not have the ability to keep alive for long two Reds, nor can I leave my rods onboard (locked) when traveling

In other words in both the Flats Market like the Bass Boat Market, your boat is your tackle box / office and you need to be able to carry a lot of stuff for the days hunt both securly and below decks out of the way

[cagrove]

Originally Posted by Putershark

What you need is...

• A Polling Platform
• A smaller console
• lockable rod storage
• Tunnel or step hull
• 360 walk around on a flush deck
• At least one release well that will fit 2 slot sized Redfish

The end game being able to compete with the other makers in the Redfish Tour events and though close, the short falls of the current 170 and 190 models would make it hard to compete.

Tournament fishing and recreational fishing are two different breeds...and require different boats. For general flats fishing, although not perfectly ideal, I believe the 170 can and will do the job nicely. While I certainly don't disagree with your list of needs for a tourney boat, I do believe the requirement for a livewell could be eliminated if (and I know it's a big "if") the folks that put on the tournaments would change their format a little. In this day of technology, there is simply no reason to carry two fish (or five in the case of Bass) in a live well all day bouncing around through chop, etc to be handled over and over during the weigh-in and then dumped at the boat dock. Digital video cameras with a live feed back to the tourney HQ would suffice and you could let the fish go where you caught it. I don't want to hijack this thread but that's always been a bone of contention with me. I see too many dead bass at the docks on Monday morning after a weekend of tournaments...esp. in the summer with warmer water temps.

To get back to the topic on this thread, fly fishing the flats and keys and day cruising are well within this boat's capabilities.

[Putershark]

Tournaments and TV coverage of the sport, is what drives some of the interest and desire to fish. And we need to recruit as many kids (both large and small) to help protect the resource and the sport as possible... Just ask the guys and gals out west how they feel about being locked out of places to fish! Like hook and line fishing by weekend warriors (don't get me started) like us, ever puts much of a dent in fish populations. So every person who buys a fishing licence is another potential voice to help stop such madness.

I myself have never seen more than a few fish ever lost at a tour event (even when Red Tide was present) and if it is 1%, that is a very small price to pay for such recrutement. Matter of fact, I am more torn over seeing Marine Mammals in zoos and theme parks, but that is also the price some have to pay to help secure interest in protecting them all... I also feel, that release events are MUCH better than the older kill events, but in some ways it would be a little hard to bring in and keep alive a 70 pound King fish so that is not always possible either

The release well, I will disagree with you not only for Tour work Chuck, but to recover a fish after a fight and (which happens more than you know) and as a place to store the fish in relative safety while Flipper (they have gotten smarter) is circling the boat like a Buzzard, just waiting to pick off your weaken fish when you go to release it.... I have had to do this several times and it would be nicer to have a larger place to do such

No, and I have stated this for years now... Triumph is really missing the boat by not building a Tour event ready package and those extras would go a long way in making "any" boat more functional to own. Consider who Triumph has as sister boat makers, the layout plans have already been done by the likes of Ranger and Hydra Sports thus, I do not see this as being a hard reach for them at all, and something they should have done long ago Sure wish they would help me get ready for some Redfish events so I could compete and help promote the brand name. I need some engineering help done that is becoming a reach for me to pull off that is for sure.

So you want to prove how tough you really are, then give us the tool to compete http://lakeandbayboats.com/wallpaper5-1024x768.html and just like how automotive racing improves production models, the same would happen for Triumph and us as buyers of such products

Nope, I (like most men ) would much rather have too much of a tool then too little and then try and make it work... And though both the 170 and 190 work on the flats and do a fair job at such. It is not one of these http://www.hewes.com/boat-specs.php?ID=91 which Triumph could build just as well and at a price point that others could not compete with, thus take even more market share away from the big boys

That is what I want to see them do as well as build a nice offshore Cat Hull for I will take the sea keeping abilities and lower power and less fuel burn of the Cat Hull over a V-hull for offshore work hands down any day...

Tight Lines to all!

[cagrove]

PuterShark,
I hear where you're coming from and will have to settle to "agree to disagree". I think we could burn a lot of midnight oil and kill quite a few cold ones discussing this subject.

Tight lines.

[jebsr50]

Leo: I have fished the flats all my life, being a native of Florida, and have ran many brands of boats. Your question on noise is greatly reduced in the triump and yes it will run as shallow as you will want it to. I notice you carry you family and safety comes to mind. My wife of 36 years no longer gives me any trouble about fishing alone in Charlotte Harbor. She did a lot of research and satisfied the both of us with this 170. I walk with 2 forearm crutches and with a couple of mods I run the flats fly fishing and casting for what ever wants to give me a little enjoyment.

[OspreyVic]

OK Dave and Chuck. I can agree and disagree with both of you. If I could have a place for wife's porta Portie like we have with the "Mega Hold" on our 210 in a smaller craft, we would have gone smaller.

Do I like keeping fish alive -- yes. Do I like encouraging others to be out on the waters this country has available -- yes.

Life is all about compromise. Keeping family safe in a larger car or truck is one option. Saving money on gas in a smaller boat is another.

Saving time by not polishing my boat so I can volunteer to be a Moderator on this site - priceless.

Thanks for letting me participate and hopefully encouraging others to enjoy this web site and our boats. There are many of use that like fooling around with our boats, doing things that our fiberglass cousins do not even dream about. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would end up just loving to work making my boat better. Thank you Triumph for letting me enjoy a better life.