HULL FLEXING

jollyboat · Post by **jollyboat** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:43 am

I found this thread on Larry Suiters Guest Book on the San Fransico Triton Web site. I do not know the issue of hull flexing in a Triton has ever been an issue for any other Triton owners but I thought it would be a reasonable issue to discuss. Here is the copied thread.

Referred By: Just Surfed On In
Location: japan
Comments: I'm very glad to find this "Triton-homepage" because I've had some questios about these boats for a long time.
I left Sausalito on my triton, "further", hull # 364(at least it says so on the sail) in Feb. 97, sailed through many south pacific islands, and in Jun.99,reached japan, that's where I'm from.
before leaving for this cruise, I had many doubts about my boat, amd still do.
I purchased a triton solely for its incredible reputations. But after I owned one, I realzed that no boat, no matter how well built, can beat ages without good care taken.
Among many problems, what I didn't like the most was that I found my boat's bottom extremely soft. I mean seriously. It flexes like no boat's bottom does.
So I visted some other tritons in Sausalito to check if their bottoms are soft also. All the kind Triton owners accepted this strange experiment, and whatched their bottom as I pounded the panel undernieth the berth in the main cabin with my thumb.
As a result they all flexed quite a bit except the ones with wooden coamings (I was imformed that they are the ones built in East coast). They had some stracture supports in the area)

So, if anybody knows the answer for this mistery, I would like to know. I thought Tritons are built so tough and they are bullet proof. But then, why their bottoms so soft and moves in and out by every wave's action?

In these last two months or so, I hauled my Triton on hard, and 've been working on it. One project is to install a new engine, a diesel. I also did put six bulkheads undernieth the berth to make my bottom a little bit harder. It really was't good to worry about the bottom flexing in the middle of the ocean.
My boat also had colleced some osmosis blisters. Another thing I found out was that the last lamination (outer) was of fiberglass cloth. In my understanding, this always should be resin rich matt to make it more water resistable.
Also my guess is that they didn't use any matt what's so ever in the proccess of hull construction, and this has something to do with water getting absorbed in the hull? I don't know.

If anybody knows more about this, please let me know, so I don't have to worry about it every day.
thanks.

Post by **Tim** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 1:03 pm

Sounds like one unsupported story by a person who may or may not know what they're talking about.

I've never seen a WC Triton in person, but none of the many EC Tritons I've seen have any flexing worries of this sort, nor have I ever heard of other concerns of this nature, beyond this one random entry in an outdated website.

jollyboat · Post by **jollyboat** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 1:16 pm

I agree, I have never seen anything like this. I wonder if this person really had a Triton. The thead is very outdated but I thought it was an ineresting claim - as wild as it is.

Post by **Tim** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 1:23 pm

jollyboat wrote:I wonder if this person really had a Triton

My thoughts exactly...

jollyboat · Post by **jollyboat** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 3:02 pm

If anybody knows more about this, please let me know, so I don't have to worry about it every day.
thanks.

PS - I did write this bit either as it was the end of the copied thread but looks like mine - rest assured I am not concerned.

jollyboat · Post by **jollyboat** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 3:04 pm

make that DID NOT WRITE this - typo

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 7:58 pm

jollyboat wrote:
I wonder if this person really had a Triton

My thoughts exactly...

The "Triton" in question might be one of the <hushed voice> Others.

The "other" Pearson Triton that nobody wants to talk about. I can imagine one of those demonstrating some hull flex.

-Britton

Harry James · Post by **Harry James** » Wed Sep 06, 2006 3:31 pm

I have Triton #144 a WC Triton and it is much lighter than the norm. I gather from owner reports that the early WC Triton's were very heavily built, especialy the first few. later numbers are much lighter. Tales #144 wieghed in at apporoximately 7,000 lbs on two diferent cranes on the move north. This is with engine, batteries 7 sails, mast and all standing and running rigging, 150 lbs of chain, two Anchors, 300 ft of rode and 30-40 gallons of water. This is a ton less than the reported wieght of #94. Debbie Weeks owner of Patience WC #362 reported a weight in the low 7,000's . I would not be surprised to see hull panting under the settee's in that long unsupported section during hard driving to windward. Hopefully next summer I will be able to confirm or deny this.

Ceasar Choppy · Post by **Ceasar Choppy** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 11:05 am

I'm wondering if what the guy refers to as "coamings" are really floor members? I don't recall ever seeing too many floors in a Triton, but with the shape of the bilge and the placement of bulkheads, I suspect the scantlings aren't a problem.

I only have my previous Renegade to go by which was built a bit later than the Triton (1967-1969), but was similar in lay-up.

The only "flexing" I noticed was if the backstay was set too tight, it had a tendency to pull the ends of the boat up enough to where I couldn't get the head door closed.

The other thing I noticed was that in certain areas of the midships' bilge, the layup was only 1/4 - 3/8" thick. Still pretty thick by today's standards.