I know this was probably covered somewhere but I thought it would be easier to simply ask.
Is there an easy way to identify an East Coast Triton from a West Coast Triton according to just the hull #?
I am in the market for a westcoast Triton but live on the East coast. I was going to look at a Triton for sale down in Virginia but I don't want any core nightmares in the older East coast boats.
Thanks in advance!
Skunker
Hull number identification
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Tim
- Shipwright Extraordinaire
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- Boat Name: Glissando
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No one seems to know which hull numbers were assigned to Aeromarine for Triton production, or if any duplicate numbers exist. So I don't think you can tell just from the hull number.
But it's easy to tell an east coast boat from a west coast boat. The most identifiable feature, even from a distance, is the cockpit coamings: west coast boats have molded fiberglass coamings, while east coast boats will have removable wood ones. You can easily tell this from a photo.
There are few west coast boats on the east coast. I actually can think of only one, somewhere in New York. Chances are the boat in VA is an east coast.
But it's easy to tell an east coast boat from a west coast boat. The most identifiable feature, even from a distance, is the cockpit coamings: west coast boats have molded fiberglass coamings, while east coast boats will have removable wood ones. You can easily tell this from a photo.
There are few west coast boats on the east coast. I actually can think of only one, somewhere in New York. Chances are the boat in VA is an east coast.
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Skunker
Triton Hull #'s
Tim...The Va boat is an East Coast boat and I had heard about the coaming identifier. I ran across a nice list of Tritons for sale on another website and would really like a West Coaster but have not received any word yet on all the E-Mails I just fired off to all the owners.
Out of all the West Coast Tritons for sale, most appear to be further South in SC or Fla and only a couple in NY, but they don't seem to be in the best of shape.
I am in no great hurry but would really like to have a Triton before spring to enjoy on the Hudson.
Skunker
Out of all the West Coast Tritons for sale, most appear to be further South in SC or Fla and only a couple in NY, but they don't seem to be in the best of shape.
I am in no great hurry but would really like to have a Triton before spring to enjoy on the Hudson.
Skunker
I may have looked at the Virginia boat...
Hi Skunker,
I looked at a Virginia Triton recently because I am also in the market for a Triton. It wasn't the boat for me, but I'd be happy to share any information about it with you. In fact, as I boat shop, often driving a long distance for naught, I often think we boat shoppers should have an "I've seen this one and here's what I thought..." page :-)
It was definitely an East Coast boat, BTW, hull #399.
I did see a list of Aeromarine/WC hull numbers; let me think where... Oh, I think it was on a page (history, perhaps?) on the New England Triton Association web site.
Okay, maybe you don't want to tell me, but where is this list of Tritons for sale? I understand if you don't want to reveal your source; it's hard enough boat shopping anyway. OTOH, maybe we're not looking for exactly the same thing anyway and could help each other out somehow.
Good luck Triton hunting,
--- Rachel
I looked at a Virginia Triton recently because I am also in the market for a Triton. It wasn't the boat for me, but I'd be happy to share any information about it with you. In fact, as I boat shop, often driving a long distance for naught, I often think we boat shoppers should have an "I've seen this one and here's what I thought..." page :-)
It was definitely an East Coast boat, BTW, hull #399.
I did see a list of Aeromarine/WC hull numbers; let me think where... Oh, I think it was on a page (history, perhaps?) on the New England Triton Association web site.
Okay, maybe you don't want to tell me, but where is this list of Tritons for sale? I understand if you don't want to reveal your source; it's hard enough boat shopping anyway. OTOH, maybe we're not looking for exactly the same thing anyway and could help each other out somehow.
Good luck Triton hunting,
--- Rachel
Here's that list...
Here's that list of Aeromarine hull numbers, which I did find on the New England Triton Association website. It's taken from a letter written by Bill Bell. I hope/assume that in the interest of spreading the information he will not mind it posted here.
--- Rachel
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"The subject of numbering of Sausalito boats has been a mystery for many of us. I have a letter from, Dr. Phyllis Van Vleet, NTA Commodore back in the late 70's. In a letter dated Oct 19, l977, she says" I think my boat is the first Sausalito built Triton, #92. We have 5 in the 400 series and I'm not quite sure whether these are Sausalito on not. Other Sausalito boats are: 93, 94, 96, 101, 103, 106, 107, 141, 143, 144, 149, 150, 162, 163, 165, 166, 168, 169, 244, 245, 248, 250, 25l, 252, 254, 255, 256, 257, 257, 260, 26l, 262, 263, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 333, 335, 357, 358, 359, 360, 362, 363, 367, 368, 369, 372, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 388 and 393. "
[Update 8/04: John Donovan writes, "I just read your history of Tritons....and DR van Vleet is quoted as saying her hull # 92 is probably the first one built at Sausalito,Ca. The boat I just bought was trucked to the East Coat by an IBM emplyee who was transferred east. It was bought by the owner previous to me in 1990 when the then current owner was transferred to Japan. My boat is "Documented"...stating it is hull # 89 built in 1960 at Sausalito. Therefore , I may have the first Triton built by Aeromarine.]
The good doctor goes on to note that there may be "a few in there that are Eastern - but only 2 or 3. We have fiberglass coamings." In a talk to the New England Triton Club, Mr. Pearson told us that the company did not like several thiungs Sausalito did and that the feeling at the factory was that they could build a better boat in Bristol - and sell it at the same price - even if they had to truck it across the country. I recall that he was bothered by Sausalito making boats with different mast heights and boom lengths for various areas of the West Coast. I canot see why that bothered him; Bristol boats had spars of varying dimension over the years. If any of you Californians are interested, my last address for Dr. Van Vleet was 243 Asilomar Blvd., Pacific Grove, Ca 93950. I have no phone number for her.
Best wishes, Bill Bell"
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--- Rachel
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"The subject of numbering of Sausalito boats has been a mystery for many of us. I have a letter from, Dr. Phyllis Van Vleet, NTA Commodore back in the late 70's. In a letter dated Oct 19, l977, she says" I think my boat is the first Sausalito built Triton, #92. We have 5 in the 400 series and I'm not quite sure whether these are Sausalito on not. Other Sausalito boats are: 93, 94, 96, 101, 103, 106, 107, 141, 143, 144, 149, 150, 162, 163, 165, 166, 168, 169, 244, 245, 248, 250, 25l, 252, 254, 255, 256, 257, 257, 260, 26l, 262, 263, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332, 333, 335, 357, 358, 359, 360, 362, 363, 367, 368, 369, 372, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 388 and 393. "
[Update 8/04: John Donovan writes, "I just read your history of Tritons....and DR van Vleet is quoted as saying her hull # 92 is probably the first one built at Sausalito,Ca. The boat I just bought was trucked to the East Coat by an IBM emplyee who was transferred east. It was bought by the owner previous to me in 1990 when the then current owner was transferred to Japan. My boat is "Documented"...stating it is hull # 89 built in 1960 at Sausalito. Therefore , I may have the first Triton built by Aeromarine.]
The good doctor goes on to note that there may be "a few in there that are Eastern - but only 2 or 3. We have fiberglass coamings." In a talk to the New England Triton Club, Mr. Pearson told us that the company did not like several thiungs Sausalito did and that the feeling at the factory was that they could build a better boat in Bristol - and sell it at the same price - even if they had to truck it across the country. I recall that he was bothered by Sausalito making boats with different mast heights and boom lengths for various areas of the West Coast. I canot see why that bothered him; Bristol boats had spars of varying dimension over the years. If any of you Californians are interested, my last address for Dr. Van Vleet was 243 Asilomar Blvd., Pacific Grove, Ca 93950. I have no phone number for her.
Best wishes, Bill Bell"
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