Fond memories of Triton #503 that I owned in the late 1970's, a strong capable boat but there are a few points to keep in mind.
Since the last Triton was built about 1970 any Triton sailing today would have had its share of
repairs and refits, maybe some done well, others not so much.
Things to watch for: Rudder is
wood planks bolted to
bronze rudder shaft, not bad if maintained or replaced by a real craftsman, easier to fix than a glass/foam rudder.
Deck stepped
mast is supported by
wood beams, check for
rot.
Balsa
core deck no doubt rotted by now or repaired years ago, could be a big job in your time or
money.
The original Atomic 4
engine was good but
raw water cooled, so more than likely rusted out and replaced, quality of
work may vary. Later Tritons had a dripless
shaft seal, worked OK in mine but unknown how it holds up over the decades, check for
leaks.
Electrical system was minimal, just
cabin and running lights, will need to run
wiring if you want
electronics, DC
refrigeration and so on. No
shore power wiring in the one I had.
Deck
hardware, winches, standing
rigging, and wire running
rigging may all need to be replaced.
Jib was hanked on so don't expect a
furler unless a PO added one.
The
roller furling booms of that era were a PIA, convert to jiffy reefing if not already done.
Tritons were built before holding
tanks were the law, if a tank was added check how well that was done.
Now the good points:
Heavy solid glass
hull with encapsulated lead ballast, no
keel bolt worries but check for grounding damage and water intrusion.
Later models have a monel
fuel tank that should be fine today.
Bronze window frames and
ports.
The fractional rig is back in fashion.
Timeless Carl
Alberg design.
Should be an excellent
budget boat for cruising the
Bahamas.
Hope this helps anyone interested in a Triton.
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