New to me 2005 Triton 21 TRX - Question for Triton Experts

[MarkAmerica]

Good evening folks!

I'm new to this forum, and relatively new to Triton boats, and boat ownership generally. I have a couple of questions I'm hoping some longtime Triton owners can help me sort out, but I also figured this is as good a time as any to introduce myself a little.  I'm a middle-aged man, married, one adult child, gainfully employed since before I was old enough to drive. I'm also an Army veteran. I work in information technology, though I've done a lot of different things over my lifetime. I reside on my small horse farm in Central Texas, in the general vicinity of Temple.

I started fishing from the banks of our local lakes when our (now 31yo) daughter was around five. She and I would go frequently to the nearest lake and fish from the banks of good ol' Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir.  Where I worked at the time, I had a co-worker who was approaching the age I am now, and he had a nifty Stratos bass boat. He took me out with him a time or too, and on one of the trips, I caught a ten-pounder on a spinner-bait. She was a hydrilla-gorilla if ever there was one, at least where I was concerned. A little earlier, I had a big smallmouth pound a spinnerbait just before the sun edged up, and she managed to shake it loose giving one heckuva dance for the bargain. I only managed to land the big largemouth that day, but it was incredible.

Anyway, that day on the lake with my co-worker taught me that I needed a boat to really enjoy the sport. With other things ongoing, and the inability to afford a boat, well, I pretty much consigned myself to be boatless and mostly fishless forevermore. The daughter and I still went occasionally, but as time went on, our interest went in other directions, and the daughter wanted a horse, and then there were more, and then there was a farm, and foals and yada yada yada...

So last year, during the initial COVID lockdown, an opportunity arose when a boat for sale locally came to my attention. As it turned out, the owner's location was less than three miles from my office, so I went after work to check it out. It was a 2005 Triton 21 TRX, with an Evinrude ETEC 225. It has a 101lb MinnKota Fortrex, but the electronics on the boat were poor. It consisted of a Lowrance HDS 5 (Gen 1) and a transducer glued into the hull. There was also some tiny unit at the bow, but it had its own transducer mounted on the trolling motor, and the lead was broken. The tires on the trailer were in poor shape(one of them actually burst just sitting there over the winter) and the boat was 15yo, so there are some issues. The center seat cushion needs reupholstered, there are a couple of small nicks/tears in the main seats, and the shift cable was in poor shape. The boat really needs re-carpeted, and some of the hatch seals need replaced.  Still, when I went out for our test ride(on good ol' Stillhouse Hollow, from which the owner live maybe 5 minutes,) the boat ran well, although I don't think we went anywhere near top speed.

The owner made me drive it enough just to make sure he taught me enough to keep from killing myself, and long story shorter(and I'm sure that's a relief,) I bought the boat. I'm not an experienced boater, in fact, this is my first boat, but I'm careful by inclination. I'm also a poor swimmer(I think they call what I do "sinking" ) With all that in mind, I think I've managed to get the boat up to around 40mph.

The first thing I had to do though was do some work on some things. I replaced the trolling motor batteries. I did some re-wiring of things, added a small fuse panel under the driver's console, and another up under the bow panel. I added a Lowrance Elite Ti2 7 to the dash, but a Ti2 9 at the bow, wound up adding an older Lowrance HDS10 on a RAM mount to the right of the console, and I took that old HDS 5 and moved it to the front of the boat. The two HDSs are etherneted together, the two Ti2s talk via wifi, they're all connected to a new NMEA2k network I installed, as is the GPS antenna just inside the gunnel behind the driver's seat.  There's now a 3-in1 transducer mounted in back, and another mounted on the trolling motor.  I can pull up either 3-in1 from either Ti2, and the two HDSs use the original transducer.  I like to use that one on the side-mounted HDS10 while I'm driving, and I use the Ti2 on the console for Navigation. I also purchase an NMEA2k interface for the ETEC so I can display engine data on the Ti2 if I prefer. I installed a remote drain plug switch/lever in front of the shifter, and I didn't mention it, but the boat has a hot foot throttle. It's a manual jackplate, so only the single trim on the steering column.

The owner kept the boat under a carport out back of his home. That kept a lot of direct weathering off the boat, but I don't think he covered it most of the time. My next big project will probably be carpet and hatch seals. That, and after we come out of winter, I'll probably figure out how to drop the lower unit and replace the water pump impeller, gaskets, o-rings, and whatever else comes in the kit I bought.

So one of the problems I've encountered is that even though I contacted Triton directly, it turns out they don't have much of a manual anymore. What they were able to provide was basically half of a manual - a PDF with just the even-numbered pages.  Through all the changes I learned Triton is undergoing, their documentation on these earlier models is sketchy. Also, I've learned that I won't find many parts through them, as for parts, they referred me to GreatLakesSkipper.com.

It's a dual console boat, which I like. Having ridden with my co-worker all those years ago in a single console boat at tear-making speed in a brisk headwind, one of my impressions was that if I ever got a boat, I'd want the co-angler/passenger to have something behind which to duck in similar(or worse) conditions.

So here's a thing I need a little help with. If there's another owner out there with a similar boat, can you explain to me the function of the livewells? All my switches on the dash are the rotary type.
(See attachment)


The other thing I could use a little help with is driving. As I said, I'm a careful sort when it comes to this. In a car, I know what I'm doing. In the boat, I'm a little sensory-overloaded, at least so far. So I'm not super-confident. Any tips, watch-fors, or other cautionary information would be appreciated.

Another thing I noticed when I first got the boat was that I had covered it, and came back to do some work, and when I pulled the cover off, I got a blast of fuel-smell. It was pretty bad, so bad in fact that I became convinced I must have a fuel leak. I pumped out all the fuel, pulled the seats and seat pan off, pulled and pressure-checked the tank, cleaned it out while I was at it, and replaced literally every piece of fuel-hose between the primer-bulb and the fill-neck. I checked it all. Then I noticed something. The fuel-filler neck also has the vent. With the cover on the boat, the vent is under the cover. In the hot sun, I began to wonder if an accumulation of fuel fumes could be normal.  I don't know if it's an approved remedy or not, but I made a change. I put a ventless filler neck on, and put a ball-check vent back in the splashwell(that's NOT under the cover when covered.) That seems mostly to have remedied the "problem." Whether it was really a problem, or just paranoia, I'm not sure. I didn't find any leaks, bad hoses, or sending unit gasket failures, so it may have been normal, but that gas smell just bugged me. As I said, I'm careful when I'm on unfamiliar ground (or in unfamiliar waters, as the case may be.)

Anyway, thanks for whatever you might offer in terms of advice, and knowledge.

Mark

[FD]

Mark,

Welcome to the forum.  You are in the right place to get answers!

I have a 2008 Triton which I completely rebuilt in 2020.  The thread is pinned to the top of this board or you can view it here.

http://www.ultimatebass.com/bass-fishing-forum/index.php?topic=149693.msg1666418#msg1666418

Here is the finished product.





I'm going to email you my phone number.  Call me and I'll do my best to answer your questions.

FD

FDx Custom Rods
Arti-FISH-ial Entertainment
CPF Lures

[Oldfart9999]

Welcome to the site!!! Don't forget to enter the new members contest, you could win a nice prize. On the motor, you can google most anything you need to know, a youtube video or 20 will come up, it's what I did when I changed the impeller on my 50 Merc. FD should be able to handle any question you throw at him.
Rodney

[MarkAmerica]

FD,

Thank you, that's very kind. I actually read through your entire thread last night after joining the forum. Your boat sure looks sharp, not my cup of tea on the skin colors/pattern, but that's because I'm a.) an OCD curmudgeon and it looks too busy (to me,) b.) I'm nearly deaf so I wouldn't be able to hear the whistles of appreciation when you pull up to the boat ramp anyway, and c.) skins are really pricey and way out of my price range at least for the time being.

Setting all that aside, there's no mistaking the quality of your effort and it looks really sweet. You've definitely got a rig of which to be proud. I really like the attention to detail(suits my OCD too) where you took the time to cover areas of the deck that would be visible with hatches open and so on. That's awesome! Skinning the power-poles and engine and other pieces with that contrasting skin color kind of push it way over the top. Like I said, while the colors/pattern aren't my cup of tea per se, it's gorgeous nonetheless.

I think when I get around to doing my flooring, I'll probably go with carpet except in the cockpit floor. There, I'll probably look for SeaDeck or similar product. I definitely like the idea of keeping that area a little/lot drier.  The big thing I want to work on next is all the pumps. For one thing, I hate the degree I'd have to disassemble the battery compartment to get to any of them, and even with my long arms, I can see some standing on my head being necessary. Also, seeing the newer cartridge style pumps now available, I think I'd have to entirely re-plumb the boat and switch everything over to that kind of setup. I don't have a ton of spare money right now, but I do have labor. In the big picture, all the pumps and plumbing should be do-able. I want to come up with a plan, and then begin to acquire the parts.

I also will want to rearrange the battery compartment. At present, I've got three trolling motor batteries(they're the Optima spiral-cell type) with two at the far left, then the oil tank just left of center, the third is right of center, then the 4-bank charger, then, in the right-hand side, two cranking batteries. (I have an A-B-OFF switch that permits me to charge one or the other at a time, and I can run off either. I also have a second A-B-OFF switch that permits me to flip over to that right-most trolling motor battery in a pinch. I like back-up.) This is all another reason I really want to deal with the pumps/plumbing. I don't bother carrying a spare pump because by the time I could dig my way down to one in a pinch, I'd be in Davy Jones' locker anyway.

Now I'm going to go off in search of that new members contest you mentioned.

Thanks!

Mark

Mark,

Welcome to the forum.  You are in the right place to get answers!

I have a 2008 Triton which I completely rebuilt in 2020.  The thread is pinned to the top of this board or you can view it here.

http://www.ultimatebass.com/bass-fishing-forum/index.php?topic=149693.msg1666418#msg1666418

Here is the finished product.





I'm going to email you my phone number.  Call me and I'll do my best to answer your questions.

FD

FDx Custom Rods
Arti-FISH-ial Entertainment
CPF Lures

[MarkAmerica]

OldFart9999,

Thanks, I'm headed off to see if I can find the new members contest. I'm still trying to find my way around here. I've found several good videos on changing the water pump impeller itself, but all the videos seem to start AFTER the part where the shift rod is already disconnected up top, and not wanting to tear anything up, I'm going to need to figure out that part first.

Weird thing about me: I wrote my first computer programs in 1981. After that, I spent seven years in the Army as a mechanic working on everything from generators to Self-Propelled Field Artillery. When I first got out of the service, one of the jobs I took was on Ft. Hood rebuilding M88 Medium recovery vehicles. So I'm not put-off by mechanical things at all. If I have/have access to the tools, there's little I won't tackle. I've also learned to do just enough welding to get myself into trouble, which is needed particularly on my farm, but it's permitted me to be able to fix a lot of things I couldn't have done otherwise. Anyway, when I decide to tackle that, it will get tackled. I'm stubborn that way...LOL I'm also too poor to pay people to do labor I can do myself.

Thanks for the welcome! Now, let's find that contest!

Mark

Welcome to the site!!! Don't forget to enter the new members contest, you could win a nice prize. On the motor, you can google most anything you need to know, a youtube video or 20 will come up, it's what I did when I changed the impeller on my 50 Merc. FD should be able to handle any question you throw at him.
Rodney

[MarkAmerica]

Oh, one more thing... The boat is equipped with an emergency boarding ladder on the L/S in the rear. The latch seems to be missing the pin. The original owner shoved some kind of plastic tube in there that fits tightly to hold it.  Is this just supposed to be a quick-release pin of some sort? I'd like to replace it, primarily because that plastic tube/dowel that's in it is just enough to get hold of with needle-nose pliers, and if there's supposed to be some sort of quick-release pin, I'd just as soon get one. It looks to be around 1/4" to 5/16" in diameter. (I think it's 1/4") Also, the top of the plate has a name "Garelick,"

Edit: There's a second thing comes to mind... I've done some reading about fuel and 2-strokes. After pulling my tank as mentioned above, I decided I would run only ethanol-free gasoline, available at the local MurphyUSA station. I pay more per gallon, but I don't want to have any of the issues I've read about with the ethanol-added fuels. Does this comport with your experience, and if you do similar/same, do you add any kind of stabilizer to the fuel?

Thanks for any guidance!

Mark

[Princeton_Man]

Mark, I'm not sure if Triton still had vented tanks in 05 or not. Boats with vented tanks will tend to build up fumes under the cover, it's normal. Check around your bilge pump/s and around the drain plug for sign of gas.

[MarkAmerica]

Princeton_Man,

Thanks, yes, there's a vent outlet on the tank. It formerly ran to the filler-neck alongside the main filler hose. (So the vent was side-by-side with the fill.) I've since changed it. I put a vent of the ball-valve type back in the splashwell, ditched the one in the filler neck, and just have a straight fill there now. This has somewhat alleviated the smell when covered. I never found any fuel in the bilge. It seemed to me just the vent, being under the cover on the gunnel, whenever covered, was venting under the cover, which made perfect sense. Now, since my modification, I catch an occasional whiff only on the hottest days, and I've read somewhere that those plastic tanks can leech a little smell right through the walls. Don't know how true that is, but if true, that makes sense.

Thanks!

[coldfront]

markwelcome.  assuming you found this site?
https://www.tritonboats.com/manuals.html

[MarkAmerica]

Colddfront,

Yessir, that's where I got it, but I re-downloaded it, and noticed a difference. The thing has all the pages. Evens AND odds.

Weird. It's like the version I got before is cut in half or something. Hmmm...

Anyway, thank you!

Mark