I just sold my Triton 2486/2300TE and looking to move up to a 26 to 28 center console. I am looking for opinions on these boats from those who have owned or who currently own a 2001-2004 26 Regulator, 27 Contender, or 2895 Triton.
Thanks
Pursuitgang
2300TE Triton (sold) (RealTime)
1720 KeyWest 90 Johnson
I’ve heard great things about 28 Southport. Not in your list but might want to check them out
The regulators are tough to beat. There’s a used 26’ for sale in west ashley near the dodge store/Bees Ferry. Not sure what year, but it looks good driving by it.
Southports are nice too
Redfish Baron Extraordinaire
I have a 2007 2895 triton. I love it! I dont think Triton did too good of a job marketing because it is an excellent boat that most dont know about. I have twin verado 250s, and have topped out at 60mph. I have had it out in very rough seas, too rough for my liking, and it handled like a dream. The boat has more of a front to back roll in rough seas even when trolling, rather than a side to side motion. High speed trolling is a little difficult in it since you are right at the speed of being on plane and not. The boat is extremely dry. Other than coming through the jetties, I have only gotten sprayed once or twice. Regulators and contenders are very nice boats of course, but Triton is very nice, just not well known. I live on Johns Island, and if you want to go out on mine, I would be more than happy to take you. That way you can either eliminate it from your searching or go for one.
30’ Triton
250 Verados
Twodeep sent you an email.
Pursuitgang
2300TE Triton (Sold) (RealTime)
1720 KeyWest 90 Johnson
Roger that. I will look for it.
Jonathan
30’ Triton
250 Verados
I owned a 04’ 26 Regulator and also looked hard at the 27 Contender before pulling the trigger on the Regulator. I can’t comment on the Triton because I have never been in one. The Contender and Regulator are two different kind of boats . . . the Contender likes to run on top of the wave and the Regulator likes to go through them. Personally, I much prefer the stable ride of the 26 Regulator. The 26 Regulator rides as good as any boat under 30 feet can possibly ride in rough seas. I can’t think of one negative thing to say about the 26 Regulator - I absolutely loved that boat. Only reason I sold her was to get into inshore fishing because I don’t have the time to go offshore any longer.
The 27 Contender and 26 Regulators are the center consoles that all the boats measure themselves against. You can’t go wrong with either one and you’ll know which type of ride you prefer after going on a boat test.
jtm,
That’s what I have read about the difference bewtween the Contender 27 and the Regualtor 26. So for the normal 2 to 3 ft seas on 4/5 secs that we have in Charleston the Regulator was a comfortable ride? At what sea did the Regulator become uncomfortable?
Also I understand the number one issue with Regulators is water intrusion into the balsa core of the deck and the covering boards. Do you know how to check for this?
Thanks
Pursuitgang
2300TE Triton (Sold) (RealTime)
1720 KeyWest 90 Johnson
Ferreel,
I agree the 28 Southport is a very nice boat. A friend of mine has one that I fish on quite often, unfortunately at almost a 10’ beam it is a lot of boat to try to trailer and they are out of my price range
Pursuitgang
2300TE Triton (Sold) (RealTime)
1720 KeyWest 90 Johnson
quote:
Originally posted by pursuitgangjtm,
That’s what I have read about the difference bewtween the Contender 27 and the Regualtor 26. So for the normal 2 to 3 ft seas on 4/5 secs that we have in Charleston the Regulator was a comfortable ride? At what sea did the Regulator become uncomfortable?
Also I understand the number one issue with Regulators is water intrusion into the balsa core of the deck and the covering boards. Do you know how to check for this?
Thanks
Pursuitgang
2300TE Triton (Sold) (RealTime)
1720 KeyWest 90 Johnson
I’ve never heard of water intrusion with Regulators. However, I wouldn’t buy any boat I plan on taking offshore without getting a marine survey.
2-3’s will be a piece of cake in any of the boats you are looking at. I don’t really know how to answer your question in regards to what wave height starts to get uncomfortable. In my opinion, wave interval is just as important, if not more important than the wave height. I never purposely went fishing when it was real rough, but I have fished many days that started calm and ended up coming home in 5-6 footers. I never felt unsafe in the boat and it rarely comes out of the water. All I know is when the seas really kicked up, we would pass a lot of boats.
I felt like I was “white knuckling” much more in the Contender versus the Regulator. In a typical 2-3 sea the Contender will probably run faster, but you will be holding on for dear life. In the Regulator, you will be running a little slower, but will be sitting down drinking a cold beverage. This is the biggest difference, in my opinion, between the two.
I can tell you that the 26 Reg is a very heavy boat, probably 10,000 lbs. with full of gas and water ready to fish. With the 26 Reg., you always want to fill the water tank up because this