Pearson Triton
| Triton | |
|---|---|
| Current specifications | |
| Type | Monohull |
| Construction | GRP |
| Keel | Fixed - 3,019 lb (1,369 kg) |
| LOA | 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m) |
| LWL | 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m) |
| Beam | 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m) |
| Draft | 1.49 m (4 ft 11 in) |
| Hull weight |
6,900 lb (3,100 kg) –8,000 lb (3,600 kg)[note 1] |
| Total sail area | 362 sq ft (33.6 m2) |
| Development | |
| Year | 1959 |
| Designer | Carl Alberg |
| Infobox last updated: 05/02/2013 | |
The Pearson Triton is a fiberglass sailboat that was manufactured by Pearson Yachts.
The Triton was introduced at the 1959 New York National Boat Show and was an immediate sales hit. An estimated seven hundred examples of this conservative, deep-water 28.5 foot auxiliary cruising sailboat were built between 1959 and 1970.
The Triton was designed by Carl Alberg, with a strong influence from Scandinavian sailboats such as the Folkboat and also the CCA race rules of the day. The Triton was first built by Pearson Yachts in Bristol, RI. Approximately 200 West Coast version Tritons were built under license by Aeromarine Plastics in Sausalito, CA. The east and west coast versions differ somewhat in a number of minor construction details while retaining the same basic hull shape. One obvious difference was an all-fiberglass coaming around the cockpit on the WC models versus a traditional wood coaming on the East Coast models. Early East Coast versions also featured cast bronze frames for all of the port windows. The West Coast boats had frameless ports. All were originally powered by a Universal Atomic 4 gasoline auxiliary engine.
Single-handed sailor James Baldwin successfully circumnavigated his Triton "Atom" twice in the 1980s. Spanish sailor Fernando de Oleza, has successfully completed three transatlantic crossings, single-handling his 1963 Pearson Triton "Pájaro". Many Tritons have made numerous Pacific and Atlantic crossings.
See also
Notes
- ↑ The actual displacement figure is not known precisely as Pearson did not weigh their boats and when one was finally weighed by Pearson after several years of production it was found to be approximately 1500 pounds heavier than expected. Most Tritons in cruising (fully loaded) displacement mode exceed 8000 lb and approach 9000 lb.