Triton Boats for Sale
Triton came out of nowhere in 1996 and within five years was the biggest fiberglass fishing boat builder in the country. Used Tritons are everywhere on bass lakes, and the build era tells you a lot about what you're buying.
Earl Bentz and the TR-21
Earl Bentz had already built two boat companies before Triton. He joined Hydra-Sports in 1975, founded Stratos Boats in 1983, and sold Stratos to Outboard Marine Corp. in 1987, staying on to run OMC's fishing boat group and start Javelin. In April 1996 he left OMC, raised money from sportsmen he knew, and set up shop in an empty shoe factory near Nashville.
The first Tritons went on sale in September 1996. When the new Ashland City, Tennessee plant opened in July 1997, Triton built what it calls the first wood-free, all-composite bass boat with a concave running pad. The TR-21 became the pro favorite. By 2001 Triton was the top-selling fiberglass fishing boat maker by units and had opened an aluminum boat plant in Aberdeen, Mississippi. The NMMA put Bentz in its Hall of Fame in 2019.
Ownership changes
- 1996 to 2005: independent, built in Ashland City.
- 2005 to 2010: owned by Brunswick.
- 2010 on: Fishing Holdings, a Platinum Equity company, bought Triton from Brunswick and moved fiberglass production to Flippin, Arkansas. Brunswick kept building Triton aluminum boats under license for a time.
- Later: Triton joined White River Marine Group, the Bass Pro Shops boat group that also owns Ranger and Nitro. In 2018 it moved into a dedicated plant in Midway, Arkansas.
Bentz stayed with Triton until 2018, when he left to found Caymas Boats.
The models
TR and TRX bass boats are the core tournament line. Allure is the fish-and-play family line. Fishunter boats are deep-V multi-species models for big water. Triton has also built aluminum boats and saltwater bay boats over the years.
What to check on a used Triton
Hull and pad. Look at the running pad and keel for chips and repairs. Bass boats get beached and loaded hard.
Transom and jack plate. High-horsepower outboards on hydraulic jack plates put a lot of stress on the transom. Look for cracks around the mounting bolts and test the jack plate through its full travel.
Electronics and wiring. Tournament boats get rewired a lot. Look behind the console and under the deck for messy splices, and check every pump, light and switch.
Trolling motor and batteries. Ask how old the batteries are, test the trolling motor and charger, and look at the bow for damage from the mount.
Engine. Ask for hours and service records. Run the engine at full throttle on the water test and watch the temperature and any alarms.
Trailer. Check the tires, bearings, lights, brakes and the condition of the bunks. Triton trailers often stay with the boat for years.
Build era. Find out which plant built the boat. That helps when you look for parts and model-specific information.
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Frequently asked questions
Who founded Triton Boats?
Earl Bentz, in 1996. He had earlier founded Stratos Boats and run OMC's fishing boat group.
Where are Triton boats made?
Fiberglass Tritons have been built in Arkansas since 2010, in a dedicated plant in Midway since 2018. Earlier boats were built in Ashland City, Tennessee.
Who owns Triton Boats?
Triton is part of White River Marine Group, the Bass Pro Shops boat company that also includes Ranger and Nitro.
What was the first Triton?
The first boats went on sale in September 1996. The TR-21 Pro, built from 1997, was the first wood-free all-composite bass boat.