Great Value and Practically Indestructible
By Capt. Robert Smith
Starting forward, the 235 offers a large bow that you can add rails and an anchor roller for easier anchoring with safety offshore. To keep the bow unobstructed when you are working a fish, cleats are pull-up style, and even the bow light pops down to stay out of the way. Moving back is the anchor locker. Drink holders are located up front for the riders and fishermen as well as large lockers that can double as cushioned bench seats. The 25 gallon storage boxes are easy to clean and have sturdy stainless lift rods. Super duty grab rails means anyone up front has plenty to hang on to in rough water conditions.
If you opt for the T-top, which I recommend, you get a fold-away bench seat in front of the center console, which sets up quickly and stores away neatly for more room to roam up front. Access to the back is good, with enough room to move quickly when a fish dives under the boat and heads to the stern. Inside the center console is easy access to electrical connections, room to mount the optional stereo as T had on my test boat as well as a portable head. It also can be a great place to load a bunch of gear for an offshore run and sports 72” overhead clearance.
Moving around to the front of the dash, the heavy-duty acrylic windshield also offers sufficient visibility. Instrumentation on my test ride had the Yamaha digital gauges to go along with the Yamaha outboard. Standard gauges include speed, tach, volt and fuel gauges with plenty of room left for adding flat screen panels. Steering is Sea Star tilt hydraulic with stainless wheel and speed knob. The helm has a deluxe seat with flip-up bolster for plenty of standing room when driving. Green acrylic accents around the dash add a nice touch of color. Behind the helm seat is the bait station so everyone in the cockpit can get to it. It’s a 45 gallon livewell system with aerator and high speed pickup.
Overhead, with the T-top adds four rocket launcher style rod holders, plus two adjustable holders. The top also has outrigger mounts and a cool LED overhead dual color light. Zip up storage overhead keeps the PFDs and throwables ready.
Gunwale tops are wide and ready for adding more trolling gear. Two flush mount rod holders in each side for trolling. Underneath is room to store up to six 8 foot rods ready to roll. The stern cockpit area leaves enough room to bait your lines and still have someone working a fish at the gunwale. There are dual 25 gallon fishboxes are on either side in the cockpit, which are insulated to keep your catch fresh. Lids are on stainless gas shocks for easy lifting and have diaphragm macerator pumps.
Optional jump seats in each corner set up quickly and fold completely away under the gunwale when space is needed. In the center is a cutting board top with fish measuring scale molded in. Dual drink holders are molded in for the folks casting in the back. Flipping the center down, you get great access to the engine splash well and a place to stow a dive ladder. Another 25 gallon storage box is in each corner of the stern.
The 235 Center Console measures 23’8” length overall with a beam width of 8’10”. Her light weight design puts her in at just 3,400 lbs. dry without the engine. She is rated for outboard engines up to 300-hp and carries 145 gallons of fuel for a great day offshore without worries. She draws 16 inches with the engine trimmed up so slipping into a flat in the bay should be easy.
Triumph’s 235 Center Console proves that just because you are looking for a utilitarian design, doesn’t mean you have to settle for a boxy, clunky looking boat. If you are looking for a rig that is just as happy charging offshore as it is working near shore with the family on board, the 235CC deserves a closer look. She is practically indestructible, almost impossible to sink and a great value! You just have to see it to believe it.
