Versatility Defined

The 191 Fish & Ski has fishing-oriented features and the flexibility for other water activities.

By Captain Keith Burton

Test Captain

Most boat buyers these days are looking for a boat that offers more than just one or two features. They look for versatility, innovative design and most importantly safety and durability. They want a boat that can do it all. That’s where the 2006 Triumph 191 Fish & Ski plays best.

The 191 Fish & Ski is not your normal fish and ski boat. Triumph, which is owned by the boatbuilding giant Genmar, has its own way of building boats that make this company unique in the industry.

The Roplene Difference

All Triumph boats are made by an advanced state-of-the-art process that uses polyethylene (a form of plastic) pellets, foam and high pressure molds to build boats in one piece. That includes the hull and topdeck. This process, which the company calls Roplene, forms a boat that is unsinkable and is more lightweight and rugged than boats of the same size built from fiberglass. The boat’s strength is augmented from a half-inch non-skid deck, also made of polyethylene, which is screwed into specially re-enforced locations in the floor.

This also results in other differences; the rub strip around the boat doesn’t conceal a seam as seen in other boats where their decks and hulls are mated. Another thing that makes them look different is that the surface finish is not shiny. This semi-gloss finish is highly durable and even after years of sun and weathering, remains much like new.

Attractively Designed

It is the features that make the Triumph 191 Fish & Ski so appealing. Nicely styled with a conservative look that will age as well as its construction, the 191 is packed with plenty of the fishing oriented features that most avid fisherman would want, along with the comfort and performance of a family pleasure boat.

The boat’s wide beam, of 8-feet, 2-inches also gives you a lot of room onboard to move around. That room begins at the bow with comfortable wraparound seating that can be augmented with an insert to fill the walkway. This insert is padded on one side and has a non-skid surface on the other. Installed with the pad up, the bow is a huge sun lounge complete with nearby cupholders and comfortable backrests near the windshield.

New this year for the 191 is a bow fold-out boarding ladder that has its own cover. For fishermen, the 191 F&S comes pre-wired for an optional trolling motor.

Comfortable Seating

The 191 uses removable pedestal seats throughout except for the stern jump seats. The sturdy pedestal seats are easy to remove and install. When configured for fishing, you just move the seats in the main cabin to the fishing decks forward and aft.

The forward fishing deck has three lined compartments for gear, and some convenient netted compartments in the boat’s wide gunnels. The rear fishing platform is hidden until you need it. The entire stern seating area flips forward to create a large fishing platform with room for two pedestal seats. With the fishing deck exposed, you can get to the boat’s live and baitwells that are in compartments built into the deck. There is also a compartment with room for up to three batteries.

Stern Fishing Platform

Even with the rear fishing platform in place, the boat’s main cabin remains roomy. Built into the 191’s broad gunnels are lockable rod lockers, complete with rod tubes port and starboard.

At the stern, whether the fishing platform or jump seats are configured, there is a mount for a stout ski pylon. A small platform at the starboard stern holds a fold-out ladder for getting aboard.

Console Features

The helm features attractive black on white gauges set in a brushed aluminum-looking dash. A really attractive stainless steel and tilt steering wheel adds a premium feel to this boat. Lighted rocker switches control the auxiliary electrics. Below and to the right of the steering wheel is a control for the boat’s built-in livewell.

At the passenger console is a small compartment that could double as a drink cooler on the dash. Beneath is a Clarion AM/FM/CD Sirius satellite radio and handhold.

Performance and Ride

Over the water the Triumph 191 performs like a boat that is much heavier that its 1,900 pounds would suggest. That is not to say that the boat is sluggish. Instead, it feels very solid with no undue noises from waves slapping at the hull. The Triumph 191 also seems to smother modest waves and wakes without the shuddering you see in some other boats. Triumph tells us that the characteristics of the polyethylene and foam hull are responsible for the low noise and smooth ride.

The boat’s light weight also means you get good performance without a large fuel-hungry outboard. Our boat was equipped with a 150-horsepower Yamaha four-stroke outboard that was plenty of motor for this boat. We saw a top speed of 48.2 mph. The 191 also gets up on plane quickly at just three seconds and its run to 30 mph takes just seven seconds, which is all you need to make most family skiers and wakeboarders happy.

Overall, the 2006 Triumph 191 Fish & Ski is a remarkable boat. It has outstanding fishing-oriented features and the flexibility for other water-borne activities that the whole family can enjoy. Its rugged construction, durability and performance, plus its numerous features should offset anyone’s concern over its different semi-gloss finish when compared to fiberglass boats.

• Top speed for the Triumph 191 FS (2008- ) is 42.4 MPH (68.2 KPH), burning 15.4 gallons per hour (GPH) or 58.29 liters per hour (LPH).


• Best cruise for the Triumph 191 FS (2008- ) is 25.4 MPH (40.9 KPH), and the boat gets 5.84 miles per gallon (MPG) or 2.48 kilometers per liter (KPL), giving the boat a cruising range of 236 miles (379.81 kilometers).


• Tested power is 1 x 150-hp Yamaha 4-stroke.

Triumph  191 FS (2008- ) Standard and Optional Equipment

Systems
CD Stereo
Power Steering
Trailer
Exterior Features
Outlet: 12-Volt Acc
Swim Ladder
Swim Platform
Canvas
Bimini Top
Full Canvas

= Standard = Optional