Family Fishing with “Tough” Built All the Way Through

By Capt. Robert Smith

Triton’s 22 5DC is time tested and brings dual console family-friendly design to tough offshore fishing. Features like the 35-gallon livewell, gunwale rod holders, and under gunwale rod racks make her great for a day of fishing, and the head compartment, seating for eight, and bimini top make the 225 comfortable enough for a young family to enjoy a relaxing day on the water.

Forward Features

The bow area offers typical ski boat style bench seating with storage and cushions, but remove the cushions and you have a raised deck you can cast from. Storage is gasketed and finished inside. On the bow is a pop-up anchor cleat and anchor locker. The lid has fairleads so the lid rests down even when the anchor is deployed. Inside there is plenty of room for anchor line and an anchor hanger with hasps to hold it in place. I think a simple twist lock would be fine, but the hasps will allow you to lock it for security. Docking cleats on the gunwales are also pop-up and safety grab rails are recessed at the center of the bench tops. Twin JBL speakers bring the tunes to the bow and in the floor is a large ski locker for large gear.

Plenty of Storage

Continuing back is another locker for items like a cast net bucket or other fishing gear. A full framed windshield offers protection from chilly morning air and has a large center walkthrough. A perfect addition here would have been a lower air dam of some kind in the walkthrough to help shield the wind. On the side of the helm station is a pull out shower, and inside is the water tank and pump.

The companion/navigator’s station sports a real family-friendly feature, a stand-up head compartment with Porta-Potti. The companion and helm seats are typical fishing bucket seats with easy to clean removable seat cushions. The navigator has a safety grab rail for rough waters, a drink holder for their coffee or cold beverage and one of the cockpit speakers to their side. Behind the seat is another large box for storage.

Helm Features

The helm station is also more like a fishing rig with a lot of open space on the dash to add your favorite electronics. You have a custom stainless steel fixed position wheel with hydraulic assisted steering. For instrumentation, there is a top mounted compass. To the right of the dash panel is a large JBL stereo system which I think could be smaller and take up less room. Power control switches and a handy 12-volt connection are conveniently placed. Behind the driver’s seat is another lockable storage locker for tackle and personal gear.

For the Fishermen

The cockpit space is quite large with adequate room for working lines and boarding fish. Gunwale tops are large and have a flush mounted rod holder on either side with rod racks below for keeping your favorite rigs ready. On the starboard side is a washdown for the decks. A great gutter system means any water on board will be routed quickly to the cockpit scupper drains. When the sun gets too harsh or the summer rain pops up, you can set up the standard bimini top for protection.

Across the stern is a full bench with jump seat cushions that remove for conversion to a casting deck. Under the port seat you have storage while battery access is under the starboard side. In the center is a 35-gallon livewell/baitwell. The stern has an integrated swim platform split by the engine well, and the three-step diving ladder sets up in seconds on the port corner.

Specification

The 225DC from Triton measures 22’8” length overall with a beam width of 8’6”. This model has a maximum recommended power rating of 250 horsepower, and we tested with a 225 horsepower Honda 4-stroke. She weighs about 2,500 lbs. dry without the engine and carries 79 gallons of fuel. Draft is about 17” and bridge clearance is 8’2”.

Performance

The 225DC handled smooth and quiet even in moderate chop. She jumped on plane in only 3 seconds without typical wheel torque felt in some fish/ski boats. She cruised best at 25.4mph traveling about 298 miles on a full tank, and reached a top speed of 49mph skimming along without jarring the rider, and reached 30 mph in 7 seconds.

Triton has done a good job of crossing the needs of the saltwater fisherman with the family requirements. With the 225DC you no longer have to wish you could afford both styles of boats, you have a great cross-over in the 225 Dual Console. Fishing features and family comforts all in one hull.

• Top speed for the Triton 225 DC is 49.0 mph (78.9 kph), burning 20.3 gallons per hour (gph) or 76.84 liters per hour (lph).


• Best cruise for the Triton 225 DC is 25.4 mph (40.9 kph), and the boat gets 4.19 miles per gallon (mpg) or 1.78 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 298 miles (479.58 kilometers).


• Tested power is 1 x 225-hp Honda 4-Stroke.