91 Trojan International 10.8 Meter Express Info

[todd brinkerhoff]

I wanted to pass along the info I recieved on the 10.8 Meter EXPRESS. For those who didn't see my last post, I purchased a 1991 Trojan International 10.8 Meter Express this last summer. I did not have any experience with Trojan and found this came to this forum to educate myself. The information was great, but noone had any experience with the 10.8 Meter express. RWS passed along quite a bit of info on the Trojan International, including the famous Delta Conic hull. IThe10.8 express was manufactured in Lancaster, PA, and had all of the Trojan tags, and I did not have any visual reference to other Trojans, so I took a leap of faith, and assumed this boat was like all the other Trojans. The survey went well, and I purchased the boat.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago, my 10.8 Express was pulled and blocked for winter. The marina placed a 11 Meter Express next to it, and I felt a twinge of panic. The hulls were nothing alike. So I posted again, and RWS sent a picture of his beautiful 10 Meter, and it had the same hull design as the 11 Meter. So I was at a loss and could not find another 10.8 Express owner to ask. Prowlerfish advised me to call John Leed of Marine Tech. I was able to get ahold of John, and he advised me that I had the "New" International that never went farther than the 10.8 Meter Express before the take-over. John said the hull design was to be the newest Trojan International design. The Trojan executives decided to go with a new design, and used a Bertram designer. John said that he remembered being down at the Bertram area when all the Trojan Execs were discussing what they wanted from the new boat design. I was driving and don't remember the Bertram designer's name. John said one of the primary design changes was to improve fuel efficiency, although it would be hard for me to believe they achieved this. I had limited time, so I was not able to discuss all of the changes. He said that he has a friend with a 10.8 Express with Chrysler 460's, and Chrysler was trying to get back into the Marine industry. He said the boat really needs diesels for the weight of over 18,000 lbs dry. Apparently the V-drives don't help with the efficiency. Needless to say, I feel a little bit better. I read a horrible review of the 1994 Carver 370, which was designed after the 10.8 express, but John said the boats build quality were completely different. Thanks for the info guys. Great forum!!!!!!!!!

[RWS]

1991 10.8 Diesel Express - lots of photos

http://www.boats-florida.com/boats/Crui ... oat_photos

[k9th]

Good info Todd and thanks for posting it.

[prowlersfish]

Glad John was able to help , He is a wealth of information

[todd brinkerhoff]

Thanks for the help guys. I'll probably be trying to continue my education on the boat. I would love to find the designer to figure out the design qualities.

[prowlersfish]

design qualities ? Only using the boat will find them ( and the flaws )
What the designer builder broker etc tell you are the design qualities are Hype in many cases . Finding them yourself is real world and fun

[todd brinkerhoff]

Hey Prowlerfish,

I spoke to Kent about his 10.8. Interesting guy, and he gave me some good info. It's nice to talk to someone with the same boat to compare notes.

RWS,

He said he had a pair of 56" trim tabs that he was going to install...Holy crap. He said that he would get back to me on the results.

[prowlersfish]

Glad you got in touch , He can be hard to get Hold of, I sent a few emails about Next years Rendezvous have not heard back , I Guess I will give him a phone call like I was planing to. I may have a photo of his boat. from the 2009 rendezvous in st mikes

[todd brinkerhoff]

Awesome, let me know...I telephoned him...It took him a few minutes to figure out what I wanted and to warm up to me...But it ended well.