Trojan Boat Forum

I viewed RB Cool's interior photos (available on his signature) and noticed that he doesn't have V-Bunks but seems instead seems to have a double bunk. RB, did your boat come with a larger front bunk? For instance, did Trojan shrink the size of the front head in order to lengthen the front cabin (I notice there's only one door going forward).

Did you end up re-modeling the cockpit or did Trojan make them that way at the end of the TriCabin run? I remodeled mine in order to make more seating available (I'll try to include a couple of photos here).

Re: Bow exterior seating - I have three cushions across my front windows, but I sure like your larger two cushions to cover the same area. Are they waterproof foam? That's what I want.

Where are the gas tanks/water tank and holding tanks located??

Your boat sure looks great, RB. You sure seem to be having a lot of fun
too.

Cheers

Rick
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Rick - my '79 has the full size v-berth and the two bow seating cushions. I am not sure when they made that change but think that is was close to my '79. I know my engines are under the salon floor with the fuel tanks under the master berth twin beds. Mine also has the front set of steps at a 90 degree angle and not straight down into the v-berth.

My water tanks are outboard of the fuel tanks under the twin beds in the master berth and the holding tank with vacu-flush system and water heater are forward of the engines under the salon floor. The access door is right in front of the forward head door at the base of the front stairs.

I really like the layout but wish I had the lower area that you do on the stern for fishing.

rickalan35 wrote:I viewed RB Cool's interior photos (available on his signature) and noticed that he doesn't have V-Bunks but seems instead seems to have a double bunk. RB, did your boat come with a larger front bunk? For instance, did Trojan shrink the size of the front head in order to lengthen the front cabin (I notice there's only one door going forward).

Did you end up re-modeling the cockpit or did Trojan make them that way at the end of the TriCabin run? I remodeled mine in order to make more seating available (I'll try to include a couple of photos here).

Re: Bow exterior seating - I have three cushions across my front windows, but I sure like your larger two cushions to cover the same area. Are they waterproof foam? That's what I want.

Where are the gas tanks/water tank and holding tanks located??

Your boat sure looks great, RB. You sure seem to be having a lot of fun
too.

Cheers

Rick
[/img]

Rick..... not sure if they shrunk the size of the head or not, still learning about the Tri series. I'm 6' and 250lbs and I fit in there nicely. The forwawrd head is also a shower (my son and his girlfriend aledgedly took a shower together in there). A door leads into the forward suite and the head has a seperate door. The double bed is semi-walk around and the storage is unbelievable in there.
I'm pretty sure the cockpit/ bridge deck was from the factory like it is except the seats are all custom.
The bow seats are custom also, not sure if they were originaly two or three. They are waterproof but we also have a cover for the whole seat area. My wife and I love to sit out there late at night, put the laptop on the big cooler and watch a movie while having cocktails.

Under the master queen bed is a 300 gallon fuel tank, my wife needs a small step-stool to get in bed (she's 4' 11"), on the port wall of the master is a 100 gallon water tank behind those six drawers. Holding tank is 45 gallon in forward suite sitting next to 22 gallon hot water heater.

I agree with earlier post about the very small cockpit but I'm turning this boat into a fishing machine like I did with my 35' Searay Sundancer, putting 4 rod holders on stern rails to drag around lures for the big Rockfish here.

Thanks for the comments about her, we love and cherish her and your right..... were having a blast, cause thats what its all about. Do you have any pics out there? would love to see.

Ron

OH, OH, I KNOW THIS ONE, I KNOW THIS ONE !!!!!!.........

i've had similar threads on here about the design changes, but for this latest one...
the basic layout of the 'raised deck' tri cabin, i.e. the one without the cockpit and engines mounted under the bunks was the standard from late 1978 until the end of the model run in 1987. in late 1985 for the 1986 model year, trojan did a radical redesign of the interior. fabric coverings replaced most of the wood on bulkheads and above the windows. the length of the main salon window was shortened and instead of two sliding salon windows p/s, only one slider p/s was used. the screen for the salon window was moved outside as opposed to inside, and storage areas were expanded on bulkheads and other places.

the standard head liner was replaced with a faux ultra suede type fabric (same for bulkheads and other areas) and a round external t.v. antenna was added to the cabin top due to the built in tv above the galley facing aft, next to a built in pantry and microwave. the galley was moved from the port side L shape design to the forward part of the salon in a U shape sort of similar to the chris craft 381 catalina. galley storage is better, but instead of a full size refrigerator, robs galley has a two burner euro range with undercounter fridge/freezer unit (i believe that's a combo unit). directly across from the galley on the starboard side is a built in ice maker, but trojans original design called for this to be a small freezer and just a refrigerator under the two burner range. (this was before the drawer style fridge/freezers were made available here in the usa. they had been in europe long before coming to this side of the pond)

a built in L shaped setee with slide out (to make a double bed) was added to where the galley used to be. above the L shaped setee is a long storage unit (where galley cabinets used to be) that flips up and is held in position with a hatch spring. access to the helm cables etc is behind a removable face plate and when the 'hatch' is closed, there is a horizontal mirror to open the salon up.

now, moving forward, the steps to the fwd stateroom were moved all the way to the right in a semi circular fashion with pathway lighting. this led directly into fwd cabin. only one door to the cabin is used. the fwd cabin, only slightly shorter end to end, has a centerline berth and a small built in vanity/desk to the left of the fwd cabin entry door, the 'sanitation' area access door is under this desk/vanity. the fwd head is indeed smaller, but, makes great use of space and storage. and has a built in shower pan with nifty moving shower curtain rod that stows when not in use.

now, moving to the aft stateroom, the center line queen berth is higher (wicked higher) due to the increase of fuel capacity. in 1986-87 it was raised to 300 gallons as opposed to what mine is ( ) @ 220 gallons. the storage closet/locker that is forward of the aft berth goes from one locker door to two, (an option at one time was to have a small combo washer/dryer put there). the aft head is much better than the one i will have. the tub is eliminated in favor of a shower stall to the left of the head door, the seat in the shower is actually part of the water tank. the vanity is longer and makes better use of space and the toilet is moved closer and not dropped down into a well. that well in the earlier designs was the original shower stall. cabin bulkheads in the aft stateroom also have the faux ultra suede coverings as does the headliner. another striking feature of the 'radical redesign' is the rounded edges in bulkhead magazine cutouts and corners. the one thing that did not change from my tri cabin (god i love saying that) to rons, is the shower sump/grey water system access hatch directly in front of the aft berth. his is probably more sophisticated than mine, and that is one of the things i am swapping out over the winter layup.

the forward exterior cabin seat is shrunk only slightly width wise as the cabin front has gone from 'three segments' to one long one. the superstructure area here was moved inward about 6 inches on either side to give the side decks a consistant 18" walk around. thats why some older tri cabins have 3 seat cushions and the later designs have only 2. (from the flush deck model on, only 2. cockpit models have 3)

if you have any more questions on the tri cabin designs, just ask. i'm happy to share my knowledge with anyone and everyone. that's why i love this boat so much!!

there are also changes to the exterior venting system. on tri cabins like mine (again, i love saying that) the vents are as follows.
(port side)
clam shell blower vent, a double row of horizontal vents, clam shell vent, a double row of horizontal vents, then further aft, a single horizontal vent.
(starboard side)
double row horizontal vents, clam shell blower vent, double row horizontal vents, then further aft a single horizontal vent.

for the 1986/87 model year, the clam shell blower vents were totally eliminated and horizontal vents were used. this is probably due to costs, as the clam shell blower vents are a trojan 'custom' exclusive, and at $116.00 replacement cost, well, you get the idea. the horizontal vents can be replaced for around 40 bucks. much more cost effective in my opinion.

also, for the 1986/87 model year, the forward head (port side) did not have a portlight. this was totally eliminated in favor of a 'clean portlight less' design, no doubt it might have been a cost saving measure. i'm glad that mine has a port light as i find the lack of them confining, even with artificial lighting.

the one thing that never changed for the entire run was the amazing tri cabin hull. strong, bullet proof, and very dry.... ron, would you not agree? i LOVE the way the tri cabin handles in almost any condition.

you mean they took out the bath tub say it isn't so..

I love the way my tri-cabin rides and handles in any sea condition. I've had it in 8-10 foot breakers and it handled just fine - not my favorite sea condition but good to know what she does in those conditions.

indeed they did tony, indeed they did. believe it or not, it made for a better arrangement and a bigger double locker in the aft cabin. personally, i could take or leave the tub, one of the biggest luxuries is to be able to shower off after working on the boat all day without heading home smelling like a skunk. i guess it's my israeli dna, because after i've been working in the hot sun all day you DO NOT want to be down wind of me. i am stoked to be able to 'scrub off' prior to heading home. the tub, from a dog owners stand point, is a great convenience. especially if maccabee gets the idea of rolling on the remains of a crab or fish (yeah, he's already done that twice) on the dock or grassy area of the marina. i can just put him in the tub and wash him off. easier than trying to hold onto him and wash him off on the dock. he thinks it's a game and makes the great escape by trying to run to the other side of the marina.

alexander38 wrote:you mean they took out the bath tub say it isn't so..

They had to all the tubs and the molds were stolen .Strange it was about the time they started showing up in Carvers .

aaronbocknek wrote:there are also changes to the exterior venting system. on tri cabins like mine (again, i love saying that) the vents are as follows.
(port side)
clam shell blower vent, a double row of horizontal vents, clam shell vent, a double row of horizontal vents, then further aft, a single horizontal vent.
(starboard side)
double row horizontal vents, clam shell blower vent, double row horizontal vents, then further aft a single horizontal vent.

for the 1986/87 model year, the clam shell blower vents were totally eliminated and horizontal vents were used. this is probably due to costs, as the clam shell blower vents are a trojan 'custom' exclusive, and at $116.00 replacement cost, well, you get the idea. the horizontal vents can be replaced for around 40 bucks. much more cost effective in my opinion.

also, for the 1986/87 model year, the forward head (port side) did not have a portlight. this was totally eliminated in favor of a 'clean portlight less' design, no doubt it might have been a cost saving measure. i'm glad that mine has a port light as i find the lack of them confining, even with artificial lighting.

the one thing that never changed for the entire run was the amazing tri cabin hull. strong, bullet proof, and very dry.... ron, would you not agree? i LOVE the way the tri cabin handles in almost any condition.

WOW Aaron !!!!!!!!! You could be a tour guide!! You hit it dead on.
I didn't know mine was the last model year, I'll have to check the TRJ #. It would be wild if we got the last one.
Were amazed at the way Trojan used hidden spaces. Like to port of the master bed there is a designated make up area w/ mirror where my wife can actualy put a chair and do her business. It was three weeks in until she found out the "mirror" actualy opened to a hidden medicine cabinet. It looks like it's just a hanging mirror. Karla joked that we could use it to stash valuables.
Your absolutely right about the ride. She busts through 3' waves with ease and you barely notice.
We also love the hidden bar next to the icemaker since we seem to entertain every weekend.

Ron

Aaron -

Do you know of any reasons given for why they stopped making the tri-cabin when they did? It is obviously a very roomy and comfortable platform. Just wondering why the decided to stop making them.

I'm sure folks with alot more info than I will give an answer to K9th. But I would bet that the yacht/boat tax of the 80's/90's had a lot to due with the death of them and Trojan along with a lot of other boat makes.

Is someone writing all of this down? the info that you can get off this forum is mind boggling. I have a wild idea, they made books about Hatteras, Bertram, Chris Craft, even SeaRay. Why in the world don't we all pitch in say 50 bucks each and draft a book. Even if we do a limited production run it seems to me that at least the forum members would want it. I don't know the first thing about making a book but I have lots of photos of my 32 and 26's and if a kid in school with a apple computer can do it why couldn't we?

Just a thought

summer storm wrote:Is someone writing all of this down? the info that you can get off this forum is mind boggling. I have a wild idea, they made books about Hatteras, Bertram, Chris Craft, even SeaRay. Why in the world don't we all pitch in say 50 bucks each and draft a book. Even if we do a limited production run it seems to me that at least the forum members would want it. I don't know the first thing about making a book but I have lots of photos of my 32 and 26's and if a kid in school with a apple computer can do it why couldn't we?

Just a thought

Between Paul, Aaron, Captain Ross, and all of the others on here contributing from their vast storehouse of knowledge, that would be a great idea and a very thorough work. I've got $50 for the project or whatever an equal share of the actual expenses would be.

k9th wrote:

summer storm wrote:Is someone writing all of this down? the info that you can get off this forum is mind boggling. I have a wild idea, they made books about Hatteras, Bertram, Chris Craft, even SeaRay. Why in the world don't we all pitch in say 50 bucks each and draft a book. Even if we do a limited production run it seems to me that at least the forum members would want it. I don't know the first thing about making a book but I have lots of photos of my 32 and 26's and if a kid in school with a apple computer can do it why couldn't we?

Just a thought

Between Paul, Aaron, Captain Ross, and all of the others on here contributing from their vast storehouse of knowledge, that would be a great idea and a very thorough work. I've got $50 for the project or whatever an equal share of the actual expenses would be.

both phil and my dad have suggested this. i've even tossed around the idea of a book devoted to the tri cabin, but hey, there is always room in a book for a chapter on it. it was such a well designed boat, very popular and roomy for her size. dad even said he could contribute many pics of bubala 3 and other documents that he has saved over the years. if any of you were at the st. michaels rendez vous, you well remember the photo album he brought to it, hell, he even has the ORIGINAL sales order. the one thing that was cool about bubala 3 was the unique features that dad and mom insisted on when we visited the factory in 1972 that were incorporated in every model after that. matter of fact, the boats that were on the line at the time were even retrofitted to incorporate these changes.... the lexan side windows on the bridge, the under seatee storage hatch (mom told the plant foreman that it was insane not to use this space) even the fold down vanity mirror in the aft head. the original design had just dead space there and mom INSISTED that they put hinge and a drop slide stop there to have the entire mirror unit drop down to form a small table. mom requested a drop down, fold up shelf, complete with safety hinge, at the end of the galley counter to make more space for prepping meals, all in the 'factory' black formica laminate. we had bigger a/c units (along with overboard condensate discharge outlets)---dad HATED a wet bilge!--and a kohler 7.5kw generator installed post delivery, but the sea cocks were installed at the factory. the swim platform was an option which we had, along with the teak toe rails. one thing that distinguishes the SHEPPHERD/canadian built tri cabins over the other the usa made models is the small piece of teak that bridges the gap between the spray rail and the platform. a sheppherd hallmark. also, the boats built in canada had the transom T R O J A N lettering on the port side as opposed to the starboard side. just a little trivia there.