The Daysailor Project | Related Information and Links

Triton Modifications While it's hardly a common pursuit, modifying an older boat like the Triton into some new creation--like a more open, simplistic daysailor--is hardly a new idea. There is at least one complete, successful transformation of a Triton hull into a daysailor, and at least one failed attempt. My intent in highlighting the boats below is not to be critical, but to point out features that I personally either like or don't like, and why. Boat design and execution is subjective. I think I have a fair eye for proportional and pleasing aesthetics, but not all may agree with my own opinions. The boat I'm going to build will please me first, and I believe it will please others.
A Failed Attempt Here's one, somewhere, that someone started a sort of similar project on. It looks like they just cut off the aft portion of the original cabin trunk and left the forward portion. Either way, it's not nice, and is not the look I am going for.
	A Much More Successful Conversion This one is much better, and the craftsmanship is evident. Still, they made some design choices and execution decisions that I might not have done, and my own concept is something a bit different. In my opinion, this particular conversion is too "cab forward"--in other words, the cockpit is so long, and the small cabin trunk so far forward ,that the boat doesn't quite have pleasing proportions. In addition, the transom has been extended in an attempt to draw out the lines of the boat. I'm not sure if this was successful, given the relatively short original bow overhang of the Triton design. This contributes to the "forward-heavy" look of this boat. Still, it's an attractive conversion overall, but not quite what I would do--nor what I intend to do. To see further details on this particular boat, click here.

Here is an interesting photo of a Triton with her deck removed. Click on the photo for the story that explains the photo.
Boatbuilding and Design Resources Details of Classic Boat Construction: The Hull, By Larry Pardey How to Build a Wooden Boat, by David C. (Bud) McIntosh Beuhler's Backyard Boatbuilding, by George Beuhler Skene's Elements of Yacht Design, by Francis S. Kinney (Out of print, but a valuable, classic resource)