Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 vs Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 or the Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012?

The Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 is the longer of the two at 18,5 feet overall. The Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 1,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 tops out at 90 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 550 passengers, while the Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 is certified for 5. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 measures 86" wide, compared to 1" for the Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 or the Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012?

The Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 has the bigger tank at 31 gallons, versus 26 gallons on the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008. That 5-gallon difference translates to roughly 15–25 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 and Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 and the Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 are built by Triton Boats. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 vs Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012

Triton Boats

Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008

2008

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Triton Boats

Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012

2012

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 vs Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a modified vee Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 against a deep vee Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 150 hp, the Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 has a 60-hp advantage over the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 carries 31 gallons versus 26 gallons in the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 is rated for 550 passengers, while the Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 550 passengers and at 17,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeTriton Boats

Model17 Explorer

Model186 Fishunter

Model Year2008

Model Year2012

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam86 in

Beam100 in

Beam - Meters2.18

Beam - Meters2.54

Beam - Inches86

Beam - Inches1

Length - Feet17

Length - Feet18.5

Length - Inches6

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 6 in

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 6 in

Length overall - Meters5.33

Length overall - Meters5.64

Length overall - Inches21

Length overall - Inches222

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail1,450 lbs

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg657.71

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.145

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typeDeep Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail26 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail31 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters98.42

Fuel tank capacity - Liters117.35

Fuel tank capacity - Gal26

Fuel tank capacity - Gal31

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max90 hp

Engine max150 hp

Operational Info

StorageRear Storage Boxes: 150 qt. Front Storage Box: 300 qt

StorageFront Port Storage Box: 270 qt. Front Starboard Storage Box: 270 qt. Front Storage Box: 190 qt. Livewell: 23 gal. Built-in Ice Chest: 45 qt

Maximum people550 lbs

Maximum peoplenot available

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacityMax Weight: 1,900 lbs. Person Capacity: 1,160 lbs

Trailer Info

Trailer - Length over allnot available

Trailer - Length over allWith Swing Tongue: 21 ft. Without Swing Tongue: 23 ft

Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 vs Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 or the Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012?

The Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 is the longer of the two at 18,5 feet overall. The Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 1,5 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 tops out at 90 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 is Coast Guard rated for 550 passengers, while the Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 is certified for 5. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 measures 86" wide, compared to 1" for the Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 or the Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012?

The Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 has the bigger tank at 31 gallons, versus 26 gallons on the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008. That 5-gallon difference translates to roughly 15–25 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 and Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 and the Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 are built by Triton Boats. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2008 full specs ← Triton Boats 186 Fishunter 2012 full specs