Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009 vs Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009 or the Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005?

The Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005 is the longer of the two at 17,0 feet overall. The Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 0,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005 is rated to a maximum of 125 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009 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 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 550 passengers, while the Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005 is certified for 4. 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 2009 measures 86" wide, compared to 85" for the Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005. 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: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009 and Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 26 gallons and 27 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009 and Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009 and the Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005 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 2009 vs Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005

Triton Boats

Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009

2009

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Triton Boats

Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005

2005

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009 vs Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009 vs Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 125 hp, the Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005 has a 35-hp advantage over the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009's 90-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 26 gal and 27 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009 is rated for 550 passengers, while the Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009 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 176 Magnum 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 4 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeTriton Boats

Model17 Explorer

Model176 Magnum

Model Year2009

Model Year2005

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam86 in

Beam85 in

Beam - Meters2.18

Beam - Meters2.16

Beam - Inches86

Beam - Inches85

Length - Feet17

Length - Inches6

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 6 in

Length overall - Meters5.33

Length overall - Inches21

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - DetailSide: 24 in

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Centimeters60.96

Depth - Inchesnot available

Depth - Inches24

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail1,210 lbs

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg548.85

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.121

Height [transom]not available

Height [transom]22 in

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull thickness.1

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail26 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail27 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters98.42

Fuel tank capacity - Liters102.21

Fuel tank capacity - Gal26

Fuel tank capacity - Gal27

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Drive typenot available

Engine max90 hp

Engine max125 hp

Operational Info

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

Storagenot available

Maximum people550 lbs

Maximum people4

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum capacity1,100 lbs

Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009 vs Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009 or the Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005?

The Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005 is the longer of the two at 17,0 feet overall. The Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 0,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005 is rated to a maximum of 125 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009 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 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 550 passengers, while the Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005 is certified for 4. 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 2009 measures 86" wide, compared to 85" for the Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005. 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.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009 and Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 26 gallons and 27 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009 and Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Triton Boats 17 Explorer 2009 and the Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005 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 2009 full specs ← Triton Boats 176 Magnum 2005 full specs