Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009 vs Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009 or the Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006?

The Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009 is the longer of the two at 18,0 feet overall. The Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 1,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009 tops out at 115 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 18 Explorer 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 550 passengers, while the Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006 is certified for 6. 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 DV 176 DC Mag 2006 measures 96" wide, compared to 91" for the Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009. 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 18 Explorer 2009 or the Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006?

The Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009 has the bigger tank at 36 gallons, versus 27 gallons on the Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006. That 9-gallon difference translates to roughly 27–45 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Q: Are the Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009 and Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009 and the Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006 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 18 Explorer 2009 vs Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006

Triton Boats

Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009

2009

View full specs →

Triton Boats

Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006

2006

View full specs →

Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009 vs Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009 vs Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006 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 150 hp, the Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006 has a 35-hp advantage over the Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009's 115-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 18 Explorer 2009 carries 36 gallons versus 27 gallons in the Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006. 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 18 Explorer 2009 is rated for 550 passengers, while the Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 550 passengers and at 18,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeTriton Boats

Model18 Explorer

ModelDV 176 DC Mag

Model Year2009

Model Year2006

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam91 in

Beam96 in

Beam - Meters2.31

Beam - Meters2.44

Beam - Inches91

Beam - Inches96

Length - Feet18

Length - Feet17

Length - Inches6

Length - Inchesnot available

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 6 in

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 0 in

Length overall - Meters5.64

Length overall - Meters5.18

Length overall - Inches222

Length overall - Inches204

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Detail25 in

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Centimeters63.5

Depth - Inchesnot available

Depth - Inches25

Weight - Detailnot available

Weight - Detail1,400 lbs

Weight - kgnot available

Weight - kg635.03

Weight - lbs.not available

Weight - lbs.14

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Width [transom] - Detail73.5 in

Height [transom]not available

Height [transom]20 in

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull materialnot available

Hull typeModified Vee

Hull typenot available

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull thickness100 ga

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel tank capacity - Detail36 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Detail27 gal

Fuel tank capacity - Liters136.27

Fuel tank capacity - Liters102.21

Fuel tank capacity - Gal36

Fuel tank capacity - Gal27

Fuel typeGas

Fuel typenot available

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max115 hp

Engine max150 hp

Operational Info

StorageRear Storage Boxes: 168 qt. Front Storage Box: 300 qt

Storagenot available

Maximum people550 lbs

Maximum people6

Pontoon and Inflatable Specific

Tube gaugenot available

Tube gauge100 ga

Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009 vs Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009 or the Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006?

The Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009 is the longer of the two at 18,0 feet overall. The Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 1,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009 tops out at 115 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 18 Explorer 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 550 passengers, while the Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006 is certified for 6. 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 DV 176 DC Mag 2006 measures 96" wide, compared to 91" for the Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009. 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 18 Explorer 2009 or the Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006?

The Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009 has the bigger tank at 36 gallons, versus 27 gallons on the Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006. That 9-gallon difference translates to roughly 27–45 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.

Are the Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009 and Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Triton Boats 18 Explorer 2009 and the Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006 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 18 Explorer 2009 full specs ← Triton Boats DV 176 DC Mag 2006 full specs