Trident... Baddest MoFo

[Sleek-Jet]

Here sits a pile of fiberglass from a failed boat company. Sure the boat was a neat idea, but it never made it. So here's one of the three that needs likely everything it takes to build a boat but the hull. At best, unless your not a realist that boat is a $15,000-$20,000 boat. That includes the new trailer it is going to need. Cost you $50,000 plus to put it back together. Keep in mind some of these boats from that aria had lamination issues. Hate to buy it, poor money in it only to have the bottom delam........... :eek I'd steer clear. If someone wants one, there is a brand new one laid up that was never put together. It is one of the many investors boats, I'd bet he would love to sell the blank.

Wes boats didn't delaminate, that was the other guys.

Like I said, it would make a neat restoration project you could leave for your kids. And as with any other passion project it can't be about the money.

In aviation there are all sorts of guys that restore rare and/or one off production airplanes, simply because they want to see a neat price if machinary back in its element. Car guys do it also, it isn't always about the payday at the auction.

 

[milkmoney]

With people spending money again on toys , u think different level of builds, that might take off ????

 

[JBS]

So a splash is fair game? Not going down that road but if you choose to crush the mold you've basically given up the patent to the design right?

Cant imagine that no one wanted to buy the mold. Sounds like it was a pride move more than money move.

Destroying the mold would have no effect on the patent. That does not make any sense.

Most patents are never manufactured. It does not change the fact there is a valid patent.

As I recall the molds had some issues. In addition Wes wanted to make some changes if he ever started to mfg the boats again.

As for selling the molds the value is in the engineering and patents not the molds.

 

[hallett21]

Destroying the mold would have no effect on the patent. That does not make any sense.

Most patents are never manufactured. It does not change the fact there is a valid patent.

As I recall the molds had some issues. In addition Wes wanted to make some changes if he ever started to mfg the boats again.

As for selling the molds the value is in the engineering and patents not the molds.

I don't know much about boat design patents. But how could you protect your bottom design etc with no mold to prove someone copied your design?

I want to say the law says a 10% deviation from a mold is considered a new design.

I guess since he still has a hull that would protect the design?

Either way I have no interest in ripping off the design. I think it could still be a contender if customers were to spec out how they wanted the boat built rather than being told what they were getting

 

[RiverDave]

I don't know much about boat design patents. But how could you protect your bottom design etc with no mold to prove someone copied your design?

I want to say the law says a 10% deviation from a mold is considered a new design.

I guess since he still has a hull that would protect the design?

Either way I have no interest in ripping off the design. I think it could still be a contender if customers were to spec out how they wanted the boat built rather than being told what they were getting

The 10% variation deal is an urban myth, not only with boat hulls but patents as well.. How do you assign a % value to something that isn't measured in mathematical terms? etc.. Splashing laws tend to have to do more with fitting in an existing mold, which means even a lifting strake would make it not fit etc.. That said Wes geared up heavily on the lawyer side of things with that company, so back in the day I'm sure most wouldn't have wanted to deal with it.

The company is gone now, the money is gone, etc.. If someone copied it now other than some grumblings and maybe a letter, I don't think you'd hear much about it realistically. Maybe you would, Wes is pretty stubborn and prideful so he might pursue it, but I kinda doubt it... He's got bigger fish to fry right now out trying to make real money outside of the marine industry. To my knowledge he has no interest in ever getting back into it, so I'm not sure why he'd care other than pride.


Moving forward, if we are being honest the boat wouldn't be competitive in the modern market place for a whole variety of reasons, none of which are even worth talking about. The deck would have to be retooled, and a whole bunch of things would have to happen to make them cheaper to produce.

The main claim to fame on the Trident is that it flat hauled ass.. 107 with a 710 Ilmor in the Summer is crazy fast.. I don't know of any boats that are pulling those #'s let alone deck boats. That and Wes more or less introduced "infusion" into the performance boat scene.

RD

 

[dribble]

The 10% variation deal is an urban myth, not only with boat hulls but patents as well.. How do you assign a % value to something that isn't measured in mathematical terms? etc.. Splashing laws tend to have to do more with fitting in an existing mold, which means even a lifting strake would make it not fit etc.. That said Wes geared up heavily on the lawyer side of things with that company, so back in the day I'm sure most wouldn't have wanted to deal with it.

The company is gone now, the money is gone, etc.. If someone copied it now other than some grumblings and maybe a letter, I don't think you'd hear much about it realistically. Maybe you would, Wes is pretty stubborn and prideful so he might pursue it, but I kinda doubt it... He's got bigger fish to fry right now out trying to make real money outside of the marine industry. To my knowledge he has no interest in ever getting back into it, so I'm not sure why he'd care other than pride.


Moving forward, if we are being honest the boat wouldn't be competitive in the modern market place for a whole variety of reasons, none of which are even worth talking about. The deck would have to be retooled, and a whole bunch of things would have to happen to make them cheaper to produce.

The main claim to fame on the Trident is that it flat hauled ass.. 107 with a 710 Ilmor in the Summer is crazy fast.. I don't know of any boats that are pulling those #'s let alone deck boats. That and Wes more or less introduced "infusion" into the performance boat scene.

RD

I remember reading somewhere that the 10% concept was based upon an appellate court decision on a lawsuit brought about by the Federal Hull Design Protection Act but right now I can't find it. It does appear that the act only protects a Hull design for ten years.

 

[Enen]

I would imagine if somebody splashed an existing hull or even copied the graphics, you would hear from his lawyers.

Hear from his lawyers-lol. There has to be a company that is an actual going concern to claim it has incurred damages from someone splashing a bottom or spraying graphics.

 

[wsuwrhr]

Hear from his lawyers-lol. There has to be a company that is an actual going concern to claim it has incurred damages from someone splashing a bottom or spraying graphics.

You feelinfroggy?

 

[nameisbond]

My opinion the company failed with sales and marketing. Versus poor engineering. Fountain added the beak to get out of a deal that limited the boats they could sell because they signed a deal to use a hull design. Adding a beak, got them out of that bad deal. So someone could easily splash hulls by simply altering the design. I didn't take Trident seriously because they started out with a jet drive. On a hull that is a very poor choice for a jet. So it was obvious the owner had tunnel vision on all aspects. Arrogance, fails! They had bad ads in magazines. Lack of experience in boat design by the owner. No sales skills, etc... Its was micromanaged to death by an owner that had zero skills in any aspect of business.

 

[wsuwrhr]

My opinion the company failed with sales and marketing. Versus poor engineering. Fountain added the beak to get out of a deal that limited the boats they could sell because they signed a deal to use a hull design. Adding a beak, got them out of that bad deal. So someone could easily splash hulls by simply altering the design. I didn't take Trident seriously because they started out with a jet drive. On a hull that is a very poor choice for a jet. So it was obvious the owner had tunnel vision on all aspects. Arrogance, fails! They had bad ads in magazines. Lack of experience in boat design by the owner. No sales skills, etc... Its was micromanaged to death by an owner that had zero skills in any aspect of business.

Come on man, really? thumbs down.

Wes hardly needs anyone to defend him, he put his ass out there and had a good run at it.

It is easier to quarterback from the sidelines when it ain't your money, and your ass, hangin out there.

Trident ultimately failed because the economy crashed before the company could get any momentum and recover any of the upstart costs. The 5 boats sold likely didn't cover single digit percentages of the upstart money put in.

Wes succeeded in his vision and what he brought to the boat building table. The boat worked, and it worked well.

Brian

 

[HOOTER SLED-]

And here we goooooooo.

 

[Abc123]

I didn't take Trident seriously because they started out with a jet drive. On a hull that is a very poor choice for a jet..

Dual jet

 

[Sleek-Jet]

What ever happened to the original hull? It was my understanding that since it was essentially a prototype that they took it apart?

 

["NOEXCUSES"]

With the boom in tri-toons, deck-boats, and this center console craze how could it not be relevant in todays market? The price points arent as far apart anymore considering people are adding his standards as options. As I recall he wasnt fond of outboards but what about them? I know some retooling but anyways. Never met the man personally he did spare some insight for a "future boater" though.

As i recall theres more than just patents theres copyrights as well. I have no idea what it translates to protection wise. Anyhow hey rd how about you put an op6 together lol.

 

[wsuwrhr]

What ever happened to the original hull? It was my understanding that since it was essentially a prototype that they took it apart?

I believe the original hull was "Red/White."

It looks like she still wears the billet transom mount fabbed up for the outdrive.

Brian

 

[HOOTER SLED-]

Dual jet

Lol.....good for 200mph fo sho.....so what's the problem?

 

[Sleek-Jet]

I believe the original hull was "Red/White."

It looks like she still wears the billet transom mount fabbed up for the outdrive.

Brian

I thought the OG hull was orange/blue with Infomaniac's engine and the duel pump set up? Been a while...

 

[wsuwrhr]

I thought the OG hull was orange/blue with Infomaniac's engine and the duel pump set up? Been a while...

Possibly.

Red/white had the dual jet switched out, hence the fabbed adapter.

I still think Red/White was boat 1 and had originally had the motor Info built in it, that got removed once she went to an outdrive. The motor Info built was palletized and racked and later went into Wes's Spectra he had. and later I believe they was separated again and both resold.

I think orange blue was the last, or second to the last one..could be wrong, but that is what I remember.

Brian

 

[NicPaus]

Text Froggy and have him chime in Brian. I see the one in Parker on a regular basis. Anyone know the owner see how it has held up getting used regularly.

 

[wsuwrhr]

Text Froggy and have him chime in Brian. I see the one in Parker on a regular basis. Anyone know the owner see how it has held up getting used regularly.

I see him on here periodically, and he has even posted from time to time.

If Froggy wanted to comment, I believe he would have already chimed in.

Im sure the mess is still fresh in his mind and reliving it, again, along with the people who talk shit, just to talk shit, is nothing more than a headache.

Brian

 

["NOEXCUSES"]

if i remember" the blue is almost purple like when your looking into the deep of the ocean" and "if youve seen it than you know what im talking about" , something like that.