Rivets rust. Stainless screws seem to work just fine after I have drilled out every single rivet on every single lid. Google it and bunches of people have the same gripe. They should address it.

I have never seen an aluminum rivet rust......... ever... How often do you have to retighten all of said screws?

Andrew it's the pins in the rivets, the caps on the rivets are aluminum the pins appear not to be, they rust. Fred at Dsm redid my battery compartment, it's been a year and have not retightened. I don't have time or desire to drive it out there every time one goes. Currently I have personally replaced one live well, rod box, port storage, it's a 2012 for Christ sake. For the money if they can't do something better I will find another option next time around. I have not had to 're tighten any.

Out of the two you mentioned I would say Triton. I would drive them both for sure and then go drive a Phoenix. The choice will be easy.

the guy said he wanted a boat that lasted 10 years

Hymmm. I have not had an issue with the rivets on any of my Rangers. I am however confused about the center of the pop rivets. If it was anything other than aluminum with an aluminum outside you would never break it off. I will look at my 2015 tonight. I'm sure you can call Ranger and they will handle it.

I hope he doesn't test run a Bass Cat, or he will be passing the rest.

That Bass Cat will not be passing a Triton 21HP with a Mercury 250. Good luck with that.

Triton TR's were performance hulls they do not have wedge built into the rear of the hull to help inexperienced drivers prevent chine walk. Most boats Rangers, Skeeters, Legends ect... have wedge built into the hull to make it easy to drive but scrubs off speed. Tritons and other performance bass boats and race hulls are a handful to drive for the inexperienced drivers. A good driver will make it look easy. Just takes seat time in one. I drive a Triton TR21 and you will never know it Chine Walks. But somebody else with no experience driving these types of hulls will have their hands full. Hope this helps:)

Oh I know how to drive a boat, I did not know how to drive that 98 model but I still say it was not set up properly, the late model Tritons are easy to drive.

Ranger 521C.

Hymmmm.. This is getting off topic. However we are comparing 2016 hulls with 2016 motors......

You won't go wrong with either. But if money wasn't an issue, I'd be getting a Ranger no questions asked.

My TR-21 Triton is 10 years old an still holding together well for having well over 2500 hours on the motor. The hull, dash, carpet and seats are still in decent shape but could be replaced to give it that new look within the next year or two! The hull looks great since I wipe down the boat every time after using it to avoid that brown water line stain that many older boats seem to have. The only problems I have had have been motor wear and tear/issues. I think Ranger is a great boat as well, they have a very wide deck and hold together very well also. I have not been in many Rangers through rough water without a bit of a beating but it could just be the drivers, not the boat. My Triton does seem to spear waves if you do not drive it correctly in rough water. You will be happy with either!

With all that being said a Triton 22 TRX hands down will be the best option, go to Texas Boat World and talk to Cliff and go for a ride, he sells both brands.