Hello,
Has anyone heard of the boat company Polar Kraft? A dealership in my area is selling a PS1780 flats boat for $4500. This is the description: “90 Johnson, galvanized trailer with spare tire, trailer in excellent shape, raymarine gps, polling platform, push pole holder, fiberglass pole anchor with mount and holder, rod holders, livewell, bow storage, 82# hand controlled saltwater motor guide trolling motor.” It looks old, but in okay shape. I am looking towards getting a used flats boat of some kind and this one is cheap. However, it maybe too cheap and I know nothing about Polar. Would y’all trade in a restored Boston Whaler '86 13ft. Sport for this? Any thoughts or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Here she is:
http://www.tailwalkermarine.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=3013659&p=1&s=Year&d=D&t=preowned&fr=xPreOwnedInventory
I have a 2003 Polar Flats 1788. The bow on my boat has a slight flare, the boat you are talking about not so much so choppy waters will beat you up a bit. They are simple boats, not known for fantastic fit/finish. That being said, I bought ours in 2007 and have never regretted it. It is super stable and has served perfectly in the role for which I intended it. I have fished and shrimped out of it all up and down the coast, scalloped out of it on the west coast of Florida and had it 10 miles out on the reefs in the Keys. The non-skid inside is pretty worn so I hope this fall/winter to repaint the interior and put some Kiwi Grip down to restore the nonskid. It does go pretty skinny.
As for the motor, I know nothing about Johnsons, I have a Yamaha 70 TLRB on mine. I would ask for a ride first to see if you like it and see how it handles. I had to get used to the flat bottom, it slides through turns.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
I had a '93 that the hull separated on me (chopped glass) and hull was finally replaced in '97 (woven glass). Ran the boat for 14 years after that. Put a 90 on it in ‘04. When sold in 2011, stringers were rattling a bit. Boat will beat you but will not sink and if you are aware of it’s limitations, it a decent hull. Be aware that with a 90 and the flat bottom, you have to drive and throttle through corners at speed. I miss the boat for its ease of use and gigging abilities, but enjoy the fact the wife comes with me more and my back does not nag with my current bay boat. Like DF, it saw 600’ in the keys as well as many backwaters and flats.
That v4 90 is bulletproof.