polycraft owners...

[TheRealAndy]

So let's get this straight Andy - have you been out in one of the bigger Polycrafts or not? Have you ever driven one at all? Please advise us all of your level of experience with a big Polycraft in any kind of sea.

Other than the 5.99, which I was going to buy, no. I knew this debate would annoy a few. I have also analysed the hull design of the bigger boats, and they all pretty much share the same design. Furthermore, I have also talked to unbiased owners of the larger crafts (inlcuding PBO owners) and they have all confirmed what I am saying. They also confirm, as I do, that they are one of the most stable vessels they have ever been in. Its not all bad.

Pirate Pete, you have seen my posts on PBO, so you know what I am talking about. Great ride in the open ocean, absolute pig in the short sharp stuff. They are fine until you cross a bar or enter a shallow channel with a big tide. I can smash mine into 2m seas in moreton bay at 20+ knts, but try that entering the pine river or cabbage tree creek, or accross the bars either side of moreton. Sure, you need to adjust your speed, but without experience IMO these boats are far worse than others I have driven, I would not reccomend one as a starter for offshore work.

The constant trimming also pisses me off. Drive straight, trim up, sharp turn, trim down. I have also read the same problems in PBO.


For the people who think I am bagging out polycraft, well I own one and I have no intention of selling it. I am happy with it, even with the small problems. But even though I own one I am not going to defend it, I will tell it as I see it. Kinda like the etec debate, the owners wont hear a bad word about them, its all good. But as with anything, there are good and bad. I will tell both sides of the story, whether the owners like it or not.

[bbayjohn]

Hi. 5.3 poly owner here. No problems with my frontruner (bowrider). By the sound of yours, the motor may need lowering as i can go flat out and reef on the sterring & do a complete 180 deg at 50klm without adjusting the trim. I have no problems with short sharp stuff. Just last week I faced 40 knot winds and the poly just carved it up. I have been out in 5mtr breacking swell and it handled it well.
I have the added waight of the electric bow mount and a pair of batteries which helped greatly in ridding bow high.
The only downside to these boats is in a cross wind and the bow spray but its all a learning curve that can be rectified with practice. Oh and also the blow back if refuling to fast.
Contact me if you would like a test run. No I dont want to sell it, it's just the rissing fuel costs,need people to help with fuel costs, not that the Honda 4st uses alot

[bushbeachboy]

Other than the 5.99, which I was going to buy, no. I knew this debate would annoy a few. I have also analysed the hull design of the bigger boats, and they all pretty much share the same design. Furthermore, I have also talked to unbiased owners of the larger crafts (inlcuding PBO owners) and they have all confirmed what I am saying. They also confirm, as I do, that they are one of the most stable vessels they have ever been in. Its not all bad.

Pirate Pete, you have seen my posts on PBO, so you know what I am talking about. Great ride in the open ocean, absolute pig in the short sharp stuff. They are fine until you cross a bar or enter a shallow channel with a big tide. I can smash mine into 2m seas in moreton bay at 20+ knts, but try that entering the pine river or cabbage tree creek, or accross the bars either side of moreton. Sure, you need to adjust your speed, but without experience IMO these boats are far worse than others I have driven, I would not reccomend one as a starter for offshore work.

The constant trimming also pisses me off. Drive straight, trim up, sharp turn, trim down. I have also read the same problems in PBO.


For the people who think I am bagging out polycraft, well I own one and I have no intention of selling it. I am happy with it, even with the small problems. But even though I own one I am not going to defend it, I will tell it as I see it. Kinda like the etec debate, the owners wont hear a bad word about them, its all good. But as with anything, there are good and bad. I will tell both sides of the story, whether the owners like it or not.

Is it true to say that you've driven the 599 Polycraft once?

[steve bart]

Mate I wouldn't recommend the big polycraft for offshore, they just dont handle the conditions south east qld / northern nsw unless it is really flat. I have talked to a few owners of the big boats and they all confirm my suspicions. My 4.55 is great around the bay, but unless like I said in the big stuff you really need to throttle back to real slow spead or the nose starts following the wave rather than going through it. You dont want this crossing a bar. I have driven a lot of boats over the years, and I can assure you that this is not restricted to the poly, but there are a lot better and safer boats for offshore, especially if you are not familiar with boat handling in rough weather.

I have a 5.99 poly with a 175 suzy and only do offshore fishing crossing the south passage bar going through some sh$ty water and i don't know where you are getting your information from about not handling the rougher conditions .I would have to say that someone has told you porkies.But maybe mine is magic

[Pirate_Pete_Tas]

Pirate Pete, you have seen my posts on PBO, so you know what I am talking about. Great ride in the open ocean, absolute pig in the short sharp stuff. They are fine until you cross a bar or enter a shallow channel with a big tide. I can smash mine into 2m seas in moreton bay at 20+ knts, but try that entering the pine river or cabbage tree creek, or accross the bars either side of moreton. Sure, you need to adjust your speed, but without experience IMO these boats are far worse than others I have driven, I would not reccomend one as a starter for offshore work.

The constant trimming also pisses me off. Drive straight, trim up, sharp turn, trim down. I have also read the same problems in PBO.

From what I read in here & many other sites Bass Strait has one of the shortest wave intevals any where in the country. (I still cant get over how far some people take sub 5M boats out from shore up the east coast) I can only talk from my experiances & that is the 5.3 Cuddy Cab is one of the best handleing boats where I usually work. Yes they can be a bit wet on a cross wind but many boats are, some spray rails will fix that & many ally boats have them fitted. The poly boats could have that done at manafacture too if they wanted.

As for trimming the motor down as you turn, if your boat is set up to what I am told is the best position with the cav plate at or just above the surface when on the plane I dont know any boat that wont cavitate when you do a sharp turn & you will always need to trim. Thats what trim is for.

[Luke G]

I the way I read TRA's post was his talking about his 4.55 in regards to hating short sharp chop etc. The bigger polys eat it up.

Cheers

[squizzytaylor]

I think youre right Luke, I have found with mine though that when trying to negotiate a stiff chop in the 455 delicasy or finesse can be your worst enemy, once the conditions get beyond triming down i find trimming up and basically riding on the stern of the boat a very good option, we regularly get southerlies blowing up to 40 knots in the lake here resulting in big close sharp chop.
Having said this it took me 3 motor height adjustments to get it right and the highest position whilst providing good terminal speed was far from ideal with cavitation being a real pain, too deep and the boat lagged badly and the trim was not very effective.

Geoff

[TheRealAndy]

Trust me lads, I have done a rescue in a 12' tinnie in 3.5 meter seas. I dont give a shit about conditions, its how you deal with it. Luke, I took a test ride in the 5.99, it was a scaled up model of the 4.55, no difference. I could drive it 20 times, its not going to make the hull change shape. Any boat can handle any condition, its just that some do it better than others. Compare a fisher to poly and then try argue.

[steve bart]

Trust me lads, I have done a rescue in a 12' tinnie in 3.5 meter seas. I dont give a shit about conditions, its how you deal with it. Luke, I took a test ride in the 5.99, it was a scaled up model of the 4.55, no difference. I could drive it 20 times, its not going to make the hull change shape. Any boat can handle any condition, its just that some do it better than others. Compare a fisher to poly and then try argue.

Any boat can handle any condition,what drugs are you on. You were the one that said that the big polys couldn't handle the offshore conditions and now you wan't to compair fisher and polys,on which tangent are you heading this time with your back peddling.

[bushbeachboy]

So you've driven a 599 on one occasion. Was this a new boat or second hand? Had it been set up correctly with regard to motor height? Why is it that the bigger poly owners who live and fish in areas with big seas like Torres Strait and Bass Straight report differently to you? There has been no argument that the other boats you've mentioned aren't 'as good' as a poly. You simply stated that the big poly was a dog to drive in a bit of sea, apparently based on some hearsay and one test drive. It's ok to be an expert and state expert opinions if you are actually knowledgeable and experienced on the subject, or even professionally qualified.

Having said that, if you'd like to argue the point personally, lets go out fishing one day and argue about it over a beer or three and a few fish!!!!!

[TheRealAndy]

Any boat can handle any condition,what drugs are you on. You were the one that said that the big polys couldn't handle the offshore conditions and now you wan't to compair fisher and polys,on which tangent are you heading this time with your back peddling.

So someone asks about a polycraft as a first offshore boat, and I said that there are much better options than the polycraft. Compare it to a fisher and there you have it.

Funny you know, when I first started asking questions about the 5.99, most of the unbiased opinions came in email or PM, as poeple did not want to get an online beating for stating there opinion. I understand why now.

So you've driven a 599 on one occasion. Was this a new boat or second hand? Had it been set up correctly with regard to motor height? Why is it that the bigger poly owners who live and fish in areas with big seas like Torres Strait and Bass Straight report differently to you? There has been no argument that the other boats you've mentioned aren't 'as good' as a poly. You simply stated that the big poly was a dog to drive in a bit of sea, apparently based on some hearsay and one test drive. It's ok to be an expert and state expert opinions if you are actually knowledgeable and experienced on the subject, or even professionally qualified.

Having said that, if you'd like to argue the point personally, lets go out fishing one day and argue about it over a beer or three and a few fish!!!!!

Like I said, one test drive is all you need to know the hull behaves the same as mine. I must also qualify that my opinion is based on moreton bay and surrounding areas. I have sailed in bass straight, but its very different to up here.

AS for fishing, where abouts are you? Always up for it. I am about 2 months out from buying my new boat but I could alwasy use some practice fishing time, especially if there is beer involved

BTW, after more than 6 months of test driving boats I have chosen the Yalta 555 as my next boat. Will still be keeping the poly for up the creeks and regular mud island trips though. My choice came down to allison, northbank and the yalta. I chose the Yalta in the end cause I thought it was the best bang for buck boat in its class on the market.

[billfisher]

The Polycrafts would be classed as moderate V - which is what therealandy is hinting at I think. No doubt this would make them wetter and harder riding into choppy seas than a deep V hull. There is nothing wrong with this as the other side of the trade off is that a moderate V needs less horsepower and is more stable at rest.

[breamnut]

poly's are a heavy boat and u probebly need more HP on the poly then the same sized aluminium boat

[marty+jojo]

So Nuts, what's going on? Made any decisions yet? Poly? Tabs? Blue Fin?
Marty.

[Pirate_Pete_Tas]

poly's are a heavy boat and u probebly need more HP on the poly then the same sized aluminium boat

Yes most people go for the max HP on all of the polycraft range.