polycraft owners...

[Greg P]

Re: polycraft owners...

Luke - did you put the Df150 on the poly?


Must go like sh!t off a shovel if ya did. What are your fuel numbers now - i remember you said u were very happy in another post

[Luke G]

Re: polycraft owners...

Yeah she no longer strugles to get up on the plane now. Fuel numbers are great - a slow cruise of 18 litres an hour doing 23-24 knots @ 3600rpm and at 4000rpm im cruising at 27knots using 22 litres an hour. Got another prop there to try out this weekend to gain some more WOT rpm's so well see what happends. At troling speed im using 2.8 litres an hour at 4.5-5knots. A day out trolling for Sails I use 60L insted of 80-90L with the 115 suzy.

Cheers

[breamnut]

Re: polycraft owners...

sounds like a great boat,stable,strong because im really gettig over eastery fishing and want to do alot more outside stuff but still want a boat for getting up into the little creeks chasin bream/jacks (with lures ofcorse) i have strated looking at the 4,50 drifter, the 455 and now the 480 brumby.

[TheRealAndy]

Re: polycraft owners...

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.

[marty+jojo]

Re: polycraft owners...

Hey Nuts,
A mate of mine just got a 4.5 drifter with a 60hp Merc 4 stroke, i have been out for a quick run with him and it is a great boat. On good days he will have no probs getting outside in it, it rides really smooth and quiet. I think you are dreaming if you think you are going to keep up with any of the pro bream boats with a 60hp....
Marty.

[breamnut]

Re: polycraft owners...

Hey Nuts,
A mate of mine just got a 4.5 drifter with a 60hp Merc 4 stroke, i have been out for a quick run with him and it is a great boat. On good days he will have no probs getting outside in it, it rides really smooth and quiet. I think you are dreaming if you think you are going to keep up with any of the pro bream boats with a 60hp....
Marty.

mate i didnt say i wanted to keep up with them as before i was entering the comps with a 390 hornet trophy with a 30hp, i have done pritty well in comps so far.
thats good new about the drifter is it a consol or tiller?
i just found a nice tabs boat with a brand new 60 4 stroke yammie im gettig a price on

[marty+jojo]

Re: polycraft owners...

mate i didnt say i wanted to keep up with them as before i was entering the comps with a 390 hornet trophy with a 30hp, i have done pritty well in comps so far.
thats good new about the drifter is it a consol or tiller?
i just found a nice tabs boat with a brand new 60 4 stroke yammie im gettig a price on

It is a side console, he had Cunningham's Marine at Clontarf (Redcliffe) fit it out for him, he got the console further back than polycraft normally fit them. It has plenty of fishing space, but the front platform is small and there is no rear platform. However this does not matter as my mate is a bit of a handyman and is going to fit the boat out the way he wants it, the mods are going to include extending the front platform, a rod locker,rear cast platform, electric motor, carpet floors and decks, live bait tank etc.
As for the Tabs, another mate has a 4.55 Tabs sportfish, it has a 60hp merc 4 stroke and it goes ok on flat water and small chop, but offshore it is a wet underpowered nose heavy pig, maybe a hydrofoil would help it. I would go a poly over a tabs hands down.
If you decide against a poly, have a look at a Bluefin Predator or Warrior 4.5 they are a lot cheaper than a tabs and are built very well.
Anyway that is my opinion only.
Marty.

[Pirate_Pete_Tas]

Re: polycraft owners...

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 5.3 Cuddy & run it in Bass Strait, one of the roughest peices of water in the country & have found it handles the rough stuff with ease & havent heard any thing saying they dont.

[TheRealAndy]

Re: polycraft owners...

I have a 5.3 Cuddy & run it in Bass Strait, one of the roughest peices of water in the country & have found it handles the rough stuff with ease & havent heard any thing saying they dont.

You are correct, they do handle the rough stuff well. But they are a dog of a boat to drive. Not a good idea for someone just exploring the offshore areas in south east queensland.

[Luke G]

Re: polycraft owners...

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.

Have you spent any time in a big Polycraft?

I can't speek for the 4.55 because i've never been out in one in the rough. But with my 5.3 You will need to throttle back in the big stuff, just like any other 5m boat but I have never had the hull wanting to broach and follow the wave - ever. For a 5m boat I recon they do better then some of the bigger boats ive been in.

Cheers

[TheRealAndy]

Re: polycraft owners...

It is a side console, he had Cunningham's Marine at Clontarf (Redcliffe) fit it out for him, he got the console further back than polycraft normally fit them. It has plenty of fishing space, but the front platform is small and there is no rear platform. However this does not matter as my mate is a bit of a handyman and is going to fit the boat out the way he wants it, the mods are going to include extending the front platform, a rod locker,rear cast platform, electric motor, carpet floors and decks, live bait tank etc.
As for the Tabs, another mate has a 4.55 Tabs sportfish, it has a 60hp merc 4 stroke and it goes ok on flat water and small chop, but offshore it is a wet underpowered nose heavy pig, maybe a hydrofoil would help it. I would go a poly over a tabs hands down.
If you decide against a poly, have a look at a Bluefin Predator or Warrior 4.5 they are a lot cheaper than a tabs and are built very well.
Anyway that is my opinion only.
Marty.

Have to agree with you there marty. I would probably go the bluefin.

Breamnut, I asked about the poly here a few months back. If you do a search on "Tell me the bad things about polycraft" you will find all good things about PC.

[billfisher]

Re: polycraft owners...

Have you spent any time in a big Polycraft?

I can't speek for the 4.55 because i've never been out in one in the rough. But with my 5.3 You will need to throttle back in the big stuff, just like any other 5m boat but I have never had the hull wanting to broach and follow the wave - ever. For a 5m boat I recon they do better then some of the bigger boats ive been in.

Cheers

I would have thought that one of their best points is resistance to broaching - what with a moderate V and the mini sponsons on the sides. I know my little 4.1 tracks very straight is is much more forgiving in following waves than the tinnies I have been in.

[squizzytaylor]

Re: polycraft owners...

Have to agree with you there marty. I would probably go the bluefin.

Interesting, I originally had a deposit on a bluefin barracuda and cancelled to go with the 455 poly after a ride in a mates as I honestly though the ride and handling of the poly was far better, I have been out in a mates 465 territory pro and fitted with a 70hp suzi 4 stroke is a hell of a lot of boat and definately better sea going than the poly or the barracuda.
However
Tabs = $30000+
Bluefin = $23500
poly = sub $20000

These are approximate only, but needless to say with the dollars I saved the boat has been kitted out very well.

geoff

[Pirate_Pete_Tas]

Re: polycraft owners...

You are correct, they do handle the rough stuff well. But they are a dog of a boat to drive. Not a good idea for someone just exploring the offshore areas in south east queensland.

You have me lost there Andy. In second they are good in the rough & the next they are no good ? ? ? ? ?

[bushbeachboy]

Re: polycraft owners...

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.