Sometimes a new boat ends up resting on its brand's laurels, and doesn't really deserve the respect it gets. Other times, the brand itself has a bad rap, and a good boat gets tarred and feathered because of the name on the side. But there are other times ' admittedly rare times ' when a new boat comes as a complete surprise. You just don't see it coming, and when it does, there's a hey-will-you-look-at-that factor involved. That's the case with Polar's 2100 center console, which Boating World tested recently in Miami waters. It's a head-turner ' especially when you see the name on the side.

Polar is one of those names that may not ring a bell for most boaters, and until this year, you'd pass its bay or flats boats on the dock with scar-cely a second glance. It's called the cookie-cutter syndrome, and it's common in the center console world. The only thing that might stop you is the name. Why would anyone call an open fishing boat Polar, except maybe to give a rugged, go-anywhere image to the boat?

But there's nothing ordinary about Polar's new 2100 CC. The muted yellow, almost tan, gel coat immediately adds class to the profile and gives it the look of a more expensive fishing boat. The slight flare in the bow also gives the sense that the 2100 can run in the big water.

But when you step into the boat, you see the designers have added a lot of smart standard features into the 21-foot hull, especially for the price. Granted, the boat BW is testing has the optional leaning post ($1,066), T-top ($2,683) and 'Premium Offshore Package' ($1,360), the equivalent of being dressed up in its Sunday best. But there are unusual standard features you notice immediately, like a lighted 48-gallon livewell at the transom, brass through-hull fittings below the waterline, removable windshield and low-profile stainless-steel grabrails in the front.

Looking even closer, there are some tricked-out features for a boat this size. There are corrosion-resistant Deutsch waterproof quick-disconnect electrical switches, so you basically have a plug-and-play electrical system for your gauges and electronics. The raised casting platform in the bow is also a notable accessory for fly-fishing: It gives you the option of standing along the gunwales or inside the cockpit.' The low-profile grabrails in the bow are also notable, because they don't get in the way of standing up on the gunwales, and they provide a safety step if you lose your balance. Plus, they do their job as safety rails if you're fishing inside the cockpit. The low-profile works well on this fishing boat ' though the rails also come in a optional raised version, which will appeal to families.

Sometimes it's annoying when dealers try to stick the word 'family' in the same sentence with center console. Let's face it, they're designed for fishing. You can add a seat cover here or a cooler there, but would any non-fishing spouse really want to sit in front of the console, holding on for dear life, while the boat's banging through rough seas? Or worse, would you let the kids ride up there?

That's true of this boat, too, especially with the optional leaning post. It's built, first and foremost, for fishing.' But there are some features that soften it up for family use. And your fishing buddies may not want to rough it all day, either. After all, even real men like to sit every now and then, and enjoy a cold one.' With that in mind, the 2100 has an optional cushion that covers the front casting platform (with anchor locker underneath), and there's a cushion back over the livewell, with an optional seat back that slides into two of the rocket launchers behind it. For those who like privacy, there's good headroom under the console, so you don't have to be a contortionist to use the portable head ($115 option). But the best feature, fish boat or not, is the door on the starboard transom. It lets you get on and off the boat easily ' especially with kids or carrying a lot of gear. That's a nice touch on a boat this size.

The leaning post adds $1,000 to the total, but it also adds a good bait-prep center, tackle box and four rocket launchers ' and a 92-quart Igloo cooler underneath. Four other rocket launchers on the T-top give the boat a total of 17 in-deck rod holders and rocket launchers, kind of overkill on a boat this small (as is, perhaps, the 48-gallon livewell). But, hey, you can't fault the designer for thinking big, and it's probably better to have too many than too few. Plus, you can use the seat backs in the rocket launchers and still have a full complement of rods in use. Polar also has storage racks for eight rod holders, four on either side, with optional locking panels.

There's a storage compartment on the port side, and up front the fish box measures 19 inches by 51 inches. The helm has a nice-sized box for electronics (unfortunately an option) on the console positioned in front of the driver (better than having to crane your head to see the overhead box), and the gauges are to the right. The aluminum T-top, besides sun protection, has spreader lights for night fishing.

The 2100 runs just fine on this calm Florida day, jumping from 0 to 30 mph in 7.4 seconds, and topping out at 46.4 mph ' a good top end for getting out to the fishing grounds and outrunning bad weather. Yamaha's the most common outboard on the Polar line, though you can get most other brands such as Evinrude, Suzuki and Mercury. The 2100's rated to 240 hp, stopping just short of the big 250s. The 200 seems to be an optimum size for this boat.

The Polar handles nicely in sharp turns and at trolling speed, and backs down without too much manhandling. That's due to its 'bustled' transom shape, which curves on either side, rather than running straight across like many boats. Polar says that design diverts aft waves, so you're not getting shoved back and forth in following seas. However, BW doesn't have the chance to find out on the pancake-flat bay.' The 2100 handles fine in other boats' wakes (and in a self-created chop by spinning figure-eights), and the deep-V hull design, with 21 degrees of deadrise, makes sense for rough water. Speaking of which, the Lenco electric trim tabs are a $550 option, and well worth it on a boat this size. Most boaters think of trim tabs as necessities for larger boats, but they're probably the best investment you're going to make on a smaller boat, especially if you use it in the ocean. Nobody likes running at a 45-degree angle in quartering seas, and the tabs will take out the Tilt-a-Whirl effect of a changing head sea.

Construction is all-composite (no wood, no rot), with a one-piece inner stringer system that is bonded by Plexus to the hull to reduce hull flex. The hull floor has a raised lip that the center console fits over, and the two pieces are through-bolted together, so there is no cheap-looking caulking line. The Premium Offshore package (mentioned above) includes stainless-steel upgrades in the hardware, a removable boarding ladder and your choice of three colors ' the muted yellow, dark blue or sky blue. Lighter colors tend to fade less over time and won't show up scuffs as dramatically. But any of the three will add a touch of class to the 2100.

The fit and finish on the boat is good ' except when you open a hatch or look into the portable head. The walls and floors aren't rough or unfinished, but they're not gel-coated either, and that gives it a cheaper look.

If Polar really wants to take this boat to the next level, it should gel-coat those areas. That's really the only Achilles heel on the 2100 ' especially since it has so many other good features. Otherwise, the 2100 is a fresh look for Polar, and definitely worth a second look from you.