Some mornings you just can't wait to get your boat off the trailer and begin fishing, and today is no exception. And not just because the pair of eager anglers is confident that they're soon going to be tethered to some angry fish, but also because of the cloud of no-see-ums that are exacting a vicious toll on the slapping and scratching twosome. But when you're in the tiny village of Goodland - in the heart of the 10,000 Islands on Florida's southwest coast - it's merely the thorn on the rose, because down here, if the bugs are biting, the fish probably are too.
The lively, flippin' shrimp are poured into the 38-gallon livewell that's engineered to keep them that way with a high-speed pickup, two feeder pumps, a separate aeration pump and a maximum air intake valve. There's even an optional second 28-gallon livewell under the jumpseat in front of the console, giving the anglers on the roomy foredeck easy access to bait. When both anglers are aboard the stylish Polar 2110 Bay Boat, the key is cranked on the quiet-running Yamaha F150 4-stroke, and the cool morning air begins to move as they idle out. You can hear, in stereo, the sigh of relief as the no-see-ums are left behind. Newly purchased tackle is stowed in the built-in compartment that features twin removable trays. As they idle out, the rods are stowed in the rocket launchers in the Sunbrella fabric T-top, leaning post, and in the vertical rod holders to either side of the center console. So far, that accommodates 10 rods, which would take care of most anglers' needs, but if you have more money invested in rods than in your 401K, there are four in-gunwale holders and room for another six in the pair of racks under the gunwale, giving the 2110 Bay Boat room for an impressive 18 rods - and down here, you just might use them all.
A nice option Polar 2110 Bay
Boat gives you is the choice of a low-profile console that gives the Polar 2110 Bay Boat more of a
flats boat look, perfect if you need lower clearance to go "spelunking" in overgrown mangrove
creeks. If you prefer, you can choose the optional higher-profile model that this test boat is
equipped with ($160) that gives you more storage space, as well as a tall windshield for better
protection. This larger console gives you plenty of room to flush-mount big-screen electronics, but
to the right there's also room on top for stand-alone devices, like the Garmin ColorMap GPS
and Piranha Max 15 fishfinder this boat is equipped with. Normally, you'd mount them directly in
front of the driver, but there's a sculpted gauge pod for the stainless-steel bezeled analog Faria
gauges that prohibits this.
The helm station setup is constructed so most drivers will stand or lean, rather than sit atop the optional leaning post, unless you're skilled at foot-steering or play hunchback for Notre Dame. The non-tilt steering wheel (tilt wheel option is available) is angled pretty flat, and the throttle isn't on a pedestal, but the position is a good compromise for those of normal height. The row of rocker accessory switches is conveniently located, but is set low enough so that a driver or passenger could accidentally engage a switch with their thigh in rough conditions. A nice touch is the availability of places for passengers to grab, thanks to the sturdy optional T-top ($1,835) that has well-positioned handholds. Those riding shotgun behind the driver will also be pleased to find a grab rail on the leaning post - although if you use it, don't store rods in the rocket launchers or else you could get face-whacked when it gets bumpy.
Although the Yamaha F150 is probably the smallest engine you'll see on this boat, it's not a bad match, putting the middleweight Polar 2110 Bay Boat on plane in a little more than four seconds, although it doesn't exactly leap out of the hole when fully loaded. The maximum recommended power is 225 hp and, according to Polar, is said to make this 2,600-pound boat run at a top speed in the low to mid 50s. Even the F150 pushes it to 44.8 mph, which is plenty fast enough for 10K Island hopping. If you find yourself doing a lot of fishing in mostly shallow water, though, choosing the larger engine might be the better choice. Helping it to get on plane faster is the 2110's relatively flat hull bottom, which measures a moderate 12.5 degrees of deadrise at the stern. This is just about ideal for a bay boat, because not only do you get increased side-to-side stability at rest, but it will still allow you to run pretty shallow and still has enough "V" to avoid pounding you like a flat-bottom skiff or flats boat would when you get in the chop. And the large, shallow bays around here can get their feathers ruffled when it blows. In contrast, Polar 2110 Bay Boat's conventional 21-foot center console fishing boat has 21 degrees of deadrise and weighs about 500 pounds more. In other words, the 2110 is the quintessential "tweener." Although the test boat doesn't have them, available Lenco trim tabs with position indicators would be a nice addition to help it get out of the hole even faster, allow it to run at slower planing speeds in rough water, and level out an imbalanced load.
Another advantage of the
flatter hull is better fuel economy, and according to Yamaha's typically accurate performance
bulletins, a 2110 Bay Boat equipped with an F150 gets 4.49 mpg at the barely-on-plane speed of 22
mph. But even at 4500 rpm, which pushes it along at 31 mph, the 21-foot-4-inch bay boat with an
8-foot- 6-inch beam still gets better than 4 mpg. And with a generous 72-gallon fuel tank,
you have enough capacity to do a lap around the Everglades with fuel to spare.
Hitting the Gulf of Mexico means hanging a right, if you're heading to one of the most consistent fishing hotspots in Southwest Florida, Cape Romano. Amazingly, very little has changed since the author first fished here in the late '60s when on vacation as a grade-schooler. One of the things that hasn't changed is the relatively deep channel right off the beach, which is surrounded by shallower water, making it a natural fish highway. Naturally, when the snook season is closed during the summer breeding months, this place is lousy with them. Anglers looking for some great catch-and-release action for fish whose average weight is in the teens can test their arm's endurance here.
When the Polar 2110 Bay Boat arrives at the fishing grounds, the optional fore and aft pedestal fishing seats are quickly deployed, and the optional 36-volt MotorGuide Great White trolling motor is dropped into the clear jade-green water. Powered by a trio of deep-cycle batteries located in the center console, the Great White can plow a bow wake with an incredible 105 pounds of torque. But right now, as the anglers take up their stations, a ripping incoming tide does the motoring for them as they work the drop-off near the beach, using the trolling motor to stay in position.
It doesn't take long for the first strike, and Mike Keech, who heads up the marketing department of Polar Boats, reels in the first of roughly a "gazillion" hard-fighting jack crevalles that will keep the fishing duo occupied throughout the day. Although they're hoping for a snook, neither angler is a snob, so the action is welcomed. There's a swirling tornado-like tidal vortex at the end of the beach, which should be a great ambush spot for predators as baitfish get helplessly caught in the current and become disoriented, but nobody's home, so they check out the grass flats adjacent to several shell islands.
Thanks to an extended engine
mount that's integrated into the hull, the Polar 2110 Bay Boat has a lot more usable space on the
rear deck than most boats, and gives a pair of standing anglers plenty of fishing room. For those
who like to toss a cast net, there are two built-in, five-gallon buckets set into the rear deck
that are perfect for net stowage, and there's plenty of room for other gear in the in-floor locker
and twin lockable hatches up front. Here on the flats they score a few nice dinner-sized trout and
a bull whiting (2 pounds) that get to see how roomy the insulated fish box is.
Although the original plan is to camp out on the largest shell island, called "The Hump," there's an ultra-low spring tide right at the time the solo camper (Keech is no fool, unlike some) would be heading out. So although the Polar 2110 Bay Boat can run shallow, it does require some sort of moisture to run properly, so the prospective camper just settles for a great day's fishing.
With the Polar 2110 Bay Boat, buyers are in for a little sticker shock, but in this case the
shock is how low the price is for a 21-foot fishing boat with a state-of-the-art outboard.
Suggested retail with the reliable Yamaha F150 is just $32,180, and even loaded up with options
like the sporty colored hull, three-battery trolling motor with charging system, leaning post,
fishing chairs, extra live well, fishfinder, T-top, and raw- water washdown, you're still on the
working man side of 40K. That's some serious bang for the buck. So if you get the urge to come on
down to visit all 10,000 islands, you know what you need to connect the dots.
Polar 2110 Bay Boat
LOA 21'4"
Beam 8'6"
Weight 2,600 lbs.
Fuel 72 gal.
Base Price $32,180
(w/150-hp Yamaha TXR 4-stroke)
Price As Tested $39,085
(w/150-hp Yamaha TXR 4-stroke)
Hull Warranty 10-year limited
NMMA Certified? Yes
Polar Boats
P.O. Box 310
Vinemont, AL 35179
(800) 839-4182
www.polarboats.com
Test Data
Performance data was gathered with a 150-hp Yamaha TXR 4-stroke, two people on board and 50
gallons of fuel.
Top Speed 44.8 mph
Time To Plane 4.1 seconds
0-30 mph 7.7 seconds
Decibels @ Idle 58 dB-A
Decibels @ 30 mph 84 dB-A
Decibels @ WOT 92 dB-A
Standard Features
Eight rod holders, four cupholders, gunwale rod storage, insulated fish box w/overboard
drain, two lockable compartments aft, trolling motor platform, hydraulic steering, heavy-duty
bronze thru-hull fittings, total composite construction, 10-year hull warranty, self-bailing
cockpit, elevated helm console with indirect lighting and five stainless-steel cleats.
Options
Stainless-steel Bimini top w/Sunbrella fabric, Lenco trim tabs, raw-water washdown, compass, additional baitwell, 36-volt trolling motor system, fishing seats, bow cushions, leaning post, two-position helm seating, colored hull, hydraulic tilt steering, tall helm console and aft deck cushion.