There are a lot of jet boats (a.k.a. sport boats) on the market that
are designed primarily for use on small lakes by those who like to drive them like personal
watercraft. You know: hair-on-fire, gut-clenching radical maneuvering that is fun ' for a short
time. Then what? After getting jiggy with it you are sometimes left with a boat that will ride like
a frontier buckboard in any lumpy sea conditions. And forget about going anywhere farther than
around the next bend, because after an hour or so at full afterburner, it's time to refuel.
All boaters were young once, and most like to revisit their childhood once in a while, but
most adult boaters like to go places and do things. For them, Polaris' first-ever sport boat, the
EX2100, can do double duty as a 'real boat.' One of the most fun things to do is congregate with
other boaters in shallow areas or beaches. Unfortunately, for those with small, flat-bottomed
boats, most of the action occurs on big bodies of water, such as Lake Powell, Tampa Bay, or Lake
St. Clair. Sometimes conditions are calm ' usually on weekdays ' but often there's a chop. With 18
degrees of deadrise at the stern and with an even sharper entry, the EX2100 is a 21-footer that can
smooth out the waves and get you to where it's happenin'. And with a generous 50-gallon fuel tank,
you won't have to make a pit stop even when checking out all of the hangouts.
Rather than starting from square one for its first foray into the sport-boat market, Polaris
formed a strategic alliance with Baja Marine and Mercury (with a little help from Sea Ray) to
produce the EX2100. The first thing you notice is how much different this boat looks in person
after seeing pictures of it. The two dimensions of a flat page don't do justice to the
sophisticated look of the 2100. This Polaris fits right in with the futuristic styling of its new
MSX personal watercraft. A close look reveals a level of detail and sophistication that is only
possible using high-tech tools like CAD (Computer Assisted Design), five axis router, wind tunnel,
and FEA (Finite Element Analysis), which identifies key stress points. The little details really
stand out on this boat, like the custom cleats that reside in a stylized Polaris star indentation.
Sure, they could have screwed a $5 cleat on and it would look fine, but it's clear that Polaris is
out to make a statement. Looking at the boat head-on, there is a 'Jetson' thing happening with the
flared bow fins and V-notches. A similar treatment is observed when looking at the stern, and far
from being overdone, the styling is very clean and eminently functional.
Sliding behind the sporty helm station, there is something different about this boat, and
you can't quite put you finger on it. Then, it hits you: This thing has a full-sized, tinted,
wraparound, tempered, walkthrough glass windshield, not one of those flimsy Plexiglas deflectors
that seem to direct the wind blast, not to mention bugs, right in your face. The fact that you
didn't notice it is a testament to how well it is integrated into the look of the boat. Instead of
looking clunky, it makes it look more boat-like than toy-like. Grabbing the thick, three-spoke
wheel and settling into the sports-car-like bucket seat with plenty of lateral support reveals good
ergonomics. The gauges are imbedded in a carbon-fiber panel that is well positioned for reading,
and that have a smoked Plexiglas eyebrow shade to reduce glare. The throttle resembles the lever
you would find on a premium ski boat.
Cranking the key brings to life the clean-burning, 250-hp OptiMax direct-injected 2-stroke
engine that powers the M2 jet drive. Standard power is a 240-hp Mercury EFI. Measuring 70 decibels
at idle is about the quietude you would expect from this engine, and throttle response is crisp,
getting the EX2100 on plane in a couple of seconds. The acceleration curve is linear, and the
Mercury OptiMax pulls strong and steady until the Polaris hits the 50-mph mark.
Even at full throttle, you can crank the wheel as hard as you like without paying any sort
of penalty. It carves the turn nicely, but doesn't exhibit the abruptness you find on other jet
boats. Frankly, some people won't like this trait, preferring a boat they can scare the bejeebers
out of unsuspecting riders by hooking up violently and hurling them around the cockpit. The speed
drops off rather quickly in hard turns as well, but for most owners, the EX2100's civilized
handling will be appreciated. Unfortunately, the small test lake is pretty calm, but has enough
boat wakes to demonstrate that the Polaris has a ride as smooth as creamy peanut butter. If you
prefer chunky-style, get another boat.
Passenger seating is excellent. The workmanship of the hand stitched marine vinyl is what
you would expect from a premium boat builder like Baja, and the color scheme is flashy but not
gaudy. The racing bolster seating for three in the stern is definitely taken from the Baja
playbook. Usually the center seat in jet boats is affectionately known as the 'death seat,' because
its occupant doesn't have a grab rail to hang onto, and the driver can usually slam the rider into
the gunwale like a crisp NHL body check if they aren't paying attention. But on the Polaris, this
seat has such good lateral support that passengers stay rooted in place even during hard,
high-speed turns. Bow seat riders have plenty of legroom, and there are side bolsters and grab
rails. The backrest is nicely padded but could use a little more angle for reclining pleasure.
Since the EX2100 rides so smooth, the bow seats are inhabitable even when the going gets rough.
As well as the EX2100 performs at speed, it does equally as well as an entertainment
platform at rest. The swim platform is wide and is a good place to sit and relax in the water.
There is a wide boarding bar that automatically retracts when not being used, and there is a pair
of grab rails to assist with reboarding. The large sun pad is a prime ray gathering location, and
without any dark colors acting as solar panels, it shouldn't get too hot in the summer. With a wide
8-foot-5-inch beam, the Polaris has good side-to-side stability and plenty of cockpit space. The
standard stereo comes with a CD player and resides in the port-side glove box, and features a pair
of speakers with an option for two more. For skiers there is a pylon for towing, and when the
carving and slashing is done, there is a large centerline ski locker with additional storage
beneath the bow seats.
Polaris, with a little help from its friends, got it right on the first try. By using Baja
to help build the boat, the level of fit and finish is first-rate. And by using the design tools
available by the Brunswick folks, Polaris has produced a mature design that should be
well-received. The EX2100 is produced using an environmentally friendly, vacuum-assist resin
transfer closed-molded process, which yields a hull with a 40 to 41 percent fiber-to-resin ratio
compared to the 30 to 36 percent usually on conventionally produced boats. This means Polaris can
produce a stronger, more consistent boat.
The EX2100 is being marketed by a specially selected group of Polaris dealers and should
make for a smooth entry into the marketplace. For models sold this season, Polaris is throwing in
the OptiMax engine for half of the usual $2,000 upgrade price, and is kicking in the optional
carpet kit and sun top for free. The Polaris is competitively priced in the premium sport-boat
segment and retails for $23,995, giving owners a well-built, stylish boat that can handle a variety
of conditions. It looks like the first time is the charm for Polaris.