Smallest Polycraft family member gets a facelift patch up some holes, we can send a repair kit and it can easily be fixed – you wouldn’t even know it there was a hole there!” Overall, the new hull weight is heavier than the
BRISBANE
Bob Thornton
Polycraft have some news that will interest sportfishers on a budget, and this is bound to generate a lot of excitement in the fishing and boating community! The smallest member of the much-loved Polycraft family, the 300 Tuff Tender, has just been given a facelift, making it perfect as a small sportfishing boat. The name has also received a facelift, with this updated version being affectionately named the 300 Tuffy. Steve Cooper from Polycraft says that the update was a logical step, and one that has already been well-received. “Originally this boat was designed as a tender, but over time it started to develop a following as a fishing boat,” he said. With many anglers choosing to add their own modifications, usually hatches in the rear and extended deck on the front, it got to the point where Polycraft felt the need to sell the Tuff Tender with these features – and that’s exactly what they’ve done. “We added the extended casting deck up the front with
for the motor, and $2,000 for the Oceanic trailer, so this would only set you back about $7,500, and most people will then chose to add an electric,” he said. If you’re after an
The new 300 Tuffy looks sporty when underway, and is the perfect outfit for an angler who wants to take the hassle out of owning a fishing boat. Photo courtesy of Andrew Mckinstray.
storage hatch, rear seating and storage bins, we’ve also added some starboard finish on the decks, and everywhere else there’s a non-skid finish, as people like to stand up and fish in these boats,” Steve said. “The steps on the back are now bigger, making it a lot more comfortable when stepping into the boat.” Another small but fantastic feature of these boats
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is in the storage, with all the hinges being made entirely out of the same poly material as the hull, yet keeping everything perfectly dry. Despite all these changes to make it more of a fishing boat, the team at Polycraft haven’t left the Tuffy’s roots as a tender for big boats. “This boat will still make a great tender for a Riviera, and we noticed with the last
version it had an exposed sprit at the front, and on that sprit was a bow shackle,” Steve said. “Being made of steel, some people were finding that the shackle would rub on the gel-coat overnight and cause some damage, so we’ve taken this into consideration and we’ve recessed this bolt, meaning it can’t come into contact with gel-coat surfaces anymore.”
There’s plenty of room to stand up on the non-slip starboard finished decks to fish. old version, with the old Tuff Tender coming in at 87kg, and the new Tuffy at 105kg, but the reason for that is surface area. The Tuffy is 50mm longer, and 50mm wider. The storage bins add some weight, and the lids to the bins are also double skinned. The boat tested on the day was fitted with a 15hp
inexpensive, trouble-free fishing boat to hit inshore water and lakes, make sure you check out Polycraft’s new 300 Tuffy. For more information you can visit www.polycraft.com.au. • Quoted performance figures have been supplied by the writer in good faith. Performance of
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All Polycraft boats come with superior stability, and the 300 Tuffy is no exception!
st deck • Now with ca ll design • Improved hu ut aces througho • Non slip surf rage • More dry sto BUNDABERG CAIRNS BURPENGARY GLADSTONE TOWNSVILLE SOUTHPORT CANNONVALE NOOSAVILLE -
Adrian’s Marine Centre Aussie Marine Brisbane Yamaha Curtis Coast Marine Rising Sun Honda Marine Nitro Marine Whitsunday Marine Laguna Boating
07 4153 1819 07 4033 8800 07 3888 1727 07 4972 0135 07 4759 3218 07 5532 5812 07 4948 3298 07 5442 4872
Check out the full range of Polycraft Boats at
www.polycraft.com.au
or contact us on 1800 336 603
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APRIL 2019
Storage is a major factor of the Tuffy, and being of a waterproof design with absolutely no metal, the hatches won’t give any maintenance troubles at all! Another great aspect of this boat the ease with which an owner can make his or her own modifications. “You don’t ever make the perfect boat that suits every angler, so with Polycraft boats, if you want to attach a bracket, add more decking, or drill any holes in the cockpit area, you’re only screwing into the inside of the boat, and not penetrating the outside of the hull at all,” Steve said. “If you sell the boat to someone and they want to
4-stroke Yamaha and a Minn Kota electric motor, and had no trouble getting up and out of the hole, and even took on South East Queensland’s Pumicestone Passage very easily in 10-15 knots of breeze. The 80lb bow-mounted electric moved the hull effortlessly through the moored boats, and the deck provided ample space to operate it while making casts. “For the rig like this, we’re looking at $1,999 for the hull, approximately $3,500
SPECIFICATIONS Length.............3070mm Beam...............560mm Height…..........550mm Weight.............108kg Floatation........Basic Max hp.............15hp individual boat/motor/ trailer packages may differ due to variations in engine installations, propellers, hull configurations, options, hull loading and trailer specifications.