Trade-A-Boat 492 2017

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Plastic Fantastic

BOATS HAVE BEEN MADE OF WOOD, METAL, ’GLASS AND EVEN CEMENT.

BUT PERHAPS MORE OF US SHOULD SEE PLASTIC AS AN OPTION

STORY JOHN WILLIS

Polycraft 4.1 Challenger Dory

I

n my previous life as

a boat dealer there

was one product I

yearned to get my teeth

into – Polycraft – as

I firmly believed in their

success. Yes, plastic boats!

While most of the world

saw problems with plastic

boats, I saw the benefits.

UV-stabilised polyethylene

is a tremendous medium

for boat construction. It’s

incredibly strong, is the

same colour right through

so never needs painting or

colour matching for repairs;

is tremendously impact

absorbing, contributing to a

soft ride, isn’t susceptible to

rust, electrolysis, osmosis or

corrosion, can be moulded

to intricate shapes, is less

susceptible to marine growth

and is easily cleaned. Plus the

material is naturally buoyant,

providing unquestionable

safety especially when roto-

moulded with air cavities.

Sold? So am I, yet

unfortunately I never got

the opportunity to sell

them. Niche products like

this can do very well in our

flamboyant boating market,

and many smart boaties

heard the calling, particularly

those in work and hire-

boat scenarios, tenders,

landing craft and extreme

environments.

Whilst there is a dedicated

sector of the recreational

boating market that just

loves Polycraft boats, they’ve

never gained the overall

popularity of tinnies or

fibreglass. Aluminium is

certainly lighter for a roof-

topper but when it comes

to a trailer boat give me the

strength – up to five times

the impact resistance of

aluminium – and ride that

comes with the Polycraft. The

designs, inside and out, have

been finely tuned to produce

appealing internal layouts

in soft-riding and ecient

hulls. The flexible nature

70 tradeaboat.com.au