Polar 2700 Walkaround

I stood at the transom of the Polar 2700 Walkaround, rod in hand, fighting a small sand shark. Without warning, a giant creature rose from the depths and swallowed my shark whole. It was a goliath grouper. Suddenly, my exciting but manageable fight turned into mayhem. Thankfully, the 2700 WA is equipped to handle just such a fight.

I eased along the portside walkaround to the bow, then came back to the cockpit from starboard. The 2700 WA’s walking space was wide enough to handle my man­euvering, though the captain’s seat and optional hardtop made for an awkward cockpit reentry. Once safely in the cockpit, I comfortably battled this massive fish with my feet secured in the stainless-steel toerail and my thighs pressed against the coaming bolster. That is, until the goliath grew annoyed and spit out the shark – whole.

With a 9’6″ beam, the 2700 WA is roomier than most similarly sized walkarounds. But that extra width means you need a permit to trailer it. The 2700 WA includes enough fishing features to satisfy the hardcore angler. For instance, its 50-gallon livewell has a red light so you can bait hooks after dark without ruining your night vision. The insulated, macerated, insole fishboxes are big enough to keep the successful fisherman happy. The dash can handle a full electronics suite. What’s not to like? The high transom bait prep station, combined with the engine mounts, makes it harder to clear the props when frantically fighting fish astern.

Belowdecks, the 6’5″-tall cabin has enough amenities to keep the crew happy. It sleeps two on the V-berth and two on Pullman berths just above. The galley features a stove, microwave, fridge, and freshwater sink. The glass-lined head has 6’5″ of headroom, minimizing belowdecks claustrophobia. The wide beam makes the 2700 WA a stable platform for reef fishing or trolling. Underway, its bulk makes for good seakeeping abilities, with minimal pounding and rattling. The twin 150-hp outboards did fine with a crew of four and full gear, but twin 200s will add a little more giddyup.

High Points: Livewell has red light for retrieving baits at night. There’s a hatch to access the optional windlass rode from the anchor locker. Cockpit has full-length coaming bolsters and stainless-steel toerails to fight fish in comfort.

Low Points: Wide beam means you’ll need a permit to trailer. Hardtop hinders re-entering the cockpit from the walkaround. Swim platform makes it hard to swing rods around outboards.

Toughest Competitor: If you want the option to tow your boat, consider Century’s 2600 Walkaround, which sells for $91,872 with twin Yamaha F150s. It’s a foot shorter with a highway-ready 8’6″ beam, so you can just slap it on a trailer. It has similar standard features, minus the macerated fishboxes, and similar major options including a hardtop and windlass.

LOA: 27’4″

Beam: 9’6″

Draft (max.): 3’0″

Displacement (lbs., approx., w/o power): 6,400

Transom deadrise: 21°

Bridge clearance: 7’0″

Max. cabin headroom: 6’5″

Fuel capacity (gal.): 200

Water capacity (gal.): 13

Price (w/standard power): $95,951

Price (w/test power): $95,951 NMMA Certified

STANDARD POWER Twin 150-hp Yamaha F150 gasoline outboards

OPTIONAL POWER Twin outboards to 600 hp total. ** **

TEST BOAT POWER Twin 150-hp Yamaha F4 in-line-4 four-stroke gasoline outboards with 162.8 cid, swinging 133?4″ x 17″ ss three-bladed props through 2.00:1 reductions. ** **

STANDARD EQUIPMENT (major items) Auto. bilge pumps; 12v outlet; hydraulic steering; trim tabs; 50-gal. livewell; 2 insulated, macerated fishboxes; 16 rodholders total; transom bait prep station; galley w/sink, stove, refrigerator, microwave; portable MSD; shower.