Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 vs Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 or the Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013?

The Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 is the longer of the two at 18,9 feet overall. The Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 1,9 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 or the Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013?

For trailering, the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 has the edge at 61 lbs dry weight versus 148 lbs for the Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 tops out at 40 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 is certified for 7. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 measures 99" wide, compared to 78" for the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Q: Are the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 and Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 and the Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 are built by Polar Kraft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 vs Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013

Polar Kraft

Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012

2012

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Polar Kraft

Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013

2013

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 vs Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 against a modified vee Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 at 17,0 ft versus Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 at 18,9 ft. At 61 lbs and 148 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 150 hp, the Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 has a 110-hp advantage over the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012's 40-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 18,9 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakePolar Kraft

ModelDakota V 1778 WT

ModelFrontier 189 WT

Model Year2012

Model Year2013

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam78 in. (1.98 m)

Beam99 in. (2.51 m)

Beam - Meters1.98

Beam - Meters2.51

Beam - Inches78

Beam - Inches99

Depth - Detail20 in. (0.51 m)

Depth - Detailnot available

Depth - Centimeters50.8

Depth - Centimetersnot available

Depth - Inches2

Depth - Inchesnot available

Weight - Detail610 lbs. (277 kg)

Weight - Detail1,480 lbs. (672 kg)

Weight - kg276.69

Weight - kg671.32

Weight - lbs.61

Weight - lbs.148

Width [transom] - DetailBottom: 60 in. (1.52 m)

Width [transom] - Detailnot available

Height [transom]21 in. (0.53 m)

Height [transom]not available

Length - Feet17

Length - Feet18.92

Length overall - Detail17 ft. 0 in. (5.18 m)

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 11 in. (5.77 m)

Length overall - Meters5.18

Length overall - Meters5.77

Length overall - Inches204

Length overall - Inches227

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thickness0.08 in. (2 mm)

Hull thicknessnot available

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max40 hp (30 kW)

Engine max150 hp (112 kW)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail23 gal. (87 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters87.06

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal23

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,120 lbs. (508 kg)

Maximum capacitynot available

Maximum people5 / 700 lbs. (318 kg)

Maximum people7

Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 vs Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 or the Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013?

The Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 is the longer of the two at 18,9 feet overall. The Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 1,9 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 or the Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013?

For trailering, the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 has the edge at 61 lbs dry weight versus 148 lbs for the Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 is rated to a maximum of 150 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 tops out at 40 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 5 passengers, while the Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 is certified for 7. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?

The Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 measures 99" wide, compared to 78" for the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.

Are the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 and Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 and the Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 are built by Polar Kraft. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 full specs ← Polar Kraft Frontier 189 WT 2013 full specs