Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 vs Polar Kraft V 190 FS 2011 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 or the Polar Kraft V 190 FS 2011?

The Polar Kraft V 190 FS 2011 is the longer of the two at 18,7 feet overall. The Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 1,7 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 V 190 FS 2011?

For trailering, the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 has the edge at 61 lbs dry weight versus 1 692 lbs for the Polar Kraft V 190 FS 2011. 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 V 190 FS 2011 is rated to a maximum of 200 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 V 190 FS 2011 is certified for 8. 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 V 190 FS 2011 measures 101" 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 V 190 FS 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 and the Polar Kraft V 190 FS 2011 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 V 190 FS 2011

Polar Kraft

Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012

2012

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Polar Kraft

Polar Kraft V 190 FS 2011

2011

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 vs Polar Kraft V 190 FS 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 against a modified vee Polar Kraft V 190 FS 2011 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 V 190 FS 2011 at 18,7 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Polar Kraft V 190 FS 2011 tips the scales at 1 692 lbs — 1 631 lbs less than the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 at 61 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 200 hp, the Polar Kraft V 190 FS 2011 has a 160-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 V 190 FS 2011 is rated for 8 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 V 190 FS 2011 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Polar Kraft V 190 FS 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 18,7 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

ModelV 190 FS

Model Year2012

Model Year2011

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam78 in. (1.98 m)

Beam101 in. (2.57 m)

Beam - Meters1.98

Beam - Meters2.57

Beam - Inches78

Beam - Inches101

Depth - Detail20 in. (0.51 m)

Depth - Detail32 in. (0.81 m)

Depth - Centimeters50.8

Depth - Centimeters81.28

Depth - Inches2

Depth - Inches32

Weight - Detail610 lbs. (277 kg)

Weight - Detail1,692 lbs. (767 kg)

Weight - kg276.69

Weight - kg767.48

Weight - lbs.61

Weight - lbs.1692

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

Width [transom] - DetailBottom: 85 in. (2.16 m)

Height [transom]21 in. (0.53 m)

Height [transom]25 in. (0.64 m)

Length - Feet17

Length - Feet18.67

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

Length overall - Detail18 ft. 8 in. (5.65 m)

Length overall - Meters5.18

Length overall - Meters5.69

Length overall - Inches204

Length overall - Inches224

Body / Hull

Hull materialAluminum

Hull thickness0.08 in. (2 mm)

Hull thickness0.1 in. (2.5 mm)

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeOutboard

Engine max40 hp (30 kW)

Engine max200 hp (147 kW) Minimum: 115 hp (86 kW)

Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Detail42 gal. (159 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Liters158.99

Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available

Fuel tank capacity - Gal42

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,120 lbs. (508 kg)

Maximum capacity1,850 lbs. (839 kg)

Maximum people5 / 700 lbs. (318 kg)

Maximum people8 / 1,100 lbs. (499 kg)

Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 vs Polar Kraft V 190 FS 2011 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 or the Polar Kraft V 190 FS 2011?

The Polar Kraft V 190 FS 2011 is the longer of the two at 18,7 feet overall. The Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 comes in at 17,0 feet, making it roughly 1,7 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 V 190 FS 2011?

For trailering, the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 has the edge at 61 lbs dry weight versus 1 692 lbs for the Polar Kraft V 190 FS 2011. 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 V 190 FS 2011 is rated to a maximum of 200 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 V 190 FS 2011 is certified for 8. 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 V 190 FS 2011 measures 101" 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 V 190 FS 2011 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Polar Kraft Dakota V 1778 WT 2012 and the Polar Kraft V 190 FS 2011 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 V 190 FS 2011 full specs