When Jappie van der Pol discovered TrackJack in 2013 through his Yamaha motorcycles, he was one of the first companies in the Netherlands to equip sailing yachts with GPS trackers. More than eight years later, the systems installed back then are still in use on the boats. "It's an incredibly stable and reliable system."
If you are in Sneek and run into one of the most enthusiastic people of your life, chances are you have bumped into Jappie van der Pol. The owner of rental company Polboten grew up in Friesland, and the rental business was instilled in him from a young age. “My father quit his job and started a rental company. 10 years later, the first new boats were purchased, and another 10 years later, I joined the company.” Since then, it has taken off tremendously. Larger vessels were added, along with an (online) booking system and a surge in automation including the TrackJack boat tracker. “We are now one of the most modern sailboat rental companies.”
Polboten has the most beautiful and modern sailing yachts available for rent.
GPS trackers for the boats
Polboten uses boat GPS trackers to protect against theft or other emergencies. “The moment bad weather threatens, I want to be sure that my customers aren't stuck in the middle of the IJsselmeer. But otherwise, I prefer not to look at it too much, only for practical matters. For instance, it is ideal if there are malfunctions on board. The system makes access incredibly convenient.”
Fortunately, these disruptions are rare. "We're a very good rental company that takes excellent care of its equipment. That's also why most of the tracking systems are still from the very beginning."
“It is an extremely stable and reliable system.
Most of the tracking systems are still from the early days”
Busy in winter, quiet in summer
After a turbulent 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, 2021 is looking as it should. The boats will be launched on April 1st, and the project is expected to be completed within five to six months. However, it's busy in the winter and quiet in the summer. "People often think it's the other way around, but they don't understand our business. In the winter, we have to maintain, repair, and prepare everything, while in the summer everyone is happily sailing. We're never bored, especially not on the changeover days, but we can certainly enjoy ourselves on the grass."
And it's clear that Jappie enjoys his work. He works with happy and active people, and in the most beautiful province of the Netherlands, as he puts it. "You don't have to go to France or Spain. You hop on the boat, pull up to a jetty, light the barbecue, and have the time of your life."