Port-a-bote

[schoonerdog]

has anyone found a solution to the davits problem with raising and keeping a portabote raised and assembled? The portabote has a lot of advantages, it's lighter, tougher, cheaper, uses less of an outboard to plane...but I don't know a way to easily raise it up on davits (web belts?). Also the sole advantage of a RIB would be positive floatation held captive in the tubes, a RIB really is impossible to sink. Maybe if you were to store life jackets under the seats in a stable and zippered compartment you could add reserve bouyance. I'd also probably cover the seats with something to prevent UV damage.

[Trikona]

I am interested in the answer to this question as well. We currently use a bort-a-bote and have read all the opinions on pros and cons. . We have a 9hp on it and man it FLIES! For the most part we love it, but I do have concerns of longevity and safety for longer passages.

Being able to use it with davits would definitely be another pro. We don't have them on our current vessel, but most likely will on the next.

Thanks!!
Sarah

[cooper]

Yep its easy....up grade the seat to hull brackets to larger bearing plates, strengthen the seats and put in two eyebolts in each one. A short bridal goes to each of the pairs of eyebolts and the job is done. I have finally retired my porta ...to a gentle life beside a quite dam where it can warm its belly in the sun and go for a quite row around the ducks !! It is ancient as posted previously has had a flogging. It was unbelievably stable. I use to have gear stacked up on it like a cargo boat on the Ganges River. The new nester is faster, bu at 10 feet instead of 8 it still dosnt carry more. I would of kept the folder going but the nester sits on the aft coach roof perfectly. I have seen a heap of plastic moulded and timber dings come and go while my old origami just kept on going. The final problem was the staples at the seams where starting to come a bit loose which was letting water in.....I still miss it though..

[Trikona]

Thanks for the info, Cooper.

Fair winds,
Sarah

[waterworldly]

I just sent a detailed email of Greg S's reservations concerning his portaboat to the manufacturer. I'll report back if/when they reply. I too thought this would make a great tender, but if I am leaving the U.S., I was concerned about the issues as well. I don't feel entirely comfortable with just an inflatable, as I intend to go a bit off the beaten track and would be up the creek (so to speak) if I blew a major hole in it. I was happy to hear that it goes along nicely with a small outboard, as I have been trying to minimize the fuss with my tender and have been looking at 2-3hp outboards with incorporated fuel tanks as well. Any opinions on them? Has anyone run one with an electric trolling motor? Is there an electric motor that incorporates a battery? Thanks for any/all replies.

[waterworldly]

I just received this reply to my email:

Hello,

Thanks for contacting Porta-Bote,

It's unfortunate that with over 85,000 Porta-Bote in use around the world for over 35 years, a forum can take a few individuals problems and blow them completely out of proportion.

Upon investigations over the past few years we found several of these boats were over 15 years old and the owners admitted "beating the h_ ll out of them.

At the same time we have continually improved all parts of our products including the seats, oars. locks.

The Internet is a great place to learn. But, it can also be very misleading. If you look up "Rolls Royce", probably one of the finest motorcars on the planet, you will find complaints, also.

Looking forward to welcoming you aboard.

PortaTech


I thought it was a bit of a pissy reply to genuine concerns, as I have seen these complaints in other places. I expected something a bit more "salesman" like, with a bit more fact than what I got. I guess spending lots of cash on someone's product doesn't deserve a better reply . . . oh, how I wish the economy would crash a bit to revive customer service again . . .