8' Folding Porta Boat

[fishsail]

My 25' CD is about ready to be splashed. I am looking around at dinghies and need something small and easy to handle. I am looking at kayaks however they are a little bulky and we would need two which will take up a lot of room. I remember the folding porta boats had a pretty good review and the 8 footer might be just what we need and what will fit?
Any comments ?
thanks

[avb3]

Originally Posted by fishsail

My 25' CD is about ready to be splashed. I am looking around at dinghies and need something small and easy to handle. I am looking at kayaks however they are a little bulky and we would need two which will take up a lot of room. I remember the folding porta boats had a pretty good review and the 8 footer might be just what we need and what will fit?
Any comments ?
thanks

I have a 12' and love it. The only issue is that it does take 15-20 minutes to assemble, but one can tow it if you keep the bow of the portabote close to the stern.

Personally I would go no smaller than a 10 foot, but I am 6'5".

[fishsail]

WOW compact convenience doesn't come cheap. I just got the "discount" price sheet $1900.00 for the 8', $2100.00 for the 10' ouch, I'm not sure I need land that bad? LOL

[Cheechako]

I've seen 2 Port a botes FS on Craig's list in the last few months up here in the PNW. Keep you eyes open locally. $450-500.
The previous one was cleaner than this one: http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/boa/5581606611.html

[fishsail]

I spelled it correctly now and found some on CL however all 12' a little large for me

[avb3]

Originally Posted by fishsail

WOW compact convenience doesn't come cheap. I just got the "discount" price sheet $1900.00 for the 8', $2100.00 for the 10' ouch, I'm not sure I need land that bad? LOL

Buy them used. I bought my 2004 12 footer last year for $450. They really don't wear out, and UV doesn't seem to impact them.

[HopCar]

Want a project? Look at the Fliptail. Woodenwidget
I've got most of a nine footer in my garage that I will finish some day.

[bletso]

Yeh, they like their stuff. Up $300 in just the last two years! Be patient and buy used.

[jag39]

I had a 10' that I used to get to a mooring. Loved the boat, but it really has a lot of windage and there were times I couldn't make it to the boat due to wind and tides, rowing. They don't row well at all. Added a 2hp outboard, and that worked, but even that had trouble with the wind and tides at certain times. Big advantage is huge weight capacity, and they are very stable. I paid $400 for mine used at a pawn shop, and have seen a lot of them for sale for that price, used. Hope this helps.

[thomm225]

I have a 16' Folbot Cooper Kayak as my dinghy.

I leave it assembled totally in season and remove the "skin" during the Winter Months.

[captstu]

I've owned 2 Portabotes as dinghys and was happy with both of them. After 5 years or so the seams start to leak at their base - gives you another year to replace them. Patching with the special tape they recommend works for a few months.

The 8' one was a bit tight for two people, a cat, and some gear. It took water over the bow in choppy conditions. The 12' one was faster, not much heavier, and easier to assemble - even though there were a few more pieces.

Not hard to put together - took 10 minutes or so. I stored mine on the rail inside the stanchions - no problem to lift into place. Used a 3.5 hp 2-stroke to plane easily with 1 - eventually went to a 5 hp 2-stroke (after theft of smaller one), and it planed very easily.

Nice boat - if you can get used to walking around on a rubber water bed, these feel the same.

[johnleeknot2bus]

I have a new 8' Porta-boat with seat for $1200. John 910-470-4480.

[alctel]

I have the 10' and it's great. Trying to go down to the 8' though, as I think it'd be easier to assemble on deck. One less seat to store is also good.

I think it rows really well, I fit proper oaklocks on it. I don't even bother with my outboard 99% of the time, the exercise is really nice!

[bailsout]

We went with an inflatable kayak. About 15 minutes to inflate. Easier to store. We also had an 8' Portabote that just barely stored in the quarter berth. Like the kayak better for two people.

[briblack]

We had a portaboat as a tender while we cruised Mexico, for quite some time. I'd have to give it mixed reviews. We found it difficult to assemble, on the deck of our 40' sailboat. It plained easily with two people and a 6hp motor. It could haul a ton of stuff, and people. We found it impossible to snorkel out of. No real way to set up dingy wheels, to pull it up the beach. I greatly disliked the drooped nose. It was scary when crossing open water, with heavy chop. We finally replaced it with a rib. Also a compromise, but fits our needs better. An inflatable with a high pressure floor is also a pretty good candidate.