My 3rd. Porta Bote

[sailingharry]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Bahhh... warmth and easy-living is over-rated . Besides, there's still so much to explore up here in Newfoundland. Maybe in a few years... maybe.

Yesterday on our way into the Saguenay River, we were wearing winter coats. This morning we talked to the homefront in Maryland, where the temperature has been 100°, 87 at midnight. We're liking the north!

[Rumrace]

Nice Rescue Cpt Mark thanks for being like that.

[Happ]

A few years back I was cruising with some friends who had a PB that was around 10 years old. It was starting to fall apart so we pulled it on to the dock and tried to repair it. The owner finally decided it had been repaired enough and it was time to replace it. We were at the boat show">Annapolis Boat Show so he made a deal on a PB demo model. He looked at nothing else.

As we continued down the coat we used it a few times and the only negative that I experienced was getting in and out of it onto the boat. It just isn’t as stable as an inflatable. It takes about as long to put it together as inflate an inflatable. It runs well on a smaller engine. So there are many positives and for the price it is easily 1/2 that of an inflatable.

Personally I would go with an inflatable because I find it much easier to get in and out of it. I should say that I am a Senior Citizen albeit in great shape so I may be a bit more conservative.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by sailingharry

When I saw the subject line pop up, I figured for sure that you were the OP! 😁

I must be getting predictable .

Originally Posted by sailingharry

Yesterday on our way into the Saguenay River, we were wearing winter coats. This morning we talked to the homefront in Maryland, where the temperature has been 100°, 87 at midnight. We're liking the north!

Loved our time up the Saguenay and in that area of the St. Lawrence. I remember entering the river and having the temperature increase like 8-10ºC. Then when we came back out onto the Big River, the temp dropped again.

Right now Newfoundland is breaking heat records. I wish I was wearing a winter coat .

Originally Posted by Happ

As we continued down the coat we used it a few times and the only negative that I experienced was getting in and out of it onto the boat. It just isn’t as stable as an inflatable. It takes about as long to put it together as inflate an inflatable. It runs well on a smaller engine. So there are many positives and for the price it is easily 1/2 that of an inflatable.

Personally I would go with an inflatable because I find it much easier to get in and out of it. I should say that I am a Senior Citizen albeit in great shape so I may be a bit more conservative.

This is a good observation. You can't treat the PB like an inflatable. Boarding is best done by stepping into the middle of the bote. It's much like entering a canoe. The PBs aren't really unstable. It's just that they feel tippy to someone not used them. Takes a bit of time to learn how to use them if you're used to an inflatable.

[Celestialsailor]

I will add to that Mike...being made of polypropylene, they are a little flexy under foot. However, they are quite stable.

[hpeer]

Funny, I find the PB EASIER to get in and out, especially with some swell on. I find this a big plus for the PB.

We board at the lifeline gate. This is where the mother ship is most stable. We have a single hanging step there. Because there is no inflation tube to step over we setp up onto the hanging step and onto the deck. Shopping and such also just goes up onto the deck. We do this even with a heavy swell where transom boarding would be dangerous to impossible.

A inflatable pushes you away from the step so you need to step on the tube and need to lean which pushes the dink iff. Swim platforms and inflatables are a good match in calm waters. When the swell gets up they are a challenge.

[myketch42]

I have had four , a 12 , 2 10's and an 8...my favorite were the 10's . In Trinidad with a four horse mariner , I could do 16 knots with just me aboard . Not yet mentioned was the worry free docking at more primitive piers , there was often drama when cruisers got back to their inflatables and freaked out at getting them out from under a dock due to tide and current change,..with the porta bote you just tug and snatch . I could stand on the very edge seam of mine and the boat would flex but not flip..I love the darn things , but now have to sell my current 8 foot , to accommodate a wife and to dogs .

[sailjumanji]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

I will add to that Mike...being made of polypropylene, they are a little flexy under foot. However, they are quite stable.

They have a very different feel when motoring. Moves around a lot. We took a friend's to a wooden boat festival, to have something we could throw in the bed of the truck, and be able to get on the water with the boats for pics, etc. Several people wanted to try it. They either came back saying how smooth and surprisingly fast it was with only a 5 hp, or they drove it up on the sand and couldn't get off quick enough (absolutely hating the movement).

[YesIsail]

excuse me but may I ask where did you get those ss thingys to hang the kayaks from outside.

Any website that sells them?
thanks

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

Hey Mike...I knew you would chime in at some point. I used these when I had my 10 footer to store it...
My new one is 8'6"s, folded. This time I may try storing it across my stern rail, inboard. It came with a very heavy duffel bag for the 2 seats and transom.

[pmclachlan]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

Good video of an Aussie couple's experience with a Port a Bote and how they have improved it.

Great video! Thanks tiempo!

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by sailjumanji

They have a very different feel when motoring. Moves around a lot. We took a friend's to a wooden boat festival, to have something we could throw in the bed of the truck, and be able to get on the water with the boats for pics, etc. Several people wanted to try it. They either came back saying how smooth and surprisingly fast it was with only a 5 hp, or they drove it up on the sand and couldn't get off quick enough (absolutely hating the movement).

I have seen the same. It is a little funny at first but I got used to it quick. But some definitely freak out.

[ForeverDes]

Originally Posted by YesIsail

excuse me but may I ask where did you get those ss thingys to hang the kayaks from outside.

Any website that sells them?
thanks

The set I bought from Amazon is no longer available, but here's another similar, albeit more expensive product. I only paid $125 for mine.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by YesIsail

excuse me but may I ask where did you get those ss thingys to hang the kayaks from outside.

Any website that sells them?
thanks

Garhaurer is where I purchased mine. The were the maker

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by myketch42

I have had four , a 12 , 2 10's and an 8...my favorite were the 10's . In Trinidad with a four horse mariner , I could do 16 knots with just me aboard . Not yet mentioned was the worry free docking at more primitive piers , there was often drama when cruisers got back to their inflatables and freaked out at getting them out from under a dock due to tide and current change,..with the porta bote you just tug and snatch . I could stand on the very edge seam of mine and the boat would flex but not flip..I love the darn things , but now have to sell my current 8 foot , to accommodate a wife and to dogs .

Since I have the 8ft. now, I would be curious what hp. you used on it. The specs call out a 35lbs. outboard for the 9 and 54lbs for the 10 and 12. I thought they limited the hp. because of the nontraditional transom. but that doesn't make sense since they are all the same. Is it weight that would swamp the stern at rest. For the other past owners here, please chime in if you have any ideas.

[Celestialsailor]

Question for the group…it is recommended by PB that a 35lb. Max outboard be used on the 8’. This restricts the hp to 3.5 or less with what is currently on the market. 4hp to 6hp weigh in about 45lbs. I thought maybe I could get away with a 2 stroke 5hp. Not sure the weight though. Anyone have direct experience with this?