Porta Boat - Durability & Suitability

[ejlindahl]

How durable are these. I am thinking of getting a used 2002 12 footer that the seller says has only been unfolded and used a dozen times, and kept in the garage otherwise.

How durable are the plastic hinging parts of the hull? This is 10 years old now, does this plastic age so that the hinging parts are getting brittle and ready to break or leak?

Do you have one and do you like it?

Thank you

Eric

[sarafina]

We have an 02 and it has taken all kinds of abuse, mostly stowed in the open, transom rotted some before we got her and got a new one, but we still have the old de-laminated one and it would work as a back up if we needed it to.

Had it almost 3 years now, one tough little sucker, and fun ; -)

Power wash her off occasionally and she is good to go!

how much he want for her?

[captain465]

Have a 2000 that has lived out in the sun for it's entire life......Same as Sarafina said, the wooden transom went bad, but the plastic is in fine shape, although alittle sun burned and chalked from sun exposure. It'a fine little boat.

[rebel heart]

Is that the same plastic they use for walker bays? I have a walker bay 8 that gets roasted all summer long without an issue.

[ejlindahl]

He's asking $850 with an electric trolling motor which I don't particularly want. Is that a reasonable price?


Walker bay is polyethylene. I think this is different, it only folds to 4" thick, origami like.

[Mike OReilly]

We bought a 10' about five years ago. So far, no complaints. Tough as nails, easy to stow, and light. Easily handles the two of us with gear. Takes a small outboard (60# for the 10'), and rows nearly as good as a rigid. That being said, it's probably not for everyone, nor does it do everything well. We bought it b/c davits are not an option (not desired either, but that's a different discussion), and I hate dragging a dingy on anything other than very short hops.

It's not a perfect dingy, but nothing is perfect when it comes to this sailing life.

[captain465]

One note of interest......when towing a Porte-bote, keep it on a very short painter. It is so light, that it will tend to flip from the mother ships wake. Don't ask me how I know this!!

[Blue Crab]

I hate to argue with the oh-so-lovely Sarafina, but a proper dink is one of the joys of the sailing life.

A porta boat is not a proper dink.

[ejlindahl]

Tg I agree with you. Actually my intent is to put it on the roof of my land yacht in case I want to venture out on some lake. I also may throw it on board my boat as a back up or alternate dink for the crew to do there own thing.

Any one have an idea if $850 is a reasonable price for a 10 yr old 12 footer?

Thanks

[myosys]

Originally Posted by ejlindahl

Tg I agree with you. Actually my intent is to put it on the roof of my land yacht in case I want to venture out on some lake. I also may throw it on board my boat as a back up or alternate dink for the crew to do there own thing.

Any one have an idea if $850 is a reasonable price for a 10 yr old 12 footer?

Thanks

You should check with Portabote to see how much a new one is.
I have an 8' and 10' of recent vintage; the newer ones have plastic/aluminum transoms so there is no problem with wood rot.

If the transom is wood; he should drop the price...

The plastic "hinge" points are very durable in my opinion. Have cruised with it all around New England.

The seats are less durable; especially from the older models I hear.

There is a fairly active Yahoo group for Portabotes; you could ask around there.

[sarafina]

Originally Posted by ejlindahl

He's asking $850 with an electric trolling motor which I don't particularly want. Is that a reasonable price?

Seems a bit high to me. and that trolling motor? ditch it and get a 2hp outboard. That lil thang will stand up and dance over the waves with a good little outboard on her. $500 sounds about right, but I'm cheap ; -)

Originally Posted by tgzzzz

I hate to argue with the oh-so-lovely Sarafina, but a proper dink is one of the joys of the sailing life.

A porta boat is not a proper dink.

Nope, but it's a NIFTY tender. Folds up and rides on the life lines of our little Cal28 sweet as can be. Beats the bulk of anything else hands down for our purpose. And it goes on top of the roof rack nicely too.

And you can put proper oarlocks on it if you want.

You can get one of the new plastic transoms if you don't like the plywood. The ply actually do fine if they get fresh paint every year or so. Ours had been REALLY neglected...

New benches too from Porta Bote if yours are messed up.
I love my bote ; -)

[onestepcsy37]

cruising friends of mine have had a portabote for ten years now. took it from fort lauderdale to turkey over a seven year cruise. liked it so much he gave me his inflatable - said he liked the portabote so much better. and this on a 40 foot center cockpit ketch. can't recall what size it is but i did row it once and was really impressed and how well it tracked. he claims he can plane it with his 3hp yamaha....

[sarafina]

Originally Posted by onestepcsy37

he claims he can plane it with his 3hp yamaha....

Yep ; -)

[S/V Alchemy]

I can get me and my 10 foot Portabote to five knots with a Honda 2, the one that weighs about 28 pounds. The range of the one-litre tank is about 10 NM, it seems.

I also have a nesting dinghy with a largish sail rig. Together, the pair give me flexibility to have the sailing tender for my son to muck around in, and the Portabote for "cargo". I have no hesitation about flinging bicycles or jerry cans or engine parts in the Portabote.

[ctl411]

We like our 14 foot portabote will go 18 plus with two adults two kids plus fishing gear. If you get a 12 look at the seat mounts of the 14 its much better makes the boat stiffer rows better. We had a 12 until i found the 14 used.