porta-boats?

[brownhunter]

does anyone have one? you know the fold up boat. i been thinking of getting one and am looking for reviews of it and ideas.

 

[fdmsiv]

Re: porta-boats?

I did not own one, but a good friend did. It was a very neat idea, but no so practical.

I don't remember the size he got, maybe a 14', but that sucker was heavy. It took at least two people to move it. In order to operate the boat a couple of pieces needed to be screwed together which took sometime and with the flexible plastic, lining everything up was somewhat challenging.

I do have to say that the boat did work though. We only got to go out in it once, but it did work well. We went out with close to 700lbs (3 hefty souls) of people in it. Moving around in the boat was like walking on jello. He powered it with a 5 hp honda. It was great for getting into the shallow mud flats and going out where a regular boat just couldn't make it.

The worst thing was the nick names that every one gave it. I called it the porta-potty, it is made of the same type of plastic. The list went on and on, porta-joke, porta- fill in the blank.

Unfortunately Katrina washed the porta-boat to a better place. Like I said before I only went out in the boat once, but once assembled and in the water the boat was good.

 

[brownhunter]

Re: porta-boats?

how long did it take to put together? what would be better a porta boat or 10ft small alum car top boat? i plan on hitting lakes that have no trailor launch access. ill be using a 5hp and or electric.

 

[Neverhome]

Re: porta-boats?

I had the 11' model. If you have no place to store a regular boat or cannot car top or trailer a boat then the Porta-Bote is a good choice. It is relatively stable although it does take some getting use to due to the soft floor. The material is almost indestructable and the boat will float when full of water.
You will have no problem with a motor but are difficult to row if you have more than one person aboard. The down side is the assembly. They are advertised as only 4" thick when folded, which is true, however they don't mention that the seats and transom cannot fold and so they take up quite a bit of room to transport. If you can car top then I suggest an aluminum boat.
It takes about 15 minutes to assemble one.

Neverhome

 

[newbster]

Re: porta-boats?

I have the 12 ft model and like it. However, I should be selling it soon since I now have a house on a lake and portability is not necessary.

 

[brownhunter]

Re: porta-boats?

oh ok

 

[dave11]

Re: porta-boats?

I have a 10 foot Porta bote. It is OK. It is really a PITA to put it together and take it apart. The seats & transom take up a lot of space. I bought it before I bought a truck. Now I just leave it unfolded so I can just throw it in the back of the truck and go. I seldom do. I now have a real boat, and it is easier to just hook up the trailer and go. If I want to go somewhere without a ramp, I can always take it.

 

[arboldt]

Re: porta-boats?

I've not seen a porta-boat, but based on comments so far, I'd think a canoe or kayak might be a better solution.

My in-laws got a square-end canoe back in the early 60's (?) that we could put a trolling motor on if we really wanted. When we don't have it out, it hangs from garage ceiling joists (I think that's the term) so it's out of the way, yet we can car-top it to any water, no ramp required.