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01-20-2006, 11:54 AM
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#1
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Member
Trailer: 17 ft 1991 Bigfoot
Posts: 32
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I am looking for a family fishing boat to use with the Bigfoot. I started looking at canoes but thought something a littel bigger and lighter might be better. A "family" 4 person canoe gets over 100 lbs.
I did a search but did not see anything previous posts on the Porta-boat. Anyone have one of these?
It should fit on the top of my truck and I am planning on using either an electric or small gas motor.
Thanks!
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01-20-2006, 01:43 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Trailer: Former Casita 17 ft owner
Posts: 1,498
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[attachment=1280:attachm
ent]Joe,
We bought a 12' Porta-bote in 1999 and really enjoyed it. I bought all the options: dolly, oars, sunshade and RV mount. I added a 5HP Mercury outboard (2-stroke). With that engine, it would plane at about 15 MPH and was very stable.
I found that the 12' was too long to mount on the side of my Casita, so I sold it and got a 10'. I didn't like the 10' as well as the 12' and the motor was too big for it. I got a 2.5 HP and that wasn't big enough.
I later added a shell on the back of my truck and put a rack on the shell to carry the boat. That was much better, the curved sides of the Casita make it hard to carry without scuffing the gel coat.
I used the factory RV mounts on the rack to hold the boat. They charge too much for the RV mounts. Here's some pictures of the truck top mounting.
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01-20-2006, 01:49 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Trailer: Former Casita 17 ft owner
Posts: 1,498
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The third picture (rear view) shows a roller I added to make it easier to load.
The 12' hull weighs about 60 pounds and the roller made it very easy. I stood the hull up and leaned it on the roller then just lifted it and rolled it into place.
There are some caveats with the Porta-bote as shown in this picture.
Someone call 9-1-1
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01-20-2006, 01:53 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Trailer: Former Casita 17 ft owner
Posts: 1,498
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Here are a few more shots.
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01-20-2006, 01:56 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Trailer: Former Casita 17 ft owner
Posts: 1,498
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And here's a shot of me.
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01-20-2006, 02:00 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Trailer: Former Casita 17 ft owner
Posts: 1,498
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Here's the web site if you need more information (and less humor).
Notice how they spell boat.
Porta-bote
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01-20-2006, 02:04 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Trailer: Former Casita 17 ft owner
Posts: 1,498
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If you have more questions, just ask.
This shows Origami mounted on the Casita.
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01-20-2006, 02:40 PM
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#8
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Member
Trailer: 17 ft 1991 Bigfoot
Posts: 32
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Morgan,
Thanks for all the pictures (and the humor!).
I have looked at the web site and just wanted some customer info. I am looking at the 12' or the new 14' and I was thinking of a 5 or 6 hp motor so your input hit the bulls eye.
I am also thinking of a electric motor. I know that this won't plane but it is nice for trolling. Would both motors fit on the back?
Could you fit two adults and to kids in your 12' boat? Would you recommend going to the 14' for the family?
Thanks again for your input.
- Joe
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01-20-2006, 04:18 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Trailer: Former Casita 17 ft owner
Posts: 1,498
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You'd need at least the 12' to haul 4 people. It's rated for 670 lbs vs 807 pounds for the 14'. You'll have to total up all the weights of people, motors and gear to see which one you need. They didn't have the 14' when I bought. The 12' would probably be big enough if your kids are small, but they tend to get larger as they age (the kids, not the boat).
In their specs they don't mention the motor HP rating for the boats. That's something you need to find out before buying a motor. My 10' was rated for a 3.5 HP motor. I could have been in trouble with the Coast Guard running the 5 HP. The boat has a Coast Guard tag with all that information.
You can use both an outboard and electric. Just get a transom mount trolling motor with a 36" shaft. I don't think you can use a bow mount. Of course, with both motors and a battery, you'll be heavy.
I have to tell you we really enjoyed the boat. We even went touring; twenty miles up the St Maries river in Idaho.
The weights they show don't include the seats and transom. The hull weight of our 10' was 60 pounds. I'd guess it weighed over a hundred pounds assembled. With the dolly, the weight is no problem unless it's rocky (you don't have those in Minnesota, though). You also have to consider where to haul everything, the hull is the easy part.
Good luck and have fun.
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01-20-2006, 04:51 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Trailer: Former Casita 17 ft owner
Posts: 1,498
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That "African Queen" picture needs some explanation. In the following, my mistakes are numbered sequentialy:
1) I mounted a swivel seat on top of the front seat of the boat.
2) I was standing in the bow.
3) I lost my balance.
4) To keep from falling overboard, I sat in the swivel seat.
Momentum is usually our friend, but not in this case. My momentum carried me, the swivel seat and the boat in a rolling motion to port (that's left for any landlubbers reading this).
In fairness to Porta-bote, the upset was not the fault of the boat. The boat was easy to right and I didn't even lose my straw hat. I just had to swim about 50 yards with a swamped boat in tow.
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01-20-2006, 08:55 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2002 21.5 ft Bigfoot / 2003 Chevy Duramax 4x4
Posts: 113
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Great stuff, Morgan.
I've been looking at the Sea Eagle inflatable but the Porta-Bote looks awful good. Have sent for info.
Thanks!
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01-21-2006, 01:21 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Trailer: Former Casita 17 ft owner
Posts: 1,498
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Quote:
Great stuff, Morgan.
I've been looking at the Sea Eagle inflatable but the Porta-Bote looks awful good. Have sent for info.
Thanks!
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De nada, Bill.
Just remember that living in California, you'll have to get a four stroke engine and they're heavier.
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06-20-2016, 11:20 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Name: Seadude
Trailer: scamp
Oregon
Posts: 1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Morgan
Attachment 991
[attachment=1280:attachm
ent]Joe,
We bought a 12' Porta-bote in 1999 and really enjoyed it. I bought all the options: dolly, oars, sunshade and RV mount. I added a 5HP Mercury outboard (2-stroke). With that engine, it would plane at about 15 MPH and was very stable.
I found that the 12' was too long to mount on the side of my Casita, so I sold it and got a 10'. I didn't like the 10' as well as the 12' and the motor was too big for it. I got a 2.5 HP and that wasn't big enough.
I later added a shell on the back of my truck and put a rack on the shell to carry the boat. That was much better, the curved sides of the Casita make it hard to carry without scuffing the gel coat.
I used the factory RV mounts on the rack to hold the boat. They charge too much for the RV mounts. Here's some pictures of the truck top mounting.
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Hi, would like to get more info on your car top mount for the porta boat. Thanks
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06-21-2016, 10:21 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Trailer: 93 Burro 17 ft
Posts: 6,024
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This is a 10 year old thread, and Morgan hasn't posted here in the last 5 years. You might try sending him an email (click on his user name and select from the drop-down menu).
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06-21-2016, 05:12 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Name: Clif
Trailer: 08 Weiscraft Little Joe 14 Subaru Outback 2.5i CVT
Louisiana
Posts: 754
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__________________
Clif
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06-21-2016, 06:16 PM
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#16
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Administrator
Trailer: Casita 1999 17 ft Liberty Deluxe
Posts: 10,946
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Sorry to say, Morgan is deceased. Great guy.
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06-21-2016, 06:27 PM
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#17
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Junior Member
Trailer: 16 ft Casita Spirit Deluxe
Posts: 8
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I had one and know a buddy who has two
I would strongly suggest Saturn Boats Kaboot as a better value for money..
The Portabotes are not that portable and end up being very cumbersome and not very great on the water.
I have played with a lot of boat trailer configurations and the Portabote was my least favorite.. Its a niche product.
But my avon inflatable and my other inflatable were better options
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