Porta-bote

[D Tharp]

Anyone using a porta-bote, looking at a 12 foot to put on the pick-up canopy and have for lake fishing and giving the yellow lab a ride.
Need info about how good they are and easy of use.
Thanks

[floyd]

Originally Posted by D Tharp

Anyone using a porta-bote, looking at a 12 foot to put on the pick-up canopy and have for lake fishing and giving the yellow lab a ride.
Need info about how good they are and easy of use.
Thanks

Take a look at this first, this thing is AMAZING!...

Portland Pudgy Safety Dinghy | Unsinkable Boats | Self-Rescue Boats | Best boat for kids | Rigid Boats, Dinghy, Inflatable Liferafts, Lifeboats, Life Rafts, Sailboats and Yacht Tenders, dingy, dingies, dinghies</pre>

[D Tharp]

Originally Posted by floyd

Take a look at this first, this thing is AMAZING!...

Portland Pudgy Safety Dinghy | Unsinkable Boats | Self-Rescue Boats | Best boat for kids | Rigid Boats, Dinghy, Inflatable Liferafts, Lifeboats, Life Rafts, Sailboats and Yacht Tenders, dingy, dingies, dinghies</pre>

I like it but I need something that will get small (fold down).
We had a canoe at 93 lbs was to hard to get on the roof of the truck.
The Pudgy is 128 lbs way to much for me.
Thanks

[Pam Garlow]

Wow - that PortaBote looks very cool, very transportable! Any idea of price?

[Ray N]

The folding boats weigh well under 100 pounds. I remember them being advertised as foldaboat well over 40 years ago, they must work to be around that long.
Portabote

[james kent]

While I was unloading my kayak from the roof carrier, I watched to average sized men unloading one and putting it together. I single handedly took the kayak from the roof rack, placed it next to the water, loaded all my fishing gear, seat and life jacket and left. Twenty minutes later the two men left the dock with the water almost to their gunnels. Maybe OK for one person but looked scary with two in it. Hope you get to try one out before purchasing.

[Ray N]

According to the above link, they come in four sizes from 8' 6" up to 14 feet. The 14 footer is still under 100 pounds and is shown as having a capacity of "5 persons" or 807 pounds. You must have seen the small one with 445 pound capacity.

[Raz]

Hi Dave. Why not buy a lighter canoe? We have a 16 ft Old Town Camper made of Royalex that weighs in under 60 lbs. Two people, one dog, very stable. Have you been to www.paddling.net ? Raz

[Mary F]

Check out this old topic, which includes pictures of my friend Morgan's Porta-boat that he called "Origami."

[Curtis F.]

Originally Posted by Pam Garlow

Wow - that Porta-Bote looks very cool, very transportable! Any idea of price?

A new Porta-Bote is on the expensive side. You have to call them to get a sales package sent to you with prices. They won't high pressure sell you. there is a Yahoo group called PortaBote. The company owner is one of the members and is very helpful. No hassle to join and lots of info available.

They had some problems with flexing when they first introduced the 14 footer a few years ago, but they seem to have resolved that by adding braces. I still have my 12 footer.

You can find some good deals for used. Easy way to search is using Jaxed. boats : craigslist eBay kijiji mash : US & Canada

[nick c]

I think Portabote is a great idea. Thank you for making me aware of folding boats. I also found Instaboat is a smart foldable light boat. Instaboat est un ingnieux bateau pliable. who also have a pirogue and EzyBoat - the genius folding boat with built-in trailer.

[Kathy L]

I own a 10' model and love it.. use an electric motor for fishing... very stable boat and works well on the racks on my truck... I also had a canoe but was too heavy to work with.