Looking for porta-bote - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 04-06-2018, 07:38 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Name: John
Trailer: 2000 16ft Scamp
Minnesota
Posts: 189
Looking for porta-bote

After a previous post looking for suggestions about having a boat to use with my Jeep and Scamp I have been looking for a 12 ft. porta-bote. New they are little spendy and I have seen some used ones for sale. Currently there is one in New Jersey on ebay that is a great price. New Jersey is 1200 miles form my home. I have tried to contact the seller about possible shipping options with no answer. The 12 footers are 155" x 24" x 4" and weigh 69 lbs. Too big evidently for UPS. If anyone has or knows someone who does please let me know.
I am ready for this winter to end. Do I hear a hallelujah!
John
__________________
The earth without art is just eh....
crowwing is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2018, 07:59 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Scamper Jim's Avatar
 
Name: Jim
Trailer: Scamp
Colorado
Posts: 312
Registry
John,

Shipping anything over 8 feet generally means it having to go via a Common Carrier, delivered to their terminal warehouse or other business only, no residential delivery.

If you really want that one, be prepared for a road trip to New Jersey, otherwise it would probably be better to wait and try to find something closer even if at a higher price. You also have a better chance of checking it out before buying it.

You don't want to be up a creek without a paddle!

Jim
Scamper Jim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2018, 10:12 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Name: john
Trailer: Compact Junior
Michigan
Posts: 237
Be Patient John......

With the arrival of spring lots of boats will be posted on Craigslist.

Search the all of craigs list sites.

And post a wanted to buy ad too.

I've seen them in the flesh when new and they are nice. I question the longevity of the thin plastic folding transom though.

Here is a photo of my easy to transport boat and I LOVE it!

Mine is the brown one, the green one is a manufacturer's photo.

It's the Venture 6 pontoon boat. As named, it is 6' long.

It easily disassembles to two pontoons and the seat contraption and can go inside your car or camper, or on top of the car.

Problem is trying to find them. I found mine on craigslist for $75.

New ones are way overpriced at around $600. There are also inflatable versions of this from other makers.

You can also purchase accessory wheels and a transom mount gizmo to let you use a trolling motor.
Attached Thumbnails
pontoon.post.jpg  
john madill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2018, 10:35 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Mike Magee's Avatar
 
Name: Mike
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19
Oklahoma
Posts: 6,020
Quote:
Originally Posted by crowwing View Post
After a previous post looking for suggestions about having a boat to use with my Jeep and Scamp I have been looking for a 12 ft. porta-bote. New they are little spendy and I have seen some used ones for sale. Currently there is one in New Jersey on ebay that is a great price. New Jersey is 1200 miles form my home. I have tried to contact the seller about possible shipping options with no answer. The 12 footers are 155" x 24" x 4" and weigh 69 lbs. Too big evidently for UPS. If anyone has or knows someone who does please let me know.
I am ready for this winter to end. Do I hear a hallelujah!
John
Amen, hallelujah! Getting tired of the cold; they're predicting snow showers here tonight. In April!! In Tulsa!!!

Have you seen these, by the way? I've gotten to where I can appreciate a nice transom mount for a motor (as opposed to paddling or rowing all the time).
http://www.boatstogo.com/kayaks-sk396.asp
Mike Magee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2018, 11:49 AM   #5
Junior Member
 
Name: Al & Sandra
Trailer: Casita
Georgia
Posts: 4
I have a 8' Porta bote for sale located in Marietta Ga. Used. Twice on fresh water.
Albert Miles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2018, 02:30 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Scamper Jim's Avatar
 
Name: Jim
Trailer: Scamp
Colorado
Posts: 312
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Magee View Post
Amen, hallelujah! Getting tired of the cold; they're predicting snow showers here tonight. In April!! In Tulsa!!!
Quit whining, it's the Rockies baseball opening game today in Denver. It's currently 27 degrees, snowing and temps in the low 20's tonight!
Scamper Jim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2018, 02:44 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Name: John
Trailer: 2000 16ft Scamp
Minnesota
Posts: 189
It was 37 degrees yesterday at Target Field, I guess that makes it 'balmy'?
Thanks for all the help and suggestions. I am stuck on the 12 footer. I am afraid of inflatables, that is why they train so many seals, to replace the ones that go down in inflatables! I may check out the one close to St. Louis. New ones are four weeks out but run $3000.00 with adornments.
I really appreciate this group!
John
__________________
The earth without art is just eh....
crowwing is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2018, 06:31 PM   #8
Junior Member
 
Name: phil
Trailer: Bigfoot
British Columbia
Posts: 14
Porta Bote

Hi: Just FYI: I've had a Porta Bote(12') for 22 years. I use a 5 h.p. Honda 4 stroke on it. They take about 45 minute to put together with a cordless drill. The bimini top is good and the little axle with the solid wheels works well. No worries about the folding seam. A little getting used to as you can "feel" the water under you through the poly. They are tough and just need a boat wax once a year and a wash. I got mine from Camping World on sale. Haven't paid attention if they still sell them. I still use mine and I'm in Vancouver. Sorry....Phil.
durb747 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2018, 10:13 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Mike Magee's Avatar
 
Name: Mike
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19
Oklahoma
Posts: 6,020
Porta Bote's website claims it only takes 2 minutes to set up. I had a hunch that was exaggerated. Thanks for confirming, Phil.
Mike Magee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2018, 03:34 PM   #10
Junior Member
 
Name: phil
Trailer: Bigfoot
British Columbia
Posts: 14
PORT BOTE

Hi Mike: Our 12' Porta Bote has the plywood transom and 3 seats in it. Each seat has a poly welded stainless bracket on each side.They have a bout 4" of foam on them and around the bulwarks. Unless you grossly overload them they won't sink(don't ask me how I know). So here's how I set it up: All the innards go on the ground and the boat beside it. Looks like a big surfboard. You undo the fold it and then the sides are also folded. I get inside with a bag of stainless bolts with wing nuts and a cordless drill. The wife hands me the large centre seat and I just loosely put in the bolts. Do that with the front and rear seats and then tighten them with the drill and nuts. Then in goes the transom and then on goes the top. Lift up the boat and put the assembled axle underneath, then put the 5 h.p. Honda on the back and you're set to go. Just pull it along with the bow line like you're walking your dog. I hold the axle on with a bungee cord on either side, then when it's in the water just undo the cords and toss the axle in the boat. About an hour into the water. Hope this helps....Phil.
durb747 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2018, 06:20 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Mike Magee's Avatar
 
Name: Mike
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19
Oklahoma
Posts: 6,020
Phil, that is interesting, thanks.

Doing some reading, I came across a similar craft called Quickboat, made in Australia. Parts click together in 1 or 2 minutes, no bolts or small hardware. But way more expensive than the Porta Bote, and not sure if they even ship to NA.

So many great toys, so little money and time...
Mike Magee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2018, 04:32 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
Name: Peter
Trailer: G30 Elite Class C
British Columbia
Posts: 1,509
Quote:
Originally Posted by crowwing View Post
After a previous post looking for suggestions about having a boat to use with my Jeep and Scamp I have been looking for a 12 ft. porta-bote. New they are little spendy and I have seen some used ones for sale. Currently there is one in New Jersey on ebay that is a great price. New Jersey is 1200 miles form my home. I have tried to contact the seller about possible shipping options with no answer. The 12 footers are 155" x 24" x 4" and weigh 69 lbs. Too big evidently for UPS. If anyone has or knows someone who does please let me know.
I am ready for this winter to end. Do I hear a hallelujah!
John
:go to Craigslist and the top column and type in where to buy Porta Boat and you should quickly find what your looking for.
Stude
stude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2018, 11:30 PM   #13
Junior Member
 
Name: Ken
Trailer: Leocraft 26 M/Home
Alberta
Posts: 15
For some other info, I am also considering a Porta Bote having used a buddy's 5 or 6 year old one several times. He's now moved and taken "my" boat LOL. I recently asked the company to explain the differences in the newest current model, and received this email below, if of interest:
"The newest porta bote that came out in 2013 has a fold in transom where the genesis had a large bolt in transom, They have upgrade the alpha transom a little bit more this year making out of thicker plastic then aluminium as it was cracking and the strength was not there. They have also added and stabilizer that comes from the transom to the rear seat and clicks in, this allows the customer to have a nicer ride on the water and does not feel like the transom is going to break. On the website the newest boat with be under Porta Bote 3000"

I live in western Canada, and used ones are very scarce, and retain value well it seems, so will likely go new and just bite the bullet. Re set up time, there is some good vids on their site or other youtube etc. I can say I've set up my friends older style boat in less than 20 min for sure; like everything it gets a lot easier after several repetitions. I'm going to go with the 12 foot, which is as long as I can mount on my camper van side, using their optional side rack which is shown on their site.
Ridenfun is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Privacy curtain for porta-pottie Legacy Posts Modifications, Alterations and Updates 3 11-14-2022 09:45 PM
Porta-boat review? Joe Mielke General Chat 16 06-21-2016 06:27 PM
Porta-bote D Tharp General Chat 11 05-14-2011 10:04 PM
Porta-bote Ruth C. General Chat 9 07-29-2006 10:57 AM
Porta-Potties Legacy Posts Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 19 06-10-2003 04:18 AM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:14 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.