Went to look at a (lightly) used 14'. Seems like the owner set it up
used it maybe once, then left it set up upside down in a boat rack at
the marina. Problem is, from being set up and left on that rack in the
sun, the gunnels have "bowed" out about six inches. I don't see any
structural damage, and everything still fits the way it should (seats,
brackets, etc). I suspect that if I fold it up flat and leave it in the
sun it should self correct? What do you think? I see very little sign
of use, more like neglect, it was just left there...I would like to
make an offer. Do you think leaving it in the sun, setup, could damage
the hull?
Thanx, Bill
__________________
Life is Good-Camping all around New England
Good people drink good beer-Hunter S Thompson
Purchased a Foldcat this spring, 12' pontoon style boat. The wife and I love this thing, very stable the two of us can pick it up and move it around. Put a trolling motor on it and can fish all day.
Did the current owner leave the bote in that position all winter as well? The hull is made out of material that resists UV, so that shouldn't be a problem. We have friends cruising on their sailboat in the tropics & they leave their boat folded on deck, uncovered, with no adverse effects to the hull (yet).
The botes are really meant to be stored folded - we have left ours open & hung on boat davits for a month at a time - at the end of the month, the gunnels are "bowed out." Once we folded the bote, it did flatten out again. We feel that the gunnels are a weakness from this perspective; on the other hand, it's the flexibility of the gunnels that provide the positive aspects of the bote.
Honestly, don't know if it would come back to "flat" if it has been left open for ?????? months/years. Perhaps more informed answers can be found by searching the Porta bote yahoo users group. You can also get an idea about the price of a used 14' as well.
Did the current owner leave the bote in that position all winter as well? The hull is made out of material that resists UV, so that shouldn't be a problem. We have friends cruising on their sailboat in the tropics & they leave their boat folded on deck, uncovered, with no adverse effects to the hull (yet).
The botes are really meant to be stored folded - we have left ours open & hung on boat davits for a month at a time - at the end of the month, the gunnels are "bowed out." Once we folded the bote, it did flatten out again. We feel that the gunnels are a weakness from this perspective; on the other hand, it's the flexibility of the gunnels that provide the positive aspects of the bote.
Honestly, don't know if it would come back to "flat" if it has been left open for ?????? months/years. Perhaps more informed answers can be found by searching the Porta bote yahoo users group. You can also get an idea about the price of a used 14' as well.
Good luck on your purchase!
Yeah, he should have folded it flat...
Boat is actually listed w/broker (isn't that funny?!) so I have not been able to talk to the owner.
It appears to be 2005 model, so it is not that old...my guess, and the brokers, is that it has been stored on that rack, assembled, upside down, for a year.
I don't really see any damage, just a little deformation. I am also pretty sure that if I fold it up and leave it in the sun it will be fine.
I suspect the owner, owns one of the mega-yachts at the marina, may have bought the PB for a dingy? Didn't like it, and has pretty much forgot about it.I made a ridiculous offer today...we'll see what happens!
I did sign up for the yahoo group (s) but they don't seem real active? No responses yet after about a week...
Bill
__________________
Life is Good-Camping all around New England
Good people drink good beer-Hunter S Thompson
Picked up the 14' PB the other day just before headin' North (5 days in NH-awesome!).
Wasn't prepared to take it with us just yet (no motor, etc) so I took the kayaks instead. But I really would have liked to try it up on Ossipee Lake. We rented a tin boat instead and had a ball.
Anyway, I went over the PB and everything looks fine. I left it out flat in the sun while we were gone and it appears to have straightened out. What a cool toy to have in our adventure quiver...the Wife, Son, and Dog will all be very comfortbale cruising around the lakes of New England.
Now I can have the kayaks, and a small power boat on all of our adventures!
For any of you considering one of these boats, they are very sturdy, stable, and of course, portable. What a perfect compliment to the AS.
Bill
__________________
Life is Good-Camping all around New England
Good people drink good beer-Hunter S Thompson
Hi Bill, I had a 12ft Aluminum boat a while back with a 4.5hp johnson. I thought that it was a bit slow. Great for trolling but terrible for just getting there. But then the PB is lighter I am sure. So maybe that would make a difference ? I personally would go for the 8hp. I am looking at getting a PB myself and I already have a 10 hp Johnson that I would use on it.
Also I don't know about your state but, when you put a motor on it Oregon requires licensing of the boat no matter what size it is. FYI
Hi Bill, I had a 12ft Aluminum boat a while back with a 4.5hp johnson. I thought that it was a bit slow. Great for trolling but terrible for just getting there. But then the PB is lighter I am sure. So maybe that would make a difference ? I personally would go for the 8hp. I am looking at getting a PB myself and I already have a 10 hp Johnson that I would use on it.
Also I don't know about your state but, when you put a motor on it Oregon requires licensing of the boat no matter what size it is. FYI
Thanx Chris, yes I will have to register boat...
Bill
__________________
Life is Good-Camping all around New England
Good people drink good beer-Hunter S Thompson
All set up w/PB and 2 stroke 8 hp motor.
Wanted to know if anyone had some good ideas on a bracket for the bed of my pick up to store motor while travelling. Laying it down takes up lots of valuable bed space...
Thanx, Bill
__________________
Life is Good-Camping all around New England
Good people drink good beer-Hunter S Thompson
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