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BillTex · 08-03-2007, 11:37 AM

Well, the new canoe is not meeting our expectations; just too darn tippy with 3 plus dog. The tandem kayaks are much more stable. Problem is; I can either take along 2 tandem kayaks or a boat that can carry all 4 of us.
I am intrigued by the Porta-bote concept. Honestly, those of you that have them, are they stable and safe?
Will I be able to put 3 plus dog in a 14’ bote and be comfortable?
I would love some feedback before I lay down the $

Anyone want to buy a canoe?

Thanx, Bill

BamCamper · 08-03-2007, 12:08 PM

No thanks on the canoe...but I'm interested in the boat.

I have kayaks but they are too tippy for my dog to ride along.

Anyone?

SaabLover · 08-03-2007, 12:11 PM

Check out this reveiw. Porta-bote

I found one on eBay check it out.

BillTex · 08-03-2007, 01:11 PM

Of course there are many hull configuration for canoes and kayaks. Our kayaks are very stable (recreational design). I can take 1 other person plus dog in the tandem kayaks no problem. I cannot however fit all 4 of us. I can fit 4 in the canoe, but is not nearly as stable (expedition design) as our kayaks. There are compromises (speed, stability, load capacity) for each hull type.I am thinking the porta-bote may be the answer. A friend has the smaller one (10’) which I am going to check out tomorrow, that will give me a good idea if it is the answer for our family.Still hoping to get feedback from porta-bote owners here?!

Thanx, Bill

C Johnson · 08-03-2007, 01:29 PM

You can also check out their homepage, Porta-Bote

**azflycaster** · 08-03-2007, 02:25 PM

A friend of mine had one at an outing of my fly fishing club. He was very happywith it's performance and attached an electric trolling motor on his. Notice in the picture how many people stopped by to help. More people does not mean less time to get it into the water.

Bonus points if you can identify the AirForums moderator in the picture....

BillTex · 08-03-2007, 02:27 PM

I have read nothing but positive reviews on these neat little boats...now to convince the "purchasing dept"!

Bill

Fyrzowt · 08-03-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillTex

I have read nothing but positive reviews on these neat little boats...now to convince the "purchasing dept"!

Bill

Better to ask forgiveness than permission!
Of course, that only works so many times.

whitelight · 08-03-2007, 04:21 PM

We have a 10' bote (only two of us & the DOG). It fits easily on the cargo racks atop our truck.
It takes about 20 minutes to set up, once you get the hang of it.
Although the bote is not as stable as an inflatable, it is better than a canoe!
There is a great users group on yahoo for the porta bote. If you search floor boards, you will find a member who makes the slatted boards - these boards make the deck a little easier to navigate.
The standard "free" oars that usually come with the bote are, well, marginal - many owners replace the oars & oar locks.
If you are looking at a used bote, the current incarnation is "generation IV" - this generation has a hard plastic transom & seats. The Generation III botes have plywood transoms & seats.
If you want a light weight, easy to transport boat, the portabote is the way to go!

Tincrew · 08-03-2007, 06:23 PM

Glad to see information on this, I asked for one for my birthday! I'd be interested to see how folks transport the botes when towing the 'stream.

Leslie

whitelight · 08-03-2007, 06:49 PM

Tincrew -

Don't know if you can head up I5 to take a look at the portabote for sale on eBay in Oceanside - might give you a feel for the 14' size. (Also, some of the earlier Gen IV botes had problems with the plastic seats, which have reportedly been resolved.)

According to some stats from Portabote, the most popular size is the 12', for ease of handling & portability.

Unforturnately, unless there is a dealer or you know a friend with a bote, it's hard to judge just how big the bote is or what you can handle. We have the 10' and stow it on the roof rack of our Chevy x-cab, long box truck that has a canopy. With the two of us "older" folk, the 10' is portable and we manage to lift it up on the roof rack & tie it down without much effort.

Portabote does sell an RV mount - it is DEFINITELY for SOB'S!!!

Tincrew · 08-04-2007, 12:55 PM

Wow, you gotta check with somebody in Canada for whats for sale in the 'hood! Thanks for the info. We have a Quad Cab p/u with a tonneau cover, so I'm thinking we will need a rack. Thanks for the info.

Leslie

**azflycaster** · 08-04-2007, 02:36 PM

No guesses on who is in the picture of post #6?

BillTex · 08-04-2007, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitelight

We have a 10' bote (only two of us & the DOG). It fits easily on the cargo racks atop our truck.
It takes about 20 minutes to set up, once you get the hang of it.
Although the bote is not as stable as an inflatable, it is better than a canoe!
There is a great users group on yahoo for the porta bote. If you search floor boards, you will find a member who makes the slatted boards - these boards make the deck a little easier to navigate.
The standard "free" oars that usually come with the bote are, well, marginal - many owners replace the oars & oar locks.
If you are looking at a used bote, the current incarnation is "generation IV" - this generation has a hard plastic transom & seats. The Generation III botes have plywood transoms & seats.
If you want a light weight, easy to transport boat, the portabote is the way to go!

As the 14' came out in 2004 can I assume they are all Gen IV?

Went for a ride in a friends 10' today...I am impressed. Pretty neat setup. More stable than I thought. I have run all kinds of boats in my life...still run a 40 Ocean out to the canyons fishing for sea monsters, this PB would be just the ticket for taking up North while towing the AS. Going to look at a second hand 14' tomorrow...
Thanx All,
Bill

BillTex · 08-06-2007, 06:56 AM

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

Zugbug · 08-06-2007, 08:25 AM

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.

Zugbug

whitelight · 08-06-2007, 08:42 AM

Bill,

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!

BillTex · 08-06-2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitelight

Bill,

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

BillTex · 08-14-2007, 12:01 PM

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