Inflatables and folding Kayaks

[JenCluff ~ G.McKevitt]

Hi all,

This company just won a Canadian product design award.

http://feathercraft.com/index.php

Look like well engineered products and ideal for the our
space-challenged Vegas.

Garry (V2427)

 

[tiempo2010]

Feathercraft have produced great products for years. Most kayaks used in out
of the way places like Cape Horn are made by them. I paddled in Baja twice,
each time for a six week period in a Feathercraft kayak. Very well
engineered and made but not inexpensive.

 

[SVFlyAway]

I can second that. They had a display at the Seattle Boatshow a year ago. I
almost bought one then. They are extremely well built and very lightweight
-- yet tough.

 

[emmajen5]

I thought it was interesting that they also produce a very portable
inflatable tender.

Garry

 

[eliassonguitars]

I can imagine
you are talking about the inflatables?

To me it looks like they all have soft bottoms. I dont like (at all) stepping down into a soft bottom inflatable (I used one this summer and out it went) and will always prefer something else.
You can stow a small pram on the foredeck or you can have a foldable dinghy in the front berth.

Anders
1118 Yggdrasil

 

[tiempo2010]

Or a 2 piece nesting dinghy which if the size works out is probably the best
overall. Rows well and is more durable than an inflatable.

<span style="font-style:italic;">Chameleon</span>

Until a few weeks ago, I’d always thought that a nesting dinghy was a matter of necessity, but had little else to commend it, all practicali...

dory-man.blogspot.com

And here's a link to the same design scaled down a bit to fit this owner's
boat.

yachtvalhalla.net - yachtvalhalla Resources and Information.

yachtvalhalla.net is your first and best source for all of the information you’re looking for. From general topics to more of what you would expect to find here, yachtvalhalla.net has it all. We hope you find what you are searching for!

www.yachtvalhalla.net

On Sun, Sep 12, 2010 at 10:39 AM, eliassonguitars
eliassonguitars@...wrote:

 

[n6ric]

I was at the Long Beach, CA boat show yesterday and found the perfect solution for our space impared Vegas. I have seen them before but forgot about them as a solution. They are called Porta-Bote and their website is www.porta-bote.com Their 8 foot model folds to 4 inches thick and 24 inched wide so that it can fit a number of places. The hull even comes with a 10 year warranty. I pretty sure that's the way I'm going as soon as my Vega makes it back in the water.

Ric
s/v Blue Max
#2692

 

[tiempo2010]

The Porta Bote is a good product and very durable. One advantage I've heard
is that they are so ugly nobody will steal them. I'm thinking of one myself.

 

[n6ric]

I have to admit that it won't hold a candle to Peter's beautiful hand made dingy, but I hope to do some off shore sailing and something like that would be in the way, not to mention I would be afraid of damaging it. The Porta Bote can be secured out of the way for even the roughest of weather.

Ric

 

[tiempo2010]

I agree. I wasn't criticizing it - in some places that is a benefit. It is
probably the smallest package when collapsed as anything that will row well
and take abuse.

 

[kanderson4unc]

I have an 8 foot portabote on my vega. Off craigslist for 350 dollars. I love it. Can be folded and secured to the stanchions, the cabin top, or for really bad weather it easily fits inside. I have rowed it but I usually use a 2 hp Johnson outboard, lightweight and reliable. Another bonus is that though i have a truck and no problems moving a norma size dinghy, the portabote when folded can fit just about anywhere, on top of a car, back of a station wagon, in the attic, etc. It takes a time or two to work out the kinks but it can fairly easily be assembled on the foredeck or even across the cockpit, with the lifelines slacked. Two, plus a dog, and gear, if trimmed correctly is easy and i 've had three in it for short trips. Sometimes which i'd gone the 10 footer route but that has only crossed my mind a few times, the 8 works perfectly for me.

karl

 

[eliassonguitars]

Why would a tender on the foredeck be in the way? I sail with a roller furling genua and I can reef from the cockpit. I´m going to build a pram a tad smaller than Peters in order to get more space around it and in front of it.
If I was to use a foldable, I think I would prefer the Origami:

Origami Folding Dinghy

Woodenwidget Plans Home page

www.woodenwidget.com

Its so ugly that it actually has some kind of charm.
The negative sheerline and low bow of thePorta Bote, looks completely wrong in my eyes. Imagine sticking that bow into that odd speedboat wave. Lots of bailing.....Besides, I dont think its the best design to tow. On the contrary.
When you are not offshore, but just cruising around, its very nice to tow your tender. Its always ready when you´re in a beautifull spot with no wind.

 

[TJBurkett]

I found the perfect solution to the dinghy problem and the vega to be an inflatable kayak. I don't have the feathercraft but instead went with a two person model from REI in the states. I think the brand is adventure concepts or something like that. I could inflate it in 10 minutes and deflate it in even less. While out it sits in its case over the seahood and can fit into the cockpit lockers when at the dock.

I padled this thing with loads of groceries, my wife and I on side excusrions, ice and water jugs when refilling, and it never disapointed me. Even when paddleing into a 15 knot chop a mile upwind because I had stayed in the pub too long! Plus there is never that annoying "bump" in the middle of the night when at anchor.

Getting in and out can be a bit tricky since it sits so low in the water but I worked out a method that worked for both my wife and me off of the stern pulpit, but be sure an wear your life jacket.

Best of all it was only about $250.00 !

Tom

 

[n6ric]

Karl,
When I was at the show Saturday the Porta Bote guy showed me a notched piece of 1"x2" by the width of the Porta Boat. The notches hook on the top of each side and hold the boat open. He says you put it in the water that way and then climb in and snap in the seats and the stern. It's supposed to make it a lot easier. You might want to check it out.
Ric

 

[sailshiva]

The notched stick is a GREAT idea. We have a Porta-Bote too, but after it is
fully assembled on the foredeck--which takes a fair amount of dancing about to
not knock each other into the water, or drop some significant part overboard, we
swear we'll get rid of it. But using a stick to hold it open, and assembling it
in the water would simplify matters and make it lighter to drop over the side. We have the 8foot Porta-bote, but Howard would like to cut it down to 6.5
feet. He wrote to the company about this and they adamantly advised against
this. Of course, we've disregarded manufacturer's advice in the past and lived
to tell about it. Sooo, has anyone ever cut a port about down (from the stern)
by a foot or two??
Sheila________________________________
From: Ric n6ric@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, September 13, 2010 8:45:17 PM
Subject: [AlbinVega] Re: Inflatables and folding Kayaks


Karl,
When I was at the show Saturday the Porta Bote guy showed me a notched piece of
1"x2" by the width of the Porta Boat. The notches hook on the top of each side
and hold the boat open. He says you put it in the water that way and then climb
in and snap in the seats and the stern. It's supposed to make it a lot easier.
You might want to check it out.
Ric