Has there been any experience with a folding dingy? How do you put them together while on the water, etc.?
Porta-Bote
- Thread starter Kevin13821
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Not on the water
On land or on our sailboat, it takes about 5 minutes to put the 10'6" Porta-Bote together, and about 3 minutes to take apart. I can't imagine anyone trying to put one together while they were in the water. Maybe it can be done, but it would probably be a major struggle. :^( ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
On land or on our sailboat, it takes about 5 minutes to put the 10'6" Porta-Bote together, and about 3 minutes to take apart. I can't imagine anyone trying to put one together while they were in the water. Maybe it can be done, but it would probably be a major struggle. :^( ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
Going to look at one tomorrow
if you are near Providence, RI they will be at the boat show. After months of looking we are going to buy one tomorrow - the 10 footer. The have a good website and the folks who own 'em swear by 'em (as you can see
)
if you are near Providence, RI they will be at the boat show. After months of looking we are going to buy one tomorrow - the 10 footer. The have a good website and the folks who own 'em swear by 'em (as you can see
)Only researched
I've been looking into portabotes for a while. First, they pop up on Ebay all the time so you can buy them used, often with an outboard, at less than retail. Some of them are older 10+ years old. The couple of problems they seem to have are with the plastic components that act as hinges for folding and unfolding. From what I've read, over time they fatigue and fracture. When this happens, the bote leaks. Also, older models had wooden seats. There may be a problem with these rotting for some reason. When you look at them new, ask the dealer take a look at how the hinges work and make your own judgement. Also, I think there are lots of "add ons" that may or may not be worthwhile (wheels, oars, sailing kits). If you buy one, post what you learn back here on HOW. There's a lot of these botes out there but no bote community (Phil?) for getting good info, trading or upgrading. Markdb
I've been looking into portabotes for a while. First, they pop up on Ebay all the time so you can buy them used, often with an outboard, at less than retail. Some of them are older 10+ years old. The couple of problems they seem to have are with the plastic components that act as hinges for folding and unfolding. From what I've read, over time they fatigue and fracture. When this happens, the bote leaks. Also, older models had wooden seats. There may be a problem with these rotting for some reason. When you look at them new, ask the dealer take a look at how the hinges work and make your own judgement. Also, I think there are lots of "add ons" that may or may not be worthwhile (wheels, oars, sailing kits). If you buy one, post what you learn back here on HOW. There's a lot of these botes out there but no bote community (Phil?) for getting good info, trading or upgrading. Markdb
An alternative you might consider
I bought one of these, and it's a beautiful piece of work. It allows me to carry a 10-foot dinghy that will out-row most anything else yet fit on my cabintop better than a less seaworthy 7-footer. It just barely fit the forecabin roof of my H310, but seems like it was made for my new H36. It is made-to-order, however, and you'll have to wait some weeks for it to be built and shipped. If (as I did) you buy the row-only version without the mast-stepping and rudder capabilities of the sailing model, it costs $2k rather than $3k.
I bought one of these, and it's a beautiful piece of work. It allows me to carry a 10-foot dinghy that will out-row most anything else yet fit on my cabintop better than a less seaworthy 7-footer. It just barely fit the forecabin roof of my H310, but seems like it was made for my new H36. It is made-to-order, however, and you'll have to wait some weeks for it to be built and shipped. If (as I did) you buy the row-only version without the mast-stepping and rudder capabilities of the sailing model, it costs $2k rather than $3k.
Read 1/04 issue of Cruising World.
They compared 14 hard dinks. The 12' Porta-Bote faired quite well. The found its rowing ability to be its weakness, but it can easily be rectified. I bought the 10'6" Porta-Bote for about the same price as most other 8' hard dinks. Also, it was about 35% less than inflatables of the same size. ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
They compared 14 hard dinks. The 12' Porta-Bote faired quite well. The found its rowing ability to be its weakness, but it can easily be rectified. I bought the 10'6" Porta-Bote for about the same price as most other 8' hard dinks. Also, it was about 35% less than inflatables of the same size. ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
I had one
and loved it. My experiance and observations: I have a Hunter 36. The Porta-Bote lashes beautifully on the lifelines on the forward deck. However, setting it up on deck, especially if the boat is rocking can be quite scary. You have to stand inside the boat while putting it together and it wants to rock over from side to side because of its V bottom. Also, the polypropelene plastic has a "memory" and wants to go back to the shape from which it just came. Eg: If you are unfolding it, it wants to go back to being folded and if it was opened, it wants to stay open. I found that the best way to keep it from springing back open was to buy some very long and wide velcro straps. Getting it over the lifelines and into the water is a real bear. There are no hand holds or grab lines to get a good grip on. This is a 2 man operation-it is still a heavy little boat. And make sure it hits the water flat. If you launch it from the deck at an angle, you'll scoop water and swamp it. Getting it back into the boat set up is a nightmare. You can take it apart in the water because all componants float--just don't drop the cotter pins, nuts and bolts in the water. I found that once I had it set up and in the water, I was better off towing it until I could find a nice solid dock to work on. Once while towing, it got swamped, filled with water to the gunnels, and stopped us like we hit a brick wall! You can imagine what I had to go through then to refloat it!!! Overall, I would give it a "9". That's saying a lot because I doubt that there is a perfect "10" in the dingy world.
and loved it. My experiance and observations: I have a Hunter 36. The Porta-Bote lashes beautifully on the lifelines on the forward deck. However, setting it up on deck, especially if the boat is rocking can be quite scary. You have to stand inside the boat while putting it together and it wants to rock over from side to side because of its V bottom. Also, the polypropelene plastic has a "memory" and wants to go back to the shape from which it just came. Eg: If you are unfolding it, it wants to go back to being folded and if it was opened, it wants to stay open. I found that the best way to keep it from springing back open was to buy some very long and wide velcro straps. Getting it over the lifelines and into the water is a real bear. There are no hand holds or grab lines to get a good grip on. This is a 2 man operation-it is still a heavy little boat. And make sure it hits the water flat. If you launch it from the deck at an angle, you'll scoop water and swamp it. Getting it back into the boat set up is a nightmare. You can take it apart in the water because all componants float--just don't drop the cotter pins, nuts and bolts in the water. I found that once I had it set up and in the water, I was better off towing it until I could find a nice solid dock to work on. Once while towing, it got swamped, filled with water to the gunnels, and stopped us like we hit a brick wall! You can imagine what I had to go through then to refloat it!!! Overall, I would give it a "9". That's saying a lot because I doubt that there is a perfect "10" in the dingy world.
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