"Jeannette" wrote in message
. net...
Charlie Morgan wrote:

For the price of a 4-stroke 9.9 he could find an 11 foot Portabote
AND a 5 HP
motor that would be enough to make it plane. The boat would weigh
about 70
pounds and would give a fast dry ride. Then it folds up in about 10
minutes into
a package about the size and shape of a surfboard. Porta-botes row
well, too. He
should just dump the old heavy dinghy and start over with a better
boat. That
old heavy boat is a liability in several directions. I have the
smallest (8.5') porta-bote and a 29 pound, 3.5 hp motor. It planes
quite easily. I can set it up on the foredeck of my 27 foot sailboat
and hand
launch it over the lifelines in about 7 minutes with no help. I
routinely drag
it up on shore without any fear of sharp rocks or broken glass. Its
one tough
little boat. CWM

Hey good to see a porta-bote user. I ordered a 10' Porta-bote to take
to Mazatlan where my boat is spending the summer. I have a 2.5hp
mercury there to go with it. My boat is 32'. Do you think I will be
satisfied with it? How easy is it to pull it back up onto the deck? I
know it says around 50lbs. What tricks or technics do you use for
launching and retrieving?

Sorry to flood you with questions.

Jeannette
Bristol 32, Con Te Partiro

I looked at those porti-boats at a boat show. The lady selling them was
real nice and friendly but when she told me the price I was shocked.
Over a grand for a little fold up piece of plastic seemed a bit much.

Anyway I'm glad the price put me off because I've seen them since plying
various anchorages and they sort of snake and flex their way through the
water looking like a cross between an inflatable and a rigid boat.

May I suggest a good quality, nesting dinghy instead.

Wilbur Hubbard