On 2008-02-25 06:50:21 -0500, said:
Jere, you may have already done it. Could you list the differences between
the Walker Bay and the Portabote which makes one better than the other.
I have a feeling that the Walker Bay may be an altered copy of the dinghy
produced by Wedco. If this is the case, the Wedco dinghy was indestructible
but did not row or tow well and not suitable to accommodate an outboard
engine.
Bingo! (Though I believe the WB has a fitting for a small outboard.)
Don't believe it planes particularly well, if at all. All things
considered, I consider it roughly equivalent to a Sea Witch: Good for
beginners, but primary built for displacement speeds (which will be low
at that LWL).
At our club we have a few Walker Bay dinghies. I have yet see people
rowing or towing them.
Not sure whether you're saying you have or not have seen them rowed or
towed. I see them used mostly to get out to the mooring field, myself.
The Portabotes I see are as often rowed as powered for short distances
(up to a mile, I'd guess). They're rarely towed as it only takes a few
minutes to stow them onboard and out of the way. (I walk all over ours
without fears) They tow okay on a short tether, but will surf past the
towing boat if allowed their head.
Size for size, the WB may feel a bit more stable (I haven't done an A-B
compare), but the PB's supplied oars are longer and more substantial.
At a comfortable pace, I row ours at higher speeds than all but real
rowing dinks with proper oars, with about a boat-length between strokes.
A PB going on plane (with as little as a 2.5 Honda pushing my 200#) is
a bit odd, as the hull flexes to follow the low-pressure part of the
wave: The bottom drops out from under your feet. That *does* take some
getting used to. And watch sharp turns at high speeds as it tracks like
it's on rails; no side-slip, so it seems possible to toss unprepared
crew (or the helms-person) overboard. I've heard that the hull gets
squirrely above some speed, but at about 15 knots, the ride is
surprisingly comfortable and dry. It's flexing quite a bit on plane,
but that's how it works with the water and absorbs the waves for the
high efficiency and low bounce.
After about a dozen seasons, we've picked up a small leak in the center
seam. Hasn't developed enough that I've considered doing anything about
it, but will probably contact the factory one of these years to ask how
to fix it.
Oh, the black piping will mark fiberglass. Factory says to bronze wool
it, then put a couple of coats of Armour All or similar on it. And the
material will oxidize from so many seasons' sun. Making a cover for it
is on my to-do list, but it will buff with the usual stuff.
For a less-biased review, see:
http://www.porta-bote.com/practical.html
--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages:
http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips:
http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/