Hey, Bill...Porta Bote question again!
 

I'm close to ordering the Porta-Bote 10 foot model, sail kit and a 5 or 6HP
motor. But one more question. How dry does the boat stay in rougher conditions.
On ocasion we took the inflatable to Bayside to sail J24s and the Quicksilver
did well with small chop and wake, riding well and with minimal spray. What
might we expect from the 10 foot Porta-bote?

Thanks,

RB

10' er is a dry ride , Bob. 5hp is more than enough. Come and try mine
if you want.


On 10 Sep 2004 12:07:18 GMT, (Bobsprit) wrote:


I'm close to ordering the Porta-Bote 10 foot model, sail kit and a 5 or 6HP
motor. But one more question. How dry does the boat stay in rougher conditions.
On ocasion we took the inflatable to Bayside to sail J24s and the Quicksilver
did well with small chop and wake, riding well and with minimal spray. What
might we expect from the 10 foot Porta-bote?

Thanks,

RB

10' er is a dry ride , Bob. 5hp is more than enough. Come and try mine
if you want.

Thanks, Marc. I was thinking of the 6HP since the weight is the same as the 5
hp. Price difference is just 60 bucks so bring on the extra horse.
I found other reviews online and am encouraged that this is the right dinghy.
If the sailkit is a total waste I'll just ebay it, but Baby Thomas might like
it in 4 or 5 years.

RB

The boat will not take the added thrust. It bends now with 5hp. The
added hp for $60 is nice, but you'll never use more than 3/4 throttle.


On 10 Sep 2004 19:39:59 GMT, (Bobsprit) wrote:

10' er is a dry ride , Bob. 5hp is more than enough. Come and try mine
if you want.

Thanks, Marc. I was thinking of the 6HP since the weight is the same as the 5
hp. Price difference is just 60 bucks so bring on the extra horse.
I found other reviews online and am encouraged that this is the right dinghy.
If the sailkit is a total waste I'll just ebay it, but Baby Thomas might like
it in 4 or 5 years.

RB

The boat will not take the added thrust. It bends now with 5hp. The
added hp for $60 is nice, but you'll never use more than 3/4 throttle.

You have the 10'? How much weight have you carried and still planed? I was
thinking that with 3 people aboard the extra horse might help once we're
moving.

RB

I have the 10' with a 5 hp Suzuki. It planes at 20 kn with my self
and my 110lb. wife aboard. I have had 600lbs incl engine in it and it
moves at 5kn at 1/2 throttle, dry and safe. Weight distribution is
essential. A word of caution. The boat is so flexible that the motor
shaft will bind against the trailing edge of the hull at high load and
speed, making it impossible to steer safely. You must position the
motor at the extreme limit of the tilt adjustment to correct this
condition. The resultant thrust angle will require you to move your
weight forward to keep the bow down.



On 11 Sep 2004 00:03:54 GMT, (Bobsprit) wrote:

The boat will not take the added thrust. It bends now with 5hp. The
added hp for $60 is nice, but you'll never use more than 3/4 throttle.

You have the 10'? How much weight have you carried and still planed? I was
thinking that with 3 people aboard the extra horse might help once we're
moving.

RB

How much of a pia is it to set one up? I've seen a few owners complaining
about this in their forum.
Scout

"Marc" wrote in message
...
I have the 10' with a 5 hp Suzuki. It planes at 20 kn with my self
and my 110lb. wife aboard. I have had 600lbs incl engine in it and it
moves at 5kn at 1/2 throttle, dry and safe. Weight distribution is
essential. A word of caution. The boat is so flexible that the motor
shaft will bind against the trailing edge of the hull at high load and
speed, making it impossible to steer safely. You must position the
motor at the extreme limit of the tilt adjustment to correct this
condition. The resultant thrust angle will require you to move your
weight forward to keep the bow down.



On 11 Sep 2004 00:03:54 GMT, (Bobsprit) wrote:

The boat will not take the added thrust. It bends now with 5hp. The
added hp for $60 is nice, but you'll never use more than 3/4 throttle.

You have the 10'? How much weight have you carried and still planed? I
was
thinking that with 3 people aboard the extra horse might help once we're
moving.

RB

The first time or two it seems very awkward and hard. Once you've done the
whole
process it becomes very quick and simple. I can assemble mine on the bow of my
boat (with not much room) in about 10 minutes or so. Then I pick it up over the
lifelines and lower it over the side by hand. No hoist needed. I usually use a
halyard to retrieve it, but I've also done that by hand when in a hurry.

How does it tow???

RB

We have had this discussion before and BB and I disagree to an extent.
Set up can be a PIA due to trying to open the hull in a limited,
confined area on the boat and the required gathering of the parts from
the various stowage compartments. Including installing the engine,
setting up the oars, shipping the gas can and returning the mother
ship to its original condition, It takes about 30 min. to Launch and a
little longer to knock down.


wrote:

How much of a pia is it to set one up? I've seen a few owners complaining
about this in their forum.
Scout

"Marc" wrote in message
.. .
I have the 10' with a 5 hp Suzuki. It planes at 20 kn with my self
and my 110lb. wife aboard. I have had 600lbs incl engine in it and it
moves at 5kn at 1/2 throttle, dry and safe. Weight distribution is
essential. A word of caution. The boat is so flexible that the motor
shaft will bind against the trailing edge of the hull at high load and
speed, making it impossible to steer safely. You must position the
motor at the extreme limit of the tilt adjustment to correct this
condition. The resultant thrust angle will require you to move your
weight forward to keep the bow down.



On 11 Sep 2004 00:03:54 GMT, (Bobsprit) wrote:

The boat will not take the added thrust. It bends now with 5hp. The
added hp for $60 is nice, but you'll never use more than 3/4 throttle.

You have the 10'? How much weight have you carried and still planed? I
was
thinking that with 3 people aboard the extra horse might help once we're
moving.

RB

I used to tow mine all the time, but after some bad experiences, I now
carry it on some windsurfer brackets outside the lifelines. Motoring,
in protected flat water with the wind forward, it tows great. Get it
up on the second stern wave with the nose just hanging over, and there
is almost no drag. this presuposes an empty boat with no motor or gas
can. Sailing is another story. as your speed varies, you can't keep
the boat in position on the wave and it wants to wander. Drag
increases and it wants to start burying its nose. In a following wind,
it wants to move ahead of you. In a following sea, it will drive
itself up your ass or submarine.




On 11 Sep 2004 11:53:39 GMT, (Bobsprit) wrote:

The first time or two it seems very awkward and hard. Once you've done the
whole
process it becomes very quick and simple. I can assemble mine on the bow of my
boat (with not much room) in about 10 minutes or so. Then I pick it up over the
lifelines and lower it over the side by hand. No hoist needed. I usually use a
halyard to retrieve it, but I've also done that by hand when in a hurry.

How does it tow???

RB