I've towed it over and over but had problems on only one occasion. Normally,
with enouh painter it sails back and forth, up and over the waves. I was
sailing back up from Key West...had the 'brilliant' idea of using 2
painters...for a more secure connection. Feel silly now, but it didn't
allow it to sail back and forth...just got the sails set...roaring along at
hull-speed...looked back just in time to see my 12' Portabote duck under a
wave. Nasty! Stopped...got it along side and hoisted it with a hallyard to
get the water out. Learned that lesson...tow with one long painter.
Usually if we expect any seas, we stow it on deck.

Glenn.
s/v Seawing
www.seawing.net


"Mys Terry" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 09 Apr 2006 20:17:58 +0200, Len
wrote:

I will look at portaboat.
Thanks for the suggestion.
I doubt if you can climb in from the water though.

Regards,
Len.

That question has been answered on the website, including photos. I'm well
on
the wrong side of 50, a little over weight, moderate arthritis, and I can
get in
from the water. My wife and I snorkel off of ours.

I can also hand launch the portabote over the lifelines by myself. It only
weighs about 60 pounds. The 3.5 hp motor which moves it along smartly
weighs 29
pounds.

I HATE towing a dinghy. The portabote quickly folds up into a neat,
surfboard
shaped package that I lash to the lifelines with a couple of webbed
straps. Ribs
take so long to inflate and deflate that you end up towing them a lot.
They are
not that easy to store onboard, either.

I have had several RIBs, and if my Portabote were to be stolen, I'd get
another.
I don't have to think about what I'll do when it wears out, because I'll
be long
dead.