On Sun, 07 Dec 2003 10:45:46 +0000, Ron Patterson wrote:


My question is about dinghies. I do not have a dinghy and am undecided about
what kind to buy. I have been thinking about inflatables, particularly the
Achilles LSR 96 or LSR 104. This inflatable can fold up and be stowed away
while offshore, which is something absolutely necessary as far as I am
concerned.

However I came across a rigid dinghy that folds and can be stowed on deck.
This is called the Porta-Bote. http://porta-bote.com/ Does anyone know
anything about this boat? I have sent for information and pricing but I was
would like an opinion from someone who actually has one, or has seen one. I
was wondering about the reliability of the boat. Will the folding seams crack
and leak?


Hi,

As usual, you need to work out how you will be using a boat before you can
make a good decision on buying one.

The main drawback I see to inflatables is that they don't row well. I like
rowing around anchorages and marinas, as an end to itself as well as as a means
to get somewhere. There's also sailing - would you want to be able to sail the
dinghy?

If "no" to both, and you only want the dinghy to get you and your crew from
boat to shore, then an inflatable or portabote is probably the best. I THINK an
inflatable (rigid floor, large outboard) would be better if you're thinking of
using the dinghy for more adventurous exploration, such as fishing, etc. outside
the anchorage.

I prefer a boat I can row, but what I've observed is:
1. Portabote owners seem to really, REALLY like their boat, to the extent that
they can find nothing wrong with them (This concerns me: EVERY boat has it's
flaws...). They're like Mac owners.
2. The vast majority of "get-you-there" dinghies are inflatables, but for some
reason they all seem to be stored inflated. I've seem them stored on deck, on
davits, lashed to the roof of hardtops, towed behind... I don't think I've EVER
seem somebody inflate/deflate their dinghy. Donno why - just an observation.

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36
"Near Cove" Walker Bay 8

Lloyd Sumpter wrote:

On Sun, 07 Dec 2003 10:45:46 +0000, Ron Patterson wrote:
=20

1. Portabote owners seem to really, REALLY like their boat, to the exten=
t that
they can find nothing wrong with them (This concerns me: EVERY boat has =
it's
flaws...). They're like Mac owners.

No, they're not perfect.

1. Inflatables have a LOT more boyancy when swamped. It's never happened=
to me, but if I were ever to completely swamp it, it'd probably be more =
difficult to empty the Porta-Bote while bobbing around out there in the w=
aves. They are bouyant (the seats, sides and transom have foam built int=
o them), but nothing like an inflatable.

2. You can comfortable and safely sit on the tubes of an inflatable. Can=
't say the same about the Porta-Bote. On the other hand, you almost need=
to be able to sit on an inflatables tubes if you're gonna put more than =
an couple of people in them. At least ours was that way. We could trans=
port 5 people in it (the same as we can comfortably do so in the Bote), b=
ut most of em had to be sitting on the tubes and they all got at least a =
little wet. Someone was asking about the capacity. I don't recall the o=
fficial #, but for us it's plenty. I'm not a little guy (6'3"/280 lbs), =
but you can see how comfortably I fit in ours: http://rangerbest.home.com=
cast.net/PortaBoteWake.JPG Notice how dry I am and that there's no water=
in the bottom of the Bote. Also notice our speed (indicated by our wake=
). That was with both my wife and I in the Bote, and a Nissan 2.5 HP (re=
ported to 3+ HP) pushing us and while she's nowhere near my size, she ain=
't some tiny slip of a woman either: http://rangerbest.home.comcast.net/D=
rakeskathryn.JPG. We were almost, but not quite planing. With just me i=
n the Bote, it will plane.

3. While I can set up ours alone, it's much easier/faster if my wife help=
s - especially getting that first seat in. The same isn't really true fo=
r the inflatable. The limiting factor is how fast the pump can fill it. =
=20

No, the Porta-Botes aren't perfect, but all things considered, I very muc=
h prefer the Porta-Bote to our inflatable for use as a tender. =20

--=20
Dan Best - (707) 431-1662, Healdsburg, CA 95448
B-2/75 1977-1979 =20
Tayana 37 #192, "Tricia Jean" http://rangerbest.home.comcast.net/TriciaJe=
an.JPG

No trouble getting on and off from the boat. I've had inflatables, and I don't
see any really clear advantage for the inflatable in this regard. Inflatables
are highly overated and over priced as tenders.


Can you put 5 adults into a 10 foot portaboat with the same measure of safety?
My quicksilver is rated to carry 1150 lbs of people and gear. I've had about
800lbs or so on board my inflatable with no trouble. The 10 foot P-boat is
something like 575 lbs max and it's just not as stable.
I'm NOT bashing the Portaboat. I just think the inflatable has an advantage in
this area, IF you need it.
That said, my wife says getting the deflated dinghy out of the cabin is like
dragging Orson Wells to the morgue! We may look into a Port-a-boat again when
we get our next boat.


RB

I

Bobsprit wrote:

No trouble getting on and off from the boat. I've had inflatables, and I don't
see any really clear advantage for the inflatable in this regard. Inflatables
are highly overated and over priced as tenders.


Can you put 5 adults into a 10 foot portaboat with the same measure of safety?
My quicksilver is rated to carry 1150 lbs of people and gear. I've had about
800lbs or so on board my inflatable with no trouble. The 10 foot P-boat is
something like 575 lbs max and it's just not as stable.
I'm NOT bashing the Portaboat. I just think the inflatable has an advantage in
this area, IF you need it.
That said, my wife says getting the deflated dinghy out of the cabin is like
dragging Orson Wells to the morgue! We may look into a Port-a-boat again when
we get our next boat.

We have the 12' and have comfortably (and dryly) hauled 5 full sized
middle-aged adults around the anchorage under power. Each had a
comfortable seat facing forward instead of sitting on the tubes and
getting their butts wet.

Note that ratings for inflatables are very different than other boats
because the tubes have so much buoyancy. 'Course they also cut down the
usable space for gear and supplies. The PortaBote (or any hard dink)
isn't rated for the same loads, but I'm more comfortable hauling heavy
loads around with it.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Bobsprit wrote:

No trouble getting on and off from the boat. I've had inflatables, and I don't
see any really clear advantage for the inflatable in this regard. Inflatables
are highly overated and over priced as tenders.


Can you put 5 adults into a 10 foot portaboat with the same measure of safety?
My quicksilver is rated to carry 1150 lbs of people and gear. I've had about
800lbs or so on board my inflatable with no trouble. The 10 foot P-boat is
something like 575 lbs max and it's just not as stable.
I'm NOT bashing the Portaboat. I just think the inflatable has an advantage in
this area, IF you need it.
That said, my wife says getting the deflated dinghy out of the cabin is like
dragging Orson Wells to the morgue! We may look into a Port-a-boat again when
we get our next boat.

We have the 12' and have comfortably (and dryly) hauled 5 full sized
middle-aged adults around the anchorage under power. Each had a
comfortable seat facing forward instead of sitting on the tubes and
getting their butts wet.

Note that ratings for inflatables are very different than other boats
because the tubes have so much buoyancy. 'Course they also cut down the
usable space for gear and supplies. The PortaBote (or any hard dink)
isn't rated for the same loads, but I'm more comfortable hauling heavy
loads around with it.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Lloyd Sumpter wrote:

On Sun, 07 Dec 2003 10:45:46 +0000, Ron Patterson wrote:
=20

1. Portabote owners seem to really, REALLY like their boat, to the exten=
t that
they can find nothing wrong with them (This concerns me: EVERY boat has =
it's
flaws...). They're like Mac owners.

No, they're not perfect.

1. Inflatables have a LOT more boyancy when swamped. It's never happened=
to me, but if I were ever to completely swamp it, it'd probably be more =
difficult to empty the Porta-Bote while bobbing around out there in the w=
aves. They are bouyant (the seats, sides and transom have foam built int=
o them), but nothing like an inflatable.

2. You can comfortable and safely sit on the tubes of an inflatable. Can=
't say the same about the Porta-Bote. On the other hand, you almost need=
to be able to sit on an inflatables tubes if you're gonna put more than =
an couple of people in them. At least ours was that way. We could trans=
port 5 people in it (the same as we can comfortably do so in the Bote), b=
ut most of em had to be sitting on the tubes and they all got at least a =
little wet. Someone was asking about the capacity. I don't recall the o=
fficial #, but for us it's plenty. I'm not a little guy (6'3"/280 lbs), =
but you can see how comfortably I fit in ours: http://rangerbest.home.com=
cast.net/PortaBoteWake.JPG Notice how dry I am and that there's no water=
in the bottom of the Bote. Also notice our speed (indicated by our wake=
). That was with both my wife and I in the Bote, and a Nissan 2.5 HP (re=
ported to 3+ HP) pushing us and while she's nowhere near my size, she ain=
't some tiny slip of a woman either: http://rangerbest.home.comcast.net/D=
rakeskathryn.JPG. We were almost, but not quite planing. With just me i=
n the Bote, it will plane.

3. While I can set up ours alone, it's much easier/faster if my wife help=
s - especially getting that first seat in. The same isn't really true fo=
r the inflatable. The limiting factor is how fast the pump can fill it. =
=20

No, the Porta-Botes aren't perfect, but all things considered, I very muc=
h prefer the Porta-Bote to our inflatable for use as a tender. =20

--=20
Dan Best - (707) 431-1662, Healdsburg, CA 95448
B-2/75 1977-1979 =20
Tayana 37 #192, "Tricia Jean" http://rangerbest.home.comcast.net/TriciaJe=
an.JPG