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#1
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Choice of Dinghy
Hello, I'm Ron Patterson. About 6 years ago I bough a 1964 34 foot
fiberglass sloop. It is an old boat but with a much newer Yanmar 27 horse diesel engine in it. The boat has been on Guntersville Lake in North Alabama ever since I bought it. This is a terrible sailing area, too little water and not enough wind. However I am retiring the last of March 04 and we are moving to Pensacola, Florida. So sometime in April, I will be taking the boat down the Tennessee River to the Tenn-Tom waterway, and then down that waterway to Mobil and on to the Rod and Reel Marina on the Big Lagoon in Pensacola. From there I will do lots of sailing and sailboat fishing and who knows, I may even take a trip to the Bahamas or the Caribbean. 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? Any information anyone can supply would greatly appreciated. Or, any information about other dinghies would be appreciated also. Ron Patterson |
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#2
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Choice of Dinghy
Ron,
We used to use a 10' Avon, but a couple of years ago, switched to a 12' Porta-Bote(http://rangerbest.home.comcast.net/PortaBote.JPG) and haven't looked back. We still have the Avon, but it now lives in the garage instead of on the boat and hasn't been used since we got the Porta-Bote On our boat, it stores nicely on the coach roof (http://rangerbest.home.comcast.net/PortaCover.JPG) where it's out of the way and adds virtually no windage and can be stepped on with out fear of damaging it. It's been great for us: Stores easily. Gives us a dry ride. Sets up in the same or less time as the Avon. More room in the Bote for "stuff". Did I mention we don't get wet using it? Much faster with the same tiny outboard as the Avon Pretty much impervious to damage - no repair kit needed (EVERY inflatable comes with one). The only two valid negatives I've come across a Some people think it's ugly. When there are a zillion dinghy's at a dock, and you have to board it directly from the bow, it's less stable than an inflatable. You probably will want to use one hand to stabilize yourself. This can be awkward if you're carrying a lot of stuff. On the other hand, with its' pointy bow, it's easier to push theough a bunch of other dinghys to get close to the dock. They come with something like a ten year warrantee and the company is a good one that will stand behind them. There have been some reports of less than perfect finish work, but the company quickly corrects anny problems. There's a listserver on Yahoo dedicated to them (http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/dir/Recr...&show_groups=1). Check it out if you're serious. The Porta-Bote web site leaves a lot to be desired, but their product is a good one (less expensive than a good inflatable too). BTW, I have no association with the company other than as a very happy user of their product. I'm not even a customer as I bought mine 2nd hand. Good luck - Dan Ron Patterson wrote: Hello, I'm Ron Patterson. About 6 years ago I bough a 1964 34 foot fiberglass sloop. It is an old boat but with a much newer Yanmar 27 horse diesel engine in it. The boat has been on Guntersville Lake in North Alabama ever since I bought it. This is a terrible sailing area, too little water and not enough wind. However I am retiring the last of March 04 and we are moving to Pensacola, Florida. So sometime in April, I will be taking the boat down the Tennessee River to the Tenn-Tom waterway, and then down that waterway to Mobil and on to the Rod and Reel Marina on the Big Lagoon in Pensacola. From there I will do lots of sailing and sailboat fishing and who knows, I may even take a trip to the Bahamas or the Caribbean. 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? Any information anyone can supply would greatly appreciated. Or, any information about other dinghies would be appreciated also. Ron Patterson -- Dan Best - (707) 431-1662, Healdsburg, CA 95448 B-2/75 1977-1979 Tayana 37 #192, "Tricia Jean" http://rangerbest.home.comcast.net/TriciaJean.JPG |
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#4
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Choice of Dinghy
Friends who have lived aboard for 24 years (mostly at anchor), and travel
annually from Nova Scotia to SC and back, have used a Porta-bote for the last 5 years and love it. Every time I see them (twice a year) I ask if they still endorse it, and they say yes, for all its minor faults, its still the best, and certainly the best value. They complain about some of the non-hull construction, but the hull itself has taken a huge beating and show no serious signs of wear. Since they often anchor a distance from town, they appreciate that the Porta-Bote will plane and stay fairly dry. Their engine is small (8 HP?) but they are both light so it planes if not loaded down with groceries. With 3 or 4 people it doesn't do as well, but it does stay drier than an inflatable. They avoid overloading - when we visit they do 2 trips, and it may be faster than one overloaded trip. This issue has come up before here, so I'm sure a few others will add their opinions. BTW, I have a Trinka 10 and a Fatty Knees 8, both excellent rowing dinghies, but they will set you back a bit. The old Trinka wouldn't fit on my new boat, so it got retired to my brother's cabin on a lake. I like rowing, it being the only exercise I get while cruising, but I'm more likely to pay for a mooring near the town dock than anchor out. If I were doing it again on my now more limited means, I'd get a Porta-bote. "Ron Patterson" wrote in message om... Hello, I'm Ron Patterson. About 6 years ago I bough a 1964 34 foot fiberglass sloop. It is an old boat but with a much newer Yanmar 27 horse diesel engine in it. The boat has been on Guntersville Lake in North Alabama ever since I bought it. This is a terrible sailing area, too little water and not enough wind. However I am retiring the last of March 04 and we are moving to Pensacola, Florida. So sometime in April, I will be taking the boat down the Tennessee River to the Tenn-Tom waterway, and then down that waterway to Mobil and on to the Rod and Reel Marina on the Big Lagoon in Pensacola. From there I will do lots of sailing and sailboat fishing and who knows, I may even take a trip to the Bahamas or the Caribbean. 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? Any information anyone can supply would greatly appreciated. Or, any information about other dinghies would be appreciated also. Ron Patterson |
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#5
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Choice of Dinghy
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 |
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#6
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Choice of Dinghy
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 |
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#7
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Choice of Dinghy
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 |
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#8
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Choice of Dinghy
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/ |
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#9
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Choice of Dinghy
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/ |
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#10
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Choice of Dinghy
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 |
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