I realize that if your boat is large or small, it's obvious, but........

Which do you prefer for dinghy size in a Porta Bote ?

Why ?

Thank you,
--
Courtney Thomas
s/v Mutiny
lying Oriental, NC
WDB5619

Porta Boat came out with a square transom model a while back and I heard
that it is ok and can handle a small outboard..

Even if your going to paddle or row your boat now, there may come a day that
you want to add an OB..

The older Porta Boats were pretty good and those who had them really liked
them.. However, in the So Calif. marina where I was living on a mooring, my
friend had one and the foam floatation pads began to deteriorated from
constant exposure (he used it every day, kept it in the water.). Also some
of the rivet that fastened things together corroded and he had to drill them
out and put non corrosives in place.

I would hope that the newer models would have over come these problems.

The look funny and I can just visualize the thwarts popping out and the
sides folding in on the oarsman (like a peapod or cacoon). However I never
heard of any such instance. Just my sadistic imagination..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

x-no-archive:yes "Steve" wrote:

Porta Boat came out with a square transom model a while back and I heard
that it is ok and can handle a small outboard..

Even if your going to paddle or row your boat now, there may come a day that
you want to add an OB..

We have an old 10 foot one (gotten 2nd hand from someone that had 2)
and it does NOT have a square transom, but it DOES take an outboard.

The older Porta Boats were pretty good and those who had them really liked
them.. However, in the So Calif. marina where I was living on a mooring, my
friend had one and the foam floatation pads began to deteriorated from
constant exposure (he used it every day, kept it in the water.). Also some
of the rivet that fastened things together corroded and he had to drill them
out and put non corrosives in place.

I would hope that the newer models would have over come these problems.

They look funny and I can just visualize the thwarts popping out and the
sides folding in on the oarsman (like a peapod or cacoon). However I never
heard of any such instance. Just my sadistic imagination..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions


grandma Rosalie

I have the 10' gen III model on a 36' boat. The dinghy rides on
windsurfer brackets outboard of the lifelines. the 10'er planes one up
with a 5 hp, weight centered or 2 up, 2nd passenger forward. Dry ride,
good for long distance dinghying. Lot of parts.

On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 23:09:25 GMT, wrote:

On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 17:58:13 -0500, Courtney Thomas
wrote:

I realize that if your boat is large or small, it's obvious, but........

Which do you prefer for dinghy size in a Porta Bote ?

Why ?

Thank you,

I have an 8 foot Porta Bote, and love it. My main reason for going short was
space limitations on the boat I use it with most often which is only 27 feet. I
don't like towing dinghys at all, so I wanted one that was easy to haul and fold
up by myself, and could ride on the foredeck for quick trips, unfolded, in a
pinch. The 10 footer was just too long for that. I find the 8 footer is more
roomy, rows better, and needs a MUCH smaller engine to plane than the almost 12
foot inflatable it replaced. That said, If you have the room, the 10 footer has
an advantage simply due to longer waterline.

BB

Marc,

What are "windsurfer brackets", where'd you buy them and what do they cost ?

Or did you make 'em ?

Thanks,

Courtney



Marc wrote:

I have the 10' gen III model on a 36' boat. The dinghy rides on
windsurfer brackets outboard of the lifelines. the 10'er planes one up
with a 5 hp, weight centered or 2 up, 2nd passenger forward. Dry ride,
good for long distance dinghying. Lot of parts.

On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 23:09:25 GMT, wrote:


On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 17:58:13 -0500, Courtney Thomas
wrote:


I realize that if your boat is large or small, it's obvious, but........

Which do you prefer for dinghy size in a Porta Bote ?

Why ?

Thank you,

I have an 8 foot Porta Bote, and love it. My main reason for going short was
space limitations on the boat I use it with most often which is only 27 feet. I
don't like towing dinghys at all, so I wanted one that was easy to haul and fold
up by myself, and could ride on the foredeck for quick trips, unfolded, in a
pinch. The 10 footer was just too long for that. I find the 8 footer is more
roomy, rows better, and needs a MUCH smaller engine to plane than the almost 12
foot inflatable it replaced. That said, If you have the room, the 10 footer has
an advantage simply due to longer waterline.

BB




--
Courtney Thomas
s/v Mutiny
lying Oriental, NC
WDB5619

http://www.csjohnson.com Browse the marine hardware catalog under
"sailboard carrier"

I made a copy of the brackets out of 1/4" aluminum.



Thu, 18 Mar 2004 09:08:34 -0500, Courtney Thomas
wrote:

Marc,

What are "windsurfer brackets", where'd you buy them and what do they cost ?

Or did you make 'em ?

Thanks,

Courtney



Marc wrote:

I have the 10' gen III model on a 36' boat. The dinghy rides on
windsurfer brackets outboard of the lifelines. the 10'er planes one up
with a 5 hp, weight centered or 2 up, 2nd passenger forward. Dry ride,
good for long distance dinghying. Lot of parts.

On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 23:09:25 GMT, wrote:


On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 17:58:13 -0500, Courtney Thomas
wrote:


I realize that if your boat is large or small, it's obvious, but........

Which do you prefer for dinghy size in a Porta Bote ?

Why ?

Thank you,

I have an 8 foot Porta Bote, and love it. My main reason for going short was
space limitations on the boat I use it with most often which is only 27 feet. I
don't like towing dinghys at all, so I wanted one that was easy to haul and fold
up by myself, and could ride on the foredeck for quick trips, unfolded, in a
pinch. The 10 footer was just too long for that. I find the 8 footer is more
roomy, rows better, and needs a MUCH smaller engine to plane than the almost 12
foot inflatable it replaced. That said, If you have the room, the 10 footer has
an advantage simply due to longer waterline.

BB

In article ,
Courtney Thomas wrote:

I realize that if your boat is large or small, it's obvious, but........

Which do you prefer for dinghy size in a Porta Bote ?

Why ?

Thank you,

The boat stows so easily, I don't think size choice is obvious. It
depends on your intended use. We wanted ours for extended motoring about
and possibly hauling lots of gear out to the anchorage, so got the 12
because the cost difference was trivial. It's wound up being the "water
taxi" when a bunch of us are visiting around as it holds 5 adults
comfortably. If we merely wanted to get the two of us to shore, the 8
would be fine.

The smaller versions would be lighter to haul around, of course, but I
don't have any trouble hauling it to deck single-handed with the chute
halyard.

--
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/