We're trying to decide on what boat to buy to carry with us in our
motorhome. We need it to be very lightweight (we just sold our 17'
canoe because, at @80-100 lbs, it was beginning to be too much for
us). We'd also like to to able to put a small, light gas outboard on
it (we've got an old Sears 3HP) AND we'd like to be able to put a sail
rig on it. AND it needs to be easily storable on a motorhome.

So far we're considering a porta-bote which I understand that you can
mount on the side of your RV; and a Sea Eagle Paddleski (inflatable).
I was hoping someone might have opinions on these two boats or have
more suggestions for us to consider.

Thanks!

Sandy

Try a folding kayak: www.folbot.com is a good place to start. I have a
single & double Folbot and it will do a lot of things,. Very good sailing.
A motor mount can be rigged up. Other good folding kayaks and inflatables.
I have seen but not used porta-botes, they look OK for fla****er but I
would check out folding boats first.

In article ,
(sandy) wrote:

We're trying to decide on what boat to buy to carry with us in our
motorhome. We need it to be very lightweight (we just sold our 17'
canoe because, at @80-100 lbs, it was beginning to be too much for
us). We'd also like to to able to put a small, light gas outboard on
it (we've got an old Sears 3HP) AND we'd like to be able to put a sail
rig on it. AND it needs to be easily storable on a motorhome.

So far we're considering a porta-bote which I understand that you can
mount on the side of your RV; and a Sea Eagle Paddleski (inflatable).
I was hoping someone might have opinions on these two boats or have
more suggestions for us to consider.

Thanks!

Sandy

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sandy wrote:
So far we're considering a porta-bote which I understand that you can
mount on the side of your RV; and a Sea Eagle Paddleski (inflatable).
I was hoping someone might have opinions on these two boats or have
more suggestions for us to consider.

The SOAR inflatable canoe is higher-quality than any Sea Eagle I've seen,
comes in 12' 14' and 16' lengths, and now has available motor mount:

http://www.soar1.com/accessories.htm

There's also a side-style motor mount for a Grabner boat, but it doesn't
look very secure and is limited to 30# motors:

http://www.theboatpeople.com/iks_tandem.html

I'd suggest getting some fibreglass cloth and polyester resin and moulding
a boat to the outside of the motorhome. It doesn't have to be very big if
you put sponsons on it for bouyancy. I think motor homes have compartments
underneath like on a Greyhound bus where a small motor could be stored
when not in use. Whatever you decide be sure to get formal paddling
instruction from a certified paddling instructor.


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(sandy) wrote in message . com...
We're trying to decide on what boat to buy to carry with us in our
motorhome. We need it to be very lightweight (we just sold our 17'
canoe because, at @80-100 lbs, it was beginning to be too much for
us). We'd also like to to able to put a small, light gas outboard on
it (we've got an old Sears 3HP) AND we'd like to be able to put a sail
rig on it. AND it needs to be easily storable on a motorhome.

So far we're considering a porta-bote which I understand that you can
mount on the side of your RV; and a Sea Eagle Paddleski (inflatable).
I was hoping someone might have opinions on these two boats or have
more suggestions for us to consider.

Thanks!

Sandy

You might try some of the Kevlar offerings. Lots of canoe companies
sell Kevlar boats and you will likely be getting a high quality
product.
I don't know if square transoms are available in most of these boats
but you can side mount a little motor and off you go.
A decent kevlar canoe about 16 feet long should weigh about 50 lb.
Good luck and be carefull.
I would still prefer to paddle as long as health allowed,
Alex

I'm with Alex - look at a quality kevlar canoe in the 16' range.
Something relatively straight-keeled that you could hang a side-mount
motor from. You should be able to find something at or under 50lbs,
which would facilitate getting it on and off the motorhome.

The sail rig is another matter; you are asking a lot of one boat in
wanting it lightweight, motor-able, sailable and easily stored. Any
boat that is equally amenable to paddling, motoring and sailing is
likely to be such a compromise design that it won't do any of them
very well.

I'd suggest first prioritizing your desires and realistically
anticipated uses for the boat and eliminating the one facet least
needed.

Mike McCrea wrote:

Any
boat that is equally amenable to paddling, motoring and sailing is
likely to be such a compromise design that it won't do any of them
very well.

I'd suggest first prioritizing your desires and realistically
anticipated uses for the boat and eliminating the one facet least
needed.


I'm with Mike & Alex -

I would further suggest carefully deciding which *single* use will be
most common & going with a hull of that design, otherwise you'll still
be on the short end of compromises.
Pete H

--
The idea is to die young
as late as possible.
anon.

(sandy) wrote in message . com...
We're trying to decide on what boat to buy to carry with us in our
motorhome. We need it to be very lightweight (we just sold our 17'
canoe because, at @80-100 lbs, it was beginning to be too much for
us). We'd also like to to able to put a small, light gas outboard on
it (we've got an old Sears 3HP) AND we'd like to be able to put a sail
rig on it. AND it needs to be easily storable on a motorhome.

So far we're considering a porta-bote which I understand that you can
mount on the side of your RV; and a Sea Eagle Paddleski (inflatable).
I was hoping someone might have opinions on these two boats or have
more suggestions for us to consider.

Thanks!

Sandy

For days I have drawn a blank but at boat us and others there is a
small white plastic boat for about 300 bucks, weighs about 60 pounds
and you can buy a sail rig for it too. It does not fold up, but it
looks like a good knock around boat. Of course if you want a
lightweight wooden boat I could build you one, but at a lot more cost
than the one at boat us, and the pvc boat would take more knocking
around. It's a rowboat however, not a canoe or kayak.
Scotty

(Backyard Renegade) wrote in message . com...
(sandy) wrote in message . com...
We're trying to decide on what boat to buy to carry with us in our
motorhome. We need it to be very lightweight (we just sold our 17'
canoe because, at @80-100 lbs, it was beginning to be too much for
us). We'd also like to to able to put a small, light gas outboard on
it (we've got an old Sears 3HP) AND we'd like to be able to put a sail
rig on it. AND it needs to be easily storable on a motorhome.

So far we're considering a porta-bote which I understand that you can
mount on the side of your RV; and a Sea Eagle Paddleski (inflatable).
I was hoping someone might have opinions on these two boats or have
more suggestions for us to consider.

Thanks!

Sandy

For days I have drawn a blank but at boat us and others there is a
small white plastic boat for about 300 bucks, weighs about 60 pounds
and you can buy a sail rig for it too. It does not fold up, but it
looks like a good knock around boat. Of course if you want a
lightweight wooden boat I could build you one, but at a lot more cost
than the one at boat us, and the pvc boat would take more knocking
around. It's a rowboat however, not a canoe or kayak.
Scotty


Ah, finally, I remember the name of the boat. "Walker Bay 8". Check it
out, do a google on it, Scotty

(sandy) wrote in message . com...

We're trying to decide on what boat to buy to carry with us in our
motorhome. We need it to be very lightweight (we just sold our 17'
canoe because, at @80-100 lbs, it was beginning to be too much for
us). We'd also like to to able to put a small, light gas outboard on
it (we've got an old Sears 3HP) AND we'd like to be able to put a sail
rig on it. AND it needs to be easily storable on a motorhome.

Anyone ever heard of the Tote N Boat? Web site is http://www.tucktech.com/
Won't take a sail AFAIK but folded size and price are intriguing.