Porta-Bote?

[homerjbirch1]

Has anyone seen one of these boats or know pros and cons. They have a very interesting web site. They look pretty sweet if the price was right. Any info is greatly appreciated.
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[RipNLips]

I saw one at the RV show last weekend, but I didn't look at it much at the time. I'm sure there will be one at the Sportsmans Expo March 13-16.
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[ruger]

My grandfather has had one for about 20 years and loves it! For smaller lakes it is great and is unbeatable for those hard to reach areas with no ramp or very low water. It is the only boat I have ever been in that will plane with a 5 hp outboard. The only reason I don't have one is that most of the areas I like to fish require a long ride and with a small outboard, that's half of your fishing day. Besides, the places I can't launch my boat I just take the tube.[sly]

[kicknbass]

Well homerjbirch1, I just happen to have one of those boats!
I have really enjoyed mine. I got the twelve foot, and I consider it my bass boat until I can afford a real one. I have had a lot of success with fishing since I got it. Having a boat is a lot better than not having one, and I also saw it at the Sportmans Expo. That is where I got hooked on getting one. I will tell you more about it later, but I think that it was well worth the investment.
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[homerjbirch1]

Thanks for insite. I have looked all over the web for info on the porta-bote and this little thing almost seems too good to be true. What are some of the downsides to this boat? p.s. kicknbass is yours for sale?
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[kicknbass]

Well as far as the downsides. Depending on the size of your boat, the weight restrictions can be restricting depending on how big your friends are. If other boaters are being crazy and not yielding to you then it can get a little rocky. The first couple of times you set it up, it is a little stiff and it will fold back up on you and squash you inside of it. It weighs only about 65 pounds, 3 seats, with the oars and locks. My wife was good enough to let me get the boat, and so instead of getting an outboard motor, I just went with the 50 lb. thrust electic motor. It works fine for now. The advantage is that you can pretty much carry it by yourself and launch it wherever you want. I am able to carry it as long as there isn't any wind. I am only 5'9" and 155 lbs.
I had a tiger muskie on at Pineview last year and he bit the line only two feet from the boat and it was very exciting. It is so small and manuverable that you can get in some very tight spots. I would get one if you really wanted something very different. I have really got some crazy looks. I have people come up to me and watch me while I set it up or take it down. It's kind of fun. Ask fishnate if he liked it. He and I have gone to Pineview and had a great time. You can stand up fine while you cast.
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[PREDATOR]

Hey kick n bass, your too funny man! My dad was thinking about getting one a few years back at an outdoor show. I told him no way. I figured a big old wave would hit that thing, and it would colapse on him. I take it you have only had it colapse on you while on land right? Hey if it ever colapses on you while on the water I hope to be near by. Funniest thing I ever saw was a guy who got his float tube tipped up right on him. He wasnt in any real danger, it was just funny as all get out to watch. Glad to hear you have enjoyed it, I always wondered. Hey, does it float when colapsed? If so, thats not too bad, you could just hold on to it until you got it opened back up again.
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[fishnate]

yeah I went with kickinbass on his porta boat and it works fine. It's deffinately a small water boat. I wouldn't go on Powell with one. and it's more mobil than a float tube. I have been using pontoon kick boats and float tubes for most of my fishing and the porta boat was nice to be up out of the water and move faster. I would suggest if you can afford it to get a small outboard motor because the electric we had pooped out in the wind after several hours and it sucked rowing back to shore (I had to whine a little since KB out fished me that day). All things considered if you can afford a bigger boat "next year" I would hold out but they are a fine craft for the money. One other thing watch the seams for stress cracks that may develop after several years of use. Ask KB about that one.
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[boatless]

I used to have one years ago and liked it alot. I got it used from a friend and the price was right. If you look into the cost for a new one you will be amazingly suprized!! I think that a nice Old Town canoe would be better for me and alot less money!!! But who am I to say I fish off the banks..
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[neveronsunday]

[red]I've never heard of them. Sounds interesting, does anyone have a pic to post or help me find the web site? What price range are we looking at? [/red]
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[leaky]

Homer,

I guess I have a mixed review. I have had mine (10 ft) for about 14-15 yrs. I also bought a little 4hp Johnson and a motor mount. The first thing I did with it was back in 89 I went up the Churchill River north of Saskatwan for 2 wks, a combination of portage and up river running for two weeks. It gave me the flexibility to accomplish it and worked well. That was when I was younger. I agree with most everything that has been said but I offer these "negatives". They are a little pricey. The first things to go are the seat brackets and attachments. I've had to re-make some new attachments and seats. They can be a little unstable due to their flexibility and are a little more sensitive to overloading because of this. And last (and this may be a personal preference) I have switched to a float tube to solve my accessibility problems. There just aren't many occasions that I have found that a skiff and a float tube doesn't solve all my problems. I would go small metal skiff + float tube unless you're facing portage situations. They are more convenient to haul around and the boat itself is made out of tough material.

P.S. I still have mine and use it when I need a small boat but I use my float tube 90% of the time!

Leaky