Porta Bote

[Jack O'Brien]

Sloop John B:

All you ever wanted to know but weren't afraid to ask.

http://www.porta-bote.com/dimensions.html

[McSkipper]

Crick,

I have the 10' version and have put it together on the foredeck in a cove called Little Harbor on the west side of Catalina. Point being we got a few swells in the process. It was the first time we had put it together. My wife and I got the job done and went back last year and did the same thing. It is tricky but possible.

I don't think I'll be doing that stunt for too many more years though. I don't recommend you try it SJB at your age, if you buy the ebay deal. It really would float if you did fall off tryin to put it togther on the foredeck SJB. I do hear it could improve your fishin though

We've stowed it on the deck and in the cabin when it got rough one night crossing over to Catalina. And we slept with it in the cabin that night too . Again, it can be done but not ideally.

This year we bought a 4stroke 6hp from Porta-Bote and have been running up the Colorado River near Bullhead, Az with it. That's 2 people against a current that is sometimes over 10mph. It's a fun little boat.

It has tracked well behind our in some nasty 2 - 3' wind wave in Lake Mohave. Definitely recommend it.
Skip

[Sloop John B]

I have a 'normal' short bed and can stick a 8' board in diagonally and shut the gate.

Jack, thanks for the dimension read out. Looks like it wouldn't fit and would have to strap it on the Mac somehow.

I wouldn't be folding and unfolding this thing on board. I'd just drag the bugger around, but it would get filled up with rain. Wonder how hard itd be to invert and get it back up to speed after a couple deluges.

[Tony D-26X_SusieQ]

It might work out where you could store the Port-a-Boat folded on deck till you get to your destination then temporarily pull up to the public dock and open it up on the dock then tow it to your mooring or anchaorage.

[Andy26M]

SJB -

There are no drain plugs in the Porta-Botes. If I've had mine out in a rain storm, I just take my hand bilge pump and pump out the dinghy.

In the instance where my Dad and I swamped it, we were able to just walk it up the beach slowly and let the water run out over the transom. The 8' version only weighs around 70 pounds.

- AndyS

[Sloop John B]

Not too many 'piers' where I sail to. A lot of beach maybe.

I know if it's rough out, you're just in the sh*ts, but if it's calm, is it possible to 'bail' the thing out, and then sponge up a bit?

Anyone ever swamp one with a motor strapped on board.

[ralphk]

Never had to bail mine out yet, but your post just reminded me of something to take to the Thousand Islands next week.

I have a battery powered submersible bilge pump "Atwood WaterBuster" The unit is about the size of large can of tomatoes.
It's really intended for aquariums and pumping the surface water off of swimming pool covers. I don't think that it'll overcome much more than 4 feet of head, but the volume is quite impressive, given that it's powered by 3 "D" batteries.
Though arguably not suitable for real marine use, it should be perfect for the Porta-Bote.

[Sloop John B]

I think it's porta bote that won't give you prices.

Anyone remember what they paid for an 8 footer?

[DLT]

They may have been that way (not sharing prices) in the past, but they have apparently changed their ways: http://www.porta-bote.com/prices.html

[Chuck Healey]

I bought mine last Fall at the Newport, RI boat show. They were running a special at the time. I think I paid $1,050 and they threw in the oars and shipping for free.