sedanman67 wrote:I am interseted. I LOVE the water and was trying to find a way to drag the boat and the camper at the same time.
Long post, misc info about the Porta Bote (Moral is, don't get Normspeed talkin' about boats.):
I have an 18 foot runabout and once I started using the tear, I needed something I could cartop. I've cartopped 12' aluminums in the past, and that would be my other choice for teardropping. 50/50. The aluminums weigh more but can still be loaded by one person if you're clever about it. The Porta Bote is easier to get on the roof but the drawback is you need to carry a lot of gear in the vehicle and set it all up at the shore. Gear includes 3 seats, plywood transom, floor boards, platforms, motor, fuel tank, anchor, life vests, etc etc.. Someone compared it to traveling with a small baby.
The PB is remarkably stable, especially in a chop. Until I made some plywood slip-in flooring, it was difficult to move around inside the boat because the floor flexes like a heavy gauge waterbed. The floor boards solved that completely. Very stable for a 12 footer. The other drawback is assembly/disassembly at the shore. It only takes approx 10-15 minutes but can be a bit strenuous, especially in cold weather when the plastic is stiff. I've used the PB a lot in weather from 100 to well below freezing, and I put a lot of trust in it. I wouldn't suggest a PB to anyone with a serious back problem. It's cumbersome to carry and would be easy to pop your back out while setting it up. The 8 and 10 footers would be lighter in weight but some lakes have a 12 foot minumum length.
If you're looking at used ones be sure to get a later model (Generation II) with the squared off transom. The early PBs were double ended like kayaks or canoes and attaching an outboard involved an outrigger type of bracket. Portabotes come with 2-piece anodized aluminum/plastic oars and oarlocks. They row very well. You can even buy a sail kit as an option. Not being an experienced wind sailor or a strong swimmer, I opted out on the sail package.
When you buy a package at the boat show like I did, you get a discount but you also get some things you could do better on aftermarket. Specifically the bimini top. For the same $$ Cabelas or Overtons will sell you a larger and better designed top. The clamp-on wheels, another extra, have been hanging in the shed since day one. The Nissan 4 stroke 6 hp outboard they sell with the package has proven to be a bit short on quality control. I guess all those years using Mercury 9.8s and Yamahas spoiled me. In fact, I'm looking for a used 9.8 Merc for the lakes where 2 strokes aren't prohibited. BTW-- Nissan, Mercury and Tohatsu 4 strokes of 8 hp and less are all made by Tohatsu. My opinion only, I would not buy another Tohatsu outboard.
There's a Porta-Bote company website, and a good PB discussion group on Yahoo. If you already have one of these and want to upgrade to floorboards and platforms I'll be glad to share dimensions, material info and techniques. My pics don't show the floorboards. just the platforms.
One last thing about Porta-Botes:
MADE IN THE U.S.A.
See ya
Norm
by Normspeed » Sat Oct 08, 2005 12:24 pm 
