HawksFan03 Loc: Wenatchee, Washington

Does anybody know anything about porta botes? I am seriously contemplating getting me a 10' porta bote. They can be easily folded up and stored in your rv or truck. They are a little spendy but it would be better than dealing with a kayak. Give me some feedback pls and thank you.

HawksFan03/ Brenda

Fishin Fool 69 Loc: Etowah, TN

I have never heard of this type of boat and would like to know more also.

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

I've never heard of that one Brenda. Use to have one built here in Charleston called Folbot. Not sure if they are still around.

EasternOZ Loc: Kansas City Metro

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

I've seen on of those on the lake, Didn't know what it was

Big dog Loc: Bayshore, Long Island, New York

I’ve seen them on the water, they were floating. That’s a good start.

kfsrmn Loc: Lake Havasu AZ

I have a 12'. They are well made and very sea worthy. Soft ride but limited on speed and power. I am running a 4 stroke 6 hp and 10 mph is about the best you can expect with 2 people on board which is more than twice the speed of a kayak. Your motor is limited by weight not power. A higher horse power 2 stroke would be faster for the same motor weight. Once you get the hang of it they are not hard to set up and take down. I got mine when my wife could not paddle her kayak. It went on top of my towed behind the motorhome. Motor went on a bracket that plugged into the towed trailer hitch. Wife is back to paddling now so we are back in kayaks. For how long I dont know as we are getting up there. Mine is currently on a trailer for local use and only gets put on the car if we are going camping.

ArchMouser Loc: Bowie MD

I am now on my second Porta Bote. The first one was a 12' and lasted about 14 years before springing a very small leak in the transom area. This occurred about 5 years ago. I sold it to a guy who wanted to see if he could repair it. I promptly purchased a 10' and it has been serving me faithfully. A friend of mine had one that he carried on the side of his RV. I do not have space to store a regular boat, nor do I have a tow vehicle. I strap it down on the top of my old Honda Odyssey, throw everything else in the back and off we go. At home, I store it by hanging it on my fence. I have two 55 amp Newport Vessel trolling motors (1 bow and one transom) which we use most of the time. I also have a 3.5 gas Tohastu motor we use on the river. It is sturdy. I stand up in it most of the time while fishing the pads. I use it in some of the tidal coves of the Chesapeake Bay when going for Stripers. It's a little hard for me at the beginning stages of opening it up for putting in the benches, but I'm 85 so I should expect it, but other than that I can handle it. I have added swivel oat seats, rod holders and other stuff. This is my first time responding to anything in here so I don't know how it is done, but would like to talk with you by phone and give you more detail. I will be using it on Monday so will try to take a couple of photos and add them to the topic net week.

kfsrmn Loc: Lake Havasu AZ

ArchMouser, I also added swivel seats and rod holders. I c-clamp a board with the depth finder transducer to the transom. Caught quite a few bass with it on Lake Powell. The stripers were too skinny so I did not fish for them. I have not used an electric on mine. The 6 hp will troll very slow.

EasternOZ Loc: Kansas City Metro

Welcome to the forum both of you.

kfsrmn Loc: Lake Havasu AZ

EasternOZ, thank you.

Bullhead

My friend’s 12’ Port a Bote below Ft. Loudon Dam

Big TC Loc: Raytown, MO.

I've got a 12' one. But do to a very bad back. Heavy pain of 10 +, and that's just trying to stand straight up. My youngest is not mechanical gifted. Has 2 left hands when trying to tighten up a bolt. So I'm going to half to undo what he has already done. But what's been done is exciting me. Going to have to do more pain meds.
I do know, since its rather hot out put some some WD40 on the seems. Inside and out. This will help in the ease of folding the boat.

Big TC Loc: Raytown, MO.

Did you get the wheels. That way you can put the boat together at car, put the wheels on and off you go to the ramps.

kfsrmn Loc: Lake Havasu AZ

If you are loading or unloading on a ramp from the rear of a vehicle, point the front of the vehicle towards the water/downhill. That reduces the angle and makes it a lot easier to get on and off.