Does anyone have and unfold a portabote on their Tug?

[ray]

Cockpit? Bow? Can it be done?
Anyone who's unfolded a portabote in the cold would know why I am asking.....

Thanks,
Ray

 

[Pilotnavigator]

I set up my portabote on shore and tow it everywhere. I think that to try to set one up on board you will most likely "kill" someone. If not directly with parts flying everywhere but by frustration, someone or something is bound to go overboard. I have a 8 foot one and can do it on a 6 foot wide dock with room to walk all around it in the summer when it is soft and flexible.!! I use a 2.5 suzuki to push it. I did this with our 18 foot Sun Cat and this summer with the 21ec I will tow it. I will try to transport it in the cockpit rather than the roof of my tow vehicle.

 

[JamesTXSD]

Hi Ray,

We had a Porta-bote back in our Corsair trimaran days. I could set up the 10' model on the net, but I think it would be pretty tough to do on-deck or in the cockpit of a Ranger. I liked the PB, but one draw-back of pulling it up on deck was that rubber joint in the middle of the floor - it would leave a hard-to-remove black skid mark anywhere it touched the boat. Also, storage of the seats and transom was more of a concern than the boat hull.

That said, I liked the PB. Wish I would have kept it for just banging around at home (where there are plenty of oyster shells)... pretty much indestructible.

Best wishes,
Jim

 

[dante3756]

Great question. Hope it generates more responses. I've been considering one for my R29. As for set-up, I was thinking that perhaps it could be set up on the swim platform (I don't have a rail), but am not sure if that'll work. I had an 8' Portabote years ago for a sailboat and set it up on deck. There's no perfect dink, but I would buy one again. It was great in the Bahamas where we spent most of our time, because I never worried about crashing into coral or barnacles. I avoided the scuff marks on setup by just laying down an old blanket on the deck. I was curious about the post regarding towing. They don't tow well and I'd be concerned about towing at speeds higher than my sailboat could go. The bow tends to dip. I've heard stories about the bow dipping into the sea while being towed. I installed eye bolts low at the bow for towing (using a bridle) to keep the bow as high as possible when towing. My biggest complaint was the stowing of the seats and transom piece, but now the transom is a folding part of the boat.

Dante

 

[craigf]

I just purchased a 12' job and had it sent to Bahamas to use. I can say that after setting it up I sure would not want to do it on our 27 ft. Just not enough room. Boat folds neat but the storage of seats takes up a a bunch of room. I am running a 5 hp mercury on the boat and it scoots with one person. With my wife and I it will do same but its on the edge of low power.
I did get a chance to row it and find it extremely easy.

 

[seashanti]

I am planning on putting a 8' 6" porta-bote on the swim step of my Cutwater 28 which does not have the rail. I sold the inflatable RIB that came with my boat because I felt it was a lot heavier than the porta-bote and plan to use the Weaver davits that came with it. On my previous boat (1990 3288MY Bayliner) I put a 10' porta-bote on the hull extension I had added and it worked out very well. I used the Weaver davits for the inflatable to attach it to the hull extension. See link to photos of porta-bote in use and on the swim platform of my Bayliner. Rather than have the porta-bote stick straight up I instead leaned the porta-bote on the transom to minimize windage and spray on it.

https://goo.gl/photos/nmTe7fCChMG6jCgK9

Seashanti

 

[pugtug613]

I inflate an 8'6" roll up West Marine dink in the cockpit. I position it so the transom is hanging over the swim platform railing and the bow is in the cockpit. I plug in my 110 v inflator and in 60 seconds, I have a dink. I deflate it when I bring it back on board. I don't like towing anything at 12 knots. Plus, if you have a "situation" while towing, you have to worry about getting the painter wrapped around the prop. I don't know about the Porta Boat. They look too unstable to me. But, what do I know?