Porta-Bote foldable

Zed Nivel

Zed Nivel

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2 days ago I asked between inflatable or not (see 31/12 -06).
There were interesting dialouge but no one took up the topic of not inflatable dinghys vs inflatables. I have seen one interesting not inflatable make called porta-bote (easy to google).
Anyone with experience of Porta-bote/similar and maybe also inflatable?
 
There's also this and this and also, I owned one of the latter and it made a very good tender, much easier to row than a flubber, in fact I harldly ever used the outboard. It also sails nicely. I now have an old achilles because it suits my current circ's better. Horses for courses, a case of what's best for you. Have you tried any out?
 
Hi
and many thanks for your answers last year (31/12 :-)) and today! Soo -- you indeed have tested both types! For how long did you have the Stoweaway? And did it show any shortcomings?
I just need to make a decision before March 07 when I intend to launch again.
So it seems to be between Achilles and a folding GRP Porta-bote since we are intending to sail + it must carry 5-8 hp even if its less than 3 m + it must be durable more than wood. (as I understand the stow-away comes only in wood and needs to be the biggest one Extender- to carry that outboarder- the K2 in GRP is just a Prototype since Sep 06)
 
I used the Stowaway during a 2 year liveaboard period. In that period we had just a few weeks in marinas or ashore and so the tender was heavily used. It proved to be very durable and, as said rowed and sailed well. When not in use it was lashed to the rail, taking up little space; pipe lagging protected the paint from damage. When I built the boat I varnished it and it looked great but when cruising painted her to make her less desirable to thieves! We had the 24 btw and with a 2hp outboard pushed along with three adults no problem.

When you get up to 8hp the engine's quite heavy; do you really need one that big? on the Achilles I have a 20yr old Mariner 2hp 2 stroke, it will push the dinghy with 2 adults 2 children 1 dog and gear through the tide at Conwy, although I will admit to slow SOG when it's really running! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
correction - we are not intending to sail the dinghy so I will not purchase any of those gear. my outboarder today is yamaha 5 hp and will be the first to be tryed out...it was a little weak on the Zodiac thats why I already was thinking about next model..

so you had a do-it-yourself kit that you varnished and painted + did not have any leaks at all?
would you think Stowaway could be hanging from davits?
many thanks for your kind concern
 
I used to have a Banana-boat, also foldable, which unfortunately was stolen. It rowed much better than an inflatable, even the ones with a wooden bottom. It could easily be stowed along the railing, like a surfboard and took very little space.
 
I have a porta-bote which I'll be selling come the spring as it's just too much hassle to put up. It seems a good idea at first but you need a lot of room to be able to put one together and the average pontoon is just not big enough; let alone the deck.
 
There is another company, Seahopper, which used to be one company with Stowaway, but do not buy a new Seahopper, as the guy that makes / sells them is so unreliable that we've abandonned our attempt to get all the bits we paid for and we're trying to get our money back instead. (a year later...)
 
I checked Google and found this "Banana Boot (Europe)
The foldable boat for rowing, sailing, motoring,etc.
www.banana-boat.net/en/index.html - 7k - En caché - Páginas similares". Unfortunately the page is under construction, so it does not give much help, but the picture is indeed from the bananaboat, such is I had. The one in the picture has a sail, but that's an extra. As far as I know, the company is german, I believe from Hamburg. Good luck!
 
Has anyone had dealings with Seahopper folding boats?
I bought a boat from them at the London Boat Show last Year. Steve Rea, the owner promised that it would be delivered in 4 months. However, a year later it's still not turn-up and he will not answer my phone calls. In the mean time have heard that SEAHOPPER FOLDING BOATS are a con.
 
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