Re: Porta boat
Thank you for the information. How long have you had yours? The reason I'm thinking about buying one is that we don't have any place to put a trailer. This would be perfect to put in our garage. My husband and son love to fish and I think this would be perfect. Yea the cost is a little much but oh well. Could you please tell me some of the things that you don't like about it? The big thing is that I spoke to people about it and they said leaks overtime. I want this to be a suprise for them but I want to make sure that this is the right boat. Thank you for your help
FROM MRS. RALPH L. We have had ours for eight years - no leaks. I'm thinking way back 20 years ago or so, when Porta Botes first came out, there may have been some leak issues, but no more. Ours is fine and all the PB owners we know have had no problems.
I am a desert rat who knew absolutely nothing about boats (and was scared of them), when we got ours - and as boats go - this FOLDING BOAT scared me more than others. But my husband and a beautiful lake full of hungry cut-throat trout persuaded me to get my courage up and give it a try. Now, I'm hooked.
After falling in love with boating in our 12-foot Porta Bote, my husband got a "great deal" on a 16-foot aluminum, deep vee. Gee, it looked bigger, better and more stable, so I was sure it would be fine - NOT. It isn't as stable in rough water, in chop it beats you to a pulp (compared to the Porta Bote), and we can't pick it up and throw it in the bed of the truck like we do the Porta Bote.
Aluminum boat or Porta Bote? No contest - I have both and the Porta Bote wins hands down in every category.
The only downside to the Porta Bote is all the people stopping us at gas stations, restaurants and campgrounds and asking "Is that some kind of surf board?", because that's kind of what it looks like when it's strapped to side of our camper or riding on top of the truck. When they find out it's a boat, then the questions really start flying.
It sounds like you are doing your research, so I'm sure you've been to the PB site and seen the videos of their drop tests. I really can't see where anything could ever go wrong with one of these unless it flew off your truck going down the interstate and a semi-truck ran over it. For three people, I would go with a 14 footer and rig up a tail gate support on the truck to haul it, if you don't have a travel trailer or a camper where it can ride on the side.
Oh, and the first time you put it together you will think you've made a huge mistake. It is hard as Hades to put together while it is new and stiff. Read the instructions, wait for a warm sunny day (like the instructions suggest) and trust me - after a few times it will be easy enough for one person (even a little 5'4" lady) to put together by herself.
The first trip out will make you nervous because it is so flexible, but it is the flexibility that gives it such a nice ride because it absorbs and flexes, instead of jarring.
An interesting side note about PBs is that they helped us win the Iraq war. Saddam strung razor wire just below the surface in several of the rivers because he knew our Special Forces would come in in their inflatable Zodiacs and the razor wire would slice them to shreds. Fortunately, we knew what he was up to, and our guys got across in Porta Botes!
Be sure and buy the new model with the square stern (that's the back end), the older models were pointed on both ends with no place to mount a motor.
Hate to butt into my husband's reply, but I thought you might want to hear a woman's point of view. Laura
