Porta-Bote, anyone own one?

[fish56]

Hello all,
I met someone recently who bought a new 10 foot porta-bote a few years back and never used it. He's selling it pretty cheap. Only issue is he never titled it after he bought it, just has the original paperwork that came with the boat. Here in Illinois, it's a pain trying to title something that's not current, should have been titled after it was bought.
Anyone here own one? What's your opinion? I'm not sure if I'd comfortable in a boat that flexes the way they do. Any chance of them folding up while under way?
Thanks,
Bill

 

[CaravelleCaptain]

Re: Porta-Bote, anyone own one?

I don't have personal experience with them. But I almost bought one a few months ago to use as a dinghy. They will not fold up when properly put together. If I remember correctly the transom and the bench seats are what keep the boat from folding in. When I was researching them all the owners I talked with seemed very happy with them. I only reason I didn't get one is because even when folded up they are however long the LOA is.. In other words, a 10ft Portabote would take up too much space on my 242 Formula. I decided to just get a 10ft Zodiac. Hope this helped a little.. Oh, btw, check out youtube, plenty of videos.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Porta-Bote, anyone own one?

My dad had one, only used it a couple times before he sold it.

It was remarkably stable.
A friend of his has one and uses it a couple dozen times a year up in Canada. Have seen him come in off the lake when it was pretty rough, very surprised he didn't swamp it, as they have very little freeboard.

They are easy to put together, BUT a real pain to transport because of their length. Thats why dad got rid of his.

No way to attach it to the side of his van, too awkward to lift onto the top of it.

Besides, he is like me, our driveways look like marinas.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Porta-Bote, anyone own one?

every state is different, but for Virginia, you don't need to title a boat unless it has a motor.

Seems that you can buy/sell many times, and once you are the first owner to put a motor on it, then you go down to register it.

Since you canm get the original paperwork, it shouldn't be a problem.

But since it's the government, might be! call them first.