purchased folda-boat

[crowwing]

My wife and I have a 16ft Scamp trailer. We have been looking for a boating option while camping. The fiberglass trailer group I belong to suggested I look into a folda-bote to put on the top of my Jeep Grand Cherokee. Today I purchased a 12 ft. genesis V. The previous owner misplaced the part that fits over the bow front. Is that something I can purchase or am I better off making my own? I am also curious if folks strap the boat to typical roof top cross bars or if a different system is better to haul the porta-bote. I don't want my new boat to end up in the wind shield of the driver behind me!

 

[briangcc]

I would suggest checking with the manufacturer for the parts. They can be found here:

https://www.porta-bote.com/

They have a Contact Us page which includes information on ordering parts.



Can't help too much on strapping it to the roof rack other than to say, obviously, make sure it's strapped down tight to avoid the situation you're describing. The manufacturer may have suggestions on this as well.


Good Luck!

 

[JimS123]

Certainly strap it to the crossbars on the roof. If the bow and stern of the boat isn't fitted with eyes for mooring, install them way above the waterline, in a place that will be exposed when the boat is folded. Then tie lines to the outside edges of both front and rear bumpers. I expect the wind will lift the end of the boat up at highway speeds.

 

[roscoe]

My uncle strapped his to the drivers side of his camper, so he could keep an eye on it when on the highway.

It was too long to strap to the side of his truck, and the bed was filled with ate and gear.

He mounted two vertical pipes about 6' apart on the side of the camper, then slid the boat between the pipes and camper.
He had a bar he placed at the back to keep it from sliding out.
And a small ( 12"x18" ? ) piece of aluminum mounted up front, to cover the bow and keep the wind from getting behind it.

Tough little boats. He would drive as far as possible, then drag the boat up the abandoned logging trails in Canada, so he could fish in lakes that hadn't been touched in decades.

He had a 12' 6" model, and we fished with him several times.
Got wet a few times when motoring into 1 foot waves.
The bow is a bit close to the water. Be careful.


Imagine something like this on the side of your camper.

 

[drrpm]

Couldn't you just fold it and stow it? When car topping a boat its good to tie a line from the bow and stern to the vehicle as well as tying it to the rack, but you need solid tie down points on the boat. Canoes and kayaks generally have grab lops at both ends which makes tying them down easier.

 

[Stumpalump]

I had a 12' porta bote when the company I worked for strictly forbid towing trailers with the company car.
They said nothing about the roof! Lol. The bow piece does nothing. It's purely for looks. It's just thin plastic. By the time you wrestle the 70 pound hull to the beach, bolt in the transom and fiddle with the seats you will want to skip the bow piece anyway. You will find pictures of them and ones for sale without them all of the time. Skip it unless it's dirt cheap and comes with the hardware that matches the rest of the boat. It's a bit of work setting up and taking down especially hauling that awkward 70 pound hull up the rocks. Be carful with it and have fun. They do flex a lot but that absorbs the waves and you get used to standing on the flexy floor really fast.