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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

"portaboat" tender

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sailgal
Captain

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USA
400 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/02/2004 : 19:04:09

Ok when I stopped laughing

I started to ponder this "tender" and its positive (?) qualities for a short weekend trip on a 25 foot sailboat. Doesn't look like it would take up much storage space in the none use days of the year.

Anyone ever see one of these things and if so what can you report?
Hey stop laughing!

Suzie, Tropical Sleigh

WB #619 Sarasota FL.

Edited by - sailgal on 02/02/2004 19:05:44

Dkn420
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2004 : 19:57:30

Suzie: Might be a good idea. I wonder if there is a dealer out there where you can float one.? But I would get on with a "bimini:

Following is the link to the web site: http://www.porta-bote.com/?OVRAW=porta%20bote& OVKEY=bote%20porte& OVMTC=standard

I promise I didn't laugh

Dan #727

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 02/02/2004 : 20:29:31

This full-time cruiser uses one and talks about it quite a bit in his blog... http://www.svmirador.net/

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2004 : 00:02:35

I considered one. I choose instead a 2 man kayak. The kayak fits on the bow and the sails and sheets tack over it with no problem. Imagine trying to put the portabote together in your cockpit and then launch it? Only 4 bolts hold it together. The kayak is unsinkable and indestructible. Also costs less.

Edited by - on

tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2004 : 00:14:10

There was a discussion of the pros and cons of folding boats in Latitude 38 a few months back. Some people have cruised around Mexico's West coast with one. Most favored inflatable boats for landing in the surf.

Sure won't fit into a locker. Our 8' inflatable is stored below out of the sun until needed. It does not take long to blow it up. It only has a slat floor so I can't get it to plane with my 2.5hp motor. It came with our boat. If I were to buy one today I'd look at an inflatable floor model.

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bnpirate
1st Mate

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33 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2004 : 08:35:37

there are two portaboats in our marina. they are very stable and easy to row.
they tow well or can be folded down and lashed to the foredeck. I thik it is a good option for thoughs who prefer a hard dingy instead of an inflatable.

Edited by - on

jwilliams
Captain

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USA
357 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2004 : 13:18:48

Hi Suzie,

Picture the scene:

Anchored in a flat bay, no wind, no current, no waves, crew of four. All you have to do is have a flat spot 8feet long to unfold your boat. Everybody gets a corner and unfold away!

Now consider real world. Choppy bay, 10kt wind, 2kt current, occasional swell bouncing you around, crew swaying. Now where were you going to unfold that boat, again?

I have wanted a tender too. Finally decided to build the Nutshell. I'm about half done. Pretty easy and lots of fun. It is not as cheap as I thought...plywood itself cost over one boat unit, epoxy and fiberglass ain't cheap. Still, I imagine it will come in well under the $500+ for a Walker Bay 8 footer.

I plan to rig it for sail with a sprit rig, lugsail. That keeps the mast, boom and sprit under 7ft so it will fit inside the boat. If I use a 1.75in. mast and 1.3in boom and 1in sprit, the thin wall aluminum tube will be about $60. I have a roll of Tyvek housewrap that may make a sail, experimentally anyway. To have any efficiency, it will need leeboards and a rudder. Winter project.

I bought a set of Walker Bay oars on sale at West Marine.

Jim Williams
Hey Jude C25fk2958
SF Bay

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2004 : 15:22:15

Jim,
could you post some photos of the building process?

Edited by - on

sailgal
Captain

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USA
400 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2004 : 21:32:02

I too considered the construction dilemma which could occur if not put together before a trip, but actually I read that the tender trails well after a sailboat. Figure I'd have it all put together and pull it behind.
My problem is storage for the non sailing days while at home in a condo. The flat compact design looks small enough to stand in my mini car port storage shed. I sent for a price quote and info pack, curious to see where it falls price wise in relation to Walker Bays (which I can't store)and inflatables. See what happens...

Thanks for your support Dan

Edited by - on

Dkn420
Captain

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USA
298 Posts

Response Posted - 02/03/2004 : 22:05:29

Suzie, You go girl, I ordered a brochure too

In November in BVI, almost every sailboat was towing some kind of dinghy...it actually looked funny to see a boat without one following behind...as long as you have to open stern, as we do on the C250, it could work very well....

Dan #727

Edited by - Dkn420 on 02/03/2004 22:06:42

BCain
Navigator

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USA
103 Posts

Response Posted - 02/04/2004 : 19:32:15

Try looking at this foldable microdinghy. I found it on the Microcruising site.

http://www.microcruising.com/ding1.htm

Bruce WindShadow, Central Fl. Lakes

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.