A Boat you can tote.

[lcgeek]

I've enjoyed two very short trips to the lake in my new 12 foot porta-bote. I thought I would post a few pics just to prove it!
I can't really post much of a review, as I was only on the water about 15 minutes on each trip before dark set in, and I am not wired with any running lights yet.

I bought the bote twice used, and the guy I got it from already had it setup and on a trailer. I have yet to disasseble it into it's folded position. I plan to do that tomorrow and practice loading it onto the cruiser roof, unloading, assembling, etc. For now, these short trips were just to get out on the water in the little time I had after work.

As mentioned the bote is a 2006 12 footer. I also has the 6hp, 4 stroke Nissan. The motor only has about 4 hours on it so it is not broke in yet. These are pics from first day. Putting in, checking out the motor and transom (held together by 4 bolts...which I later learned you actually need to tighen. D'oh) And of course a pic confirming it actually floats with me in it.

I have not really opened the motor up yet since it is not broke in. The bote will take some getting used to since it is flexible, the floot moves a bit when you walk and the sides flex quite a bit. Despite the flex and movement it is amazingly stable. Staning up and getting in and out is quite stable and easy. All in all I think I am going to like it...but I need to really get out and use it in full form for a few days and we will see. A few more pics from today's lake trip to follow.

 

[Rockrawler]

We just picked up one in Lake Gregory yesterday - went wheeling in Big Bear & shot over when we were dont to check out and buy the boat, got it for $225 minus motor (he burnt up the one he had with no oil) but it did include aluminum 2pc oars & mounts, small anchor, and the boat tote wheels that let you transport it from the vehicle to the water. Not a bad deal and its in good shape. It has 2007 tags and is a 1999 model. I'm looking for 1 more (4 people, over max weight. We'll run 2 people & gear per boat) but I'll get pics when we get it on the water.

 

[lcgeek]

Took the family out a few days ago, and it was my first trip carrying the bote without the trailer, and thus going thru the full transport, unload, assembly, take-down process.

All in all, I can say this bote is very unique, and great for the specific applications...like being able to carry a boat on top of the cruiser and go anywhere, and then put it on a lake when you want and get up and down it at 15mph with the motor. I also found that this bote also rows extremely easy for days I might want to leave the motor behind. I have not testeda trolling motor yet, but I am thinking it will do fine since the bote is so light. There are many Arizona mountain lakes that allow no motor or only a trolling motor, so this bote will be great for that.

I posted a few pics, if you're bored and need something to look at it
Basically it is the journey from my house to Apache Lake, Arizona.
The first few pic show the bote loaded on the wife's LX. I bought a Thule "Glide and Set" unit which works good for allowing my to "slide" the long bote onto top of the LX, and it also servers as good side bolsters to secure against.

The second pic is just a shot of fish creek hill. It's not a 4wd road, but very awesome views and a fun drive up or down the drop. If you look close see can get a sense of scale seeing the car at the bottom on the road.

The third pic is at the lake starting the unload process. I can report that the current setup does not allows me to slide off the bote as easy as I can slide on. Also, I think I am going to need a system that allows a "roller" affect near the end point of the rear of the LX, at the top where the rear hatch connects to the body. This will allow a "roll" on and a roll off" affect for better loading and unloading...but that is something I am going to worry about after a rack goes on the LX.

more pics to follow...

 

[lcgeek]

more pics, bote you can tote

These three pics show unfold process continuing and starting to put the seats in (which provide the structural integrity for the bote, so I hope I get it right

 

[lcgeek]

Ok, setup almost done..two more seats, and slide the transom in, and secure with 4 bolts. Done, and off to the lake! There she sits!

 

[lcgeek]

Just a couple more. One more on the water, and one as I finished disassembly and folded, ready to head home. As you can see it was dark by then

Ok, so with myself, wife, and two kids, and gear - I'd say we had about 550 lbs loaded. The bote is responsive, considering it is powered by aonly a 6hp outboard. It felt very stable at all times, and overall I am very pleased. I need to figure out how to handle things like storage of items, etc, since there obviously is not anything built into the bote that allows you to "put things away".

Last but not least, no fish
JT

 

[brownbear]

Ah 4 stokes are sweet running outboards. But they are heavy to handle.

I have a 7.5 evinrude you can easily tote around with one arm. My 30 evinrude is also easy for one guy to lift.

If your using that red trailer with your boat make sure it is herc strapped over top of it pretty snug. Trailers can be pretty damaging to light duty boats. If you hit bumps they slam down pretty hard. Even my heavy walled aluminum boat would get dents from the trailer runners.

Awesome looking boats guys! Cheers...

 

[lowenbrau]

I need to figure out how to handle things like storage of items, etc, since there obviously is not anything built into the bote that allows you to "put things away".
JT

The important stuff can be tucked into the foam gunwales. Its like a beer cozy bandolier!

 

[Gold Boy]

porta-bote bow cap

this porta-bote bow cap has worked very well for me, and it was easy to make.

plastic pipe

ss screws, nuts, bolts, washers

1/2" plywood laminated to make 1" thick, cut to shape

 

[Blue77FJ40]

What's the bow cap for?

 

[Gold Boy]

it's for the anchor line, and also serves a splash guard.

 

[gthorgaard]

Thanks for the bow cap images

Gold Boy, thanks for posting the bow cap images. I am going to try and build one myself, possibly including attaching an "anchor outrigger" as are commonly used with canoes. I want to use the portabote for floating on mild rivers.

 

[cabron]

That is one rad invention, keep us updated on the long term hold up.