Bought an as new Porta Bote last Oct from a caravaner who claimed 2hrs use with a DF6 Suzuki (23kg).
Have owned glass dinghies, v floor fibreglass Zodiac and roll up Zodiac in the past with a BF2.3, Yamaha 3, 3.5, 5, 8 two stoke outboards. I have thought the Porta Bote was a step up from all of them in speed to set up and collapse, ease of getting up on the plane, r?sistance to damage, stability and general ease of use.
I have used the Porta Bote every weekend for the last three months, roof rack of car, drive 150km, go to boat, collapse on side deck, use at destination (then do the reverse on Sunday afternoon. So roughly collapse 4 times a weekend roughly 12 weekend so about 48 build and collapse cycles.
Last week the starboard transom fell out of the porta bote. The cause was aluminium rivets have failed in the stainless hinge. Possibly accelerated through galvanic corrosion. The transom stainless centre hinge was also cracked and deformed. I treat the boat like a tool to perform a task, and occasionally do 5Nm passages on the plane with a bar crossing but don't mistreat it.
I'm disappointed in the durability of the product.
Repairs were easy, removing all rivets and replacing with M5, countersunk stainless fasteners, and the alloy hinge with a heavy stainless steel hinge. But the seats are also showing signs of wear.
Any other Porta Bote owners on here? What other defects should I look out for?
Select to expand quoteEastCoastSail said..
Bought an as new Porta Bote last Oct from a caravaner who claimed 2hrs use with a DF6 Suzuki (23kg).
Have owned glass dinghies, v floor fibreglass Zodiac and roll up Zodiac in the past with a BF2.3, Yamaha 3, 3.5, 5, 8 two stoke outboards. I have thought the Porta Bote was a step up from all of them in speed to set up and collapse, ease of getting up on the plane, r?sistance to damage, stability and general ease of use.
I have used the Porta Bote every weekend for the last three months, roof rack of car, drive 150km, go to boat, collapse on side deck, use at destination (then do the reverse on Sunday afternoon. So roughly collapse 4 times a weekend roughly 12 weekend so about 48 build and collapse cycles.
Last week the starboard transom fell out of the porta bote. The cause was aluminium rivets have failed in the stainless hinge. Possibly accelerated through galvanic corrosion. The transom stainless centre hinge was also cracked and deformed. I treat the boat like a tool to perform a task, and occasionally do 5Nm passages on the plane with a bar crossing but don't mistreat it.
I'm disappointed in the durability of the product.
Repairs were easy, removing all rivets and replacing with M5, countersunk stainless fasteners, and the alloy hinge with a heavy stainless steel hinge. But the seats are also showing signs of wear.
Any other Porta Bote owners on here? What other defects should I look out for?
I purchased a second hand alpha series, 2019 I was told, rivets on the engine mount bracket failed. Easy repair just purchased some ss bolts and nuts.
Aside from rivets failing I expect the bouyancy foam to deteriorate in the sun and also the plastic seats to split in the sun. Experienced by the you tube channel free range sailing. They have a good vid on their experience with the portabote.
Yes, Free Range Sailing influenced my decision to buy. After Sailing out of Cairns for several years I agree with their assessment it's a better option than sitting on the sponson of an inflatable with crocs around
