~DJ~
Boise, Idaho
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Joined: 05/10/2005
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firemanchris wrote:I thought you just got a new boat?
I did!!! But it is too big for some of the ponds I'd like to fish. Too much vegetation to fish from the bank!! 
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trxcr
elko nv
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Joined: 11/17/2007
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Check the Boise Craigslist for used Porta botes, I've seen several this summer.
Lord, grant me the senility to not recognize the people I don't like, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference
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jimandsue60
North America
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Joined: 08/09/2004
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"The blowups will sink the first sharp stick it hits underwater or a sharp rock launching it." This statement would be true if using a childs type inflatable . We have the 10 foot model from the Achilles Line of inflatables. We use a 8 hp 2 stroke Yamaha with it. We choose the 2 stroke over the 4 stroke because the 2 stroke can be stored in almost any position without worrying about crankcase oil leaking. This boat has ben in oceans, rivers, gulfs and lakes for the last 5 years and shows very little wear. We have taken it places a Porta Boat wouldn't want to be. We also installed Launching Wheels to get the boat to the water easily.
Edit, Look for a model that has an inflatable keel which will give better performance and a shallow V Hull
Jim
* This post was
edited 08/16/08 10:01am by jimandsue60 *
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covered wagon
USA
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Joined: 05/01/2004
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Ditto what jimandsue60 said. I have had mine in the roughest sea. It saved my life.
It also scoots out so fast it's a blast. launch anywhere as long as it's not too steep or too big of rocks.
I've stood in mine on oyster shells, scraped rocks hard and never a mark.
The inflatable high pressure floor is fast and way easey to set up, but, you need the expensive 12 volt pump, about $200 buckers for the pump
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Shack1030
Spotsylvania V
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Joined: 07/20/2008
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I bought a used Porta Boat from a guy who used it as a tender for his Nordic Tug. It was a little weather beaten; not as easy to set up as Porta Bote would have you believe. There has always been a problem with seats cracking and the seats were cracked in the one I bought. I sold it and got my money back and bought a Mercury Inflatable from Buster's Marine - a 270 Air (inflatable floor). I like it better. A random stick will not puncture it and although heavier than the Porta Bote, it is quite substantial and suits my needs. I am currently looking for a small boat trailer to tote it around during the summer. Then fold it up and store it in the winter. The "high pressure floor" requires 11 psi. The air pump supplied works fine. I just bought a portable air compressor for 50 bucks at Pep Boys for filling the Firestone air bags on the truck. Could use it on the inflatable, but got to be careful. The infaltable tubes only require 3.5-4 psi.
Check out their site http://www.bustersmarine.com/ - you might see something you like. I am sure you know that there is a BIG difference between a quality inflatable (Mercury, Achilles, Zodiac or other like named inflatable) and the inexpensive inflatable boats.
Good luck.
John
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Beddows
Abbotsford, Canada
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Joined: 04/14/2002
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Had a portabote for 4 years. No problems at all, but as someone said they do take soem putting together especially when its cold out and they are not so flexible as when its warm.
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campalaska
Girdwood, Alaska
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just buy a small zodiac on craigslist. and get a cheep aircompressor, if you dont have one and run it off the generator. and get a low hp used motor and a cheep trolling motor. thats what i do.
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billtex
RI
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I'm with the porta-bote crowd. We have the largest (14') and I can tell you it is very durable and seaworthy. I run sport fishing boats out to the tuna grounds and spend lots of time on the water...I am very impressed with this little boat. We have run ours several miles off shore as well as many large and small lakes/ponds. We run an 8hp 2 st, 3 of us plus black lab and it is very cool. You can get this thing into places you would not believe. Much more interior space than a blow up boat. I have had both (zodiac) and they are very different boats. My only suggestion; if you don't need all the space, go with a 12'...much lighter than our 100# 14'er. They all fold up to surf board size. Takes about 1/2 hr to set up.
We got ours off craigslist 2 years ago. .50c on the dollar.
Bill
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retiredgeologist
louisville,ky
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Joined: 11/05/2007
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What you want is a folding kayak. Folbot go to folbot.com is the cheapest and best deal. Feathercraft has single 12 footers that fold up into backpacks. Also the Klepper, Folbot, the French made Nautiraid and
German Pouch and several others have double models that fold into 2 bags.
Can add sail rigs to most. Balogh Sail Designs allows the use of outriggers to most of these models for a high performance sailboat easily transported in a TC. More expensive but far better than these inflatable options.
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jimandsue60
North America
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Joined: 08/09/2004
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retiredgeologist wrote:What you want is a folding kayak. Folbot go to folbot.com is the cheapest and best deal. Feathercraft has single 12 footers that fold up into backpacks. Also the Klepper, Folbot, the French made Nautiraid and
German Pouch and several others have double models that fold into 2 bags.
Can add sail rigs to most. Balogh Sail Designs allows the use of outriggers to most of these models for a high performance sailboat easily transported in a TC. More expensive but far better than these inflatable options.
Can you put an outboard motor on these?
Jim
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