The folding Porta-Bote may be one of the best all-around fishing and hunting boats made!
| Length/centerline | 8.6ft. | 10.8ft. | 12.6ft. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folded thickness | 4in. | 4in. | 4in. |
| Beam (width) | 56in. | 60in. | 60in. |
| Draft | 4in. | 4in. | 4in. |
| Depth midship | 22in | 23in. | 24in. |
| Hull weight (less seats/transom) | 47lbs. | 58lbs. | 68lbs. |
| Capacity (person, motor and gear) | 445lbs. | 585lbs. | 670lbs. |
| Number of seats | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Maximum engine weight | 35lbs. | 44lbs. | 54lbs. |
Specifications
- Material: UV buffered copolymer polypropylene, an engineered resin
- Colors available: pacific pearl, aluminum and olive drab
- Hull material limited warranty: 10 years
- Metal fittings: stainless steel, anodized aluminum & solid brass
Features
- Presents the unique Hi performance foldable.
- Exciting new "square back" genesis III series: World class folding boats, folds to 4" flat.
- This Boat complies with U.S. Coast Guard safety standards in effect on the date of certification. NMMA Certified.
- Portability: Porta-Bote passed every test with flying colors. Easily carried to the water by one person, the boat sets up extremely easily. Even when the open water got a little rough in the late afternoon, the Porta-Bote remained extremely stable.
- Stability: Porta-Bote's keel, concave vee section bottom and chines dig in and give her much more directional stability than flat-bottomed inflatable. She's also a great deal more comfortable at speed in a chop than a rigid skiff or an inflatable. She doesn't bounce like an inflatable, and she doesn't pound like a rigid boat. The flexible polypropylene hull absorbs the impact.
- Incredibly buoyant: The material is durable - practically indestructible - and extremely buoyant. We rowed the boat even when full of water and found it more unsinkable than Molly Brown.
- The 12' Porta-Bote may be one of the best all-round fishing and hunting boats made for the mobile sportsman. It's a pleasure to fish from. It's comfortable for sitting in, roomy for moving around and steady enough for stand-up casting.
- Durability: The hull is so resilient that it bounces off rocks like a ball! I found I could easily stand up while casting. Fly casters will find it indispensable for those impossible-to-get-to fishing spots, and it's easily paddle, too.
- Never needs painting: Virtually indestructible.
- Maintenance free!: Porta-Bote is constructed of high impact polypropylene, a remarkably hard, engineered resin originally developed for use in the aerospace filed. This amazing material is resistant to sharp rocks or collisions - impervious to sand, salt, and acid. Nothing affects the molded-in color and finish! Three time-proven hinges - so unique they were awarded a patent. With Porta-Bote you can forget about the upkeep and concentrate on the fun!
- Versatility:
- It turns quicker than any boat I ever tested - and without heeling over. It rows beautifully! It's polypropylene hull crawls over rocks without damage! It "slithers" over chop and wakes without the annoying bouncing of rigid craft.
- Doesn't take up valuable interior space in an RV.
- Idea for seaplane owners. (12' model)
- Plenty of room for friends.
- Great for sailing enthusiasts. (10' model)
- Take up only 4" of valuable deck space! (8' model)
- Also available in "dunk hunter green". (12' model)
- Makes inflatable "obsolete": Unlike inflatable, the Porta-Bote is ready to go in just a few minutes. At the crack of dawn when the trout are leaping out of the clear mountain lake...well, expediency is obviously of the utmost importance. Setup is a matter of unfolding the boat and inserting seats. Assembly is an easy one-person job.
- Provocative details:
- How "reliable" are the Porta-Bote hinges? - They are waterproof and are so unique they have been granted a patent. The hinges can take stress of over 90,000lbs. per square inch. They are actually stronger than the boat, itself! They have been designed so that the higher the pressure on the hinge, the more it "wants" to stay closed. The Porta-Bote hinges have been time-proven for over 25 years by thousands of satisfied customers, worldwide.
- Why is Porta-Bote so much more stable than ordinary, rigid boats? - Flexibility is the secret of Porta-Bote's incredible stability! This is the same reason inflatable are more stable than rigid craft. When a strong wave slams against the side of Porta-Bote's "Flexi-Hull", the polypropylene flexes inwards. This immediately dissipates the energy of the wave & actually disperses its force.
- Why is the Porta-Bote hull constructed with polypropylene? How durable is it? - Polypropylene, an Engineered Resin, was developed by the Aero-space industry. It has remarkable properties. Our formula utilizes an ultra-violet filter as well as an anti-oxidant. This renders the material unaffected by exposure to saltwater. It won't even burn! This material is presently being used in the manufacture of the new "lifetime" batteries, Astro-turf, automobile bumpers; even highway road signs. How long will it last? We have inspected 25 year old Porta-Botes and they looked almost as good as new! That's why we can offer a 10 year limited hull material warranty.
- How puncture resistant is the hull? - Porta-Bote's hull is almost 1/4" thick...as an aluminum hull. And, unlike the thin skin of an inflatable even the sharpest rocks would cause no damage to the almost indestructible polypropylene material. Many are in use off the shores of Florida and the Bahamas where skin divers use them on sharp, coral reefs.
- What about maintenance of the hull and hinges? - Almost no maintenance is required. The color goes thru and thru. You couldn't rub it off even if you tried. If it gets dirty just wash it off with water. Nothing sticks to it, not even dirt. You won't be spending your time cleaning, just having fun!
- Does Porta-Bote meet Coast Guard specifications? - Yes! All three models recently tested at a Coast Guard approved testing facility. The production models exceed the latest compliance standards. NMMA Certified.
- How does it perform with the optional sail kit? - Although it won't keep up with a Hobie Cat, Porta-Bote is actually a very fast sailboat and will outrun most sailing prams and dinghies. The lee board provides even added stability.
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