Instaboat V Portabote

I'm a portabote owner, 12' model with a 9 HP Yamaha on the back.

It is tough, made out of some sort of polypropylene and about 5mm thick. They will scratch but wear a lot better than my fibreglass cat did. Once the seats are in the sides are braced up quite well. You would have to work hard to stick a fishing knife through it, a casual stab would not penetrate.

The way it flexes going over chop is a little unusual at first but it is more comfortable than a tinny in the same conditions. It is very stable. Both of us can stand up on one side without tipping it over and it will float full of water.

It planes easily and we were motoring up the Murray last weekend sitting on 22 kph at a quarter throttle. A 7 or 8 HP would be a better size, the 9 HP can overpower the hull a little (then it bends differently and slows down).

It takes us 12 minutes from packed on the car into the water with all safety gear in and the outboard mounted. You can get it in anywhere you have access to edge of the water. It takes longer if someone sees you setting it up as they come over to talk about it.

Cheers

Pete

Thanks Pete for the quick response, I am impressed about the performance, have you any idea on what the "Portabote' retails for. I am still waiting for a response from the Australian dealer in Sydney, thanks again.

Wayne

I too have a Porta Bote and am very happy with it.
There was a thread recently about the use of a portable boat in crocodile infested waters.
I have this theory that a croc could puncture an aluminium dingy before he could hole my Porta Bote. Haven't tested it yet!!!
But seriously they are as tough as nails. You can drag it over the beach including rocks and it wont harm it. Well it may be a bit scratched, but on the bottom of the keel is a length of poly pipe and this is easy to renew.
Go for it.
M.

Don,t know which boat it was that this guy fell out of trying to retrieve a fishing line in the middle of the Roper river but I went to his rescue after grabbing the out of control boat and driving across the river to get him on the other bank.He had the fright of his life after swimming to the bank and I must say I was NOT impressed how the boat handled and would much prefer an ali dinghy in those circumstances.Image Could Not Be FoundImage Could Not Be Found

Hi Wayne & Gaby, i am a porta - bote owner and i have had tinnies to, i find the porta - bote more stable while standing and casting, but i must say i think there is one better than the porta - bote, i believe the insta boat would be more portable because the seats fold up in the hull, while in the porta -bote they do not, the cost of my porta-bote was $3100, i would like to trade it up for the inta boat but think i would loose to much in the trade. cheers uptotenyearsroundoz.