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Post by eccles on Jan 12, 2007 0:05:00 GMT
Sean and I own a 14.4 ft "Portabote". Yes I know some of you will think we are crackers but how else can carry a boat on the roof of yer car and use a 6 horse engine which pulls along at 15 knots. There is a website for this remarkable creation so go there and have a good laugh if you want. OK now you have had yer laughs I will fill you in a bit: 1st trip out we caught 8 bass, 2nd Trip we lost count of the number of bream we took (about 18 I think) Yes it really does do 15 to 20 knots with two up, mainly because it has such a shallow draft. Also because of the way it is constructed it does not bang over the waves like the most rigids do, in fact it is very comfortable. It is also unsinkable due to being lined all round with sealed flexible foam and it takes us around 10 minutes to be off once we have taken it off the roof of the van. No, we do not take it out in any more than force 4 - we are not that stupid but then who does? (I once went out in a much larger boat in a force 5 gusting up to 6 and had a very uncomfortable day - never again). Yes we do have GPS, a fish finder and lifejackets, I told you we are not stupid. Of course it is just an inshore boat and I would never take it down to Bullock or the Nab - to dam risky with only one little engine but for wandering about in the harbours and along the beaches it is great and dam cheap to run. Looking forward to the first decent day in April - we will be out there. Feel free to comment, it will not bother me in the slightest.
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Neil
crew member
'Boat that never leave pond never know wonder of ocean'
Posts: 70
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Post by Neil on Jan 12, 2007 9:13:33 GMT
Think this is a link to the site www.porta-bote.com/index.htmlAnything that gets you on the water and home again is worth having, and just ignore any silly comments....they're just jealous. However, i really wouldnt use this in a Force 4 unless you are spitting distance from beach, harbour etc, but just my opinion. Anyway its better than my first boat (see below)  |
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Post by RichardB on Jan 12, 2007 12:35:34 GMT
No laughing or adverse comments from me eccles. I can think of many instances personaly, where just such a light, portable and managable boat would be just the job for exploring the harbours and marks just off the shore.
What sort of cost - if you don't mind me asking ?
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Post by squideyebarnes on Jan 12, 2007 12:54:13 GMT
we dont scoff at peole on this forum we leave that for others sounds a great craft any chances of pics on boat pic's page sounds Intresting.I catch alot of my best fish very close in my 12 foot with 4hp.
Regards Andy
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Post by eccles on Jan 12, 2007 16:36:51 GMT
RichardB: The boat was about £850 if I recall correctly - the UK suppliers are in Hull, wherever that is. We were advised that a good motor for it would be a 6 horse Suzuki 4 stroke. At the time they were going for around 950 sobs then we struck lucky and found a dealer in Pompey who was doing them for £750 special offer. Because of it's shallow draft, the boat starts to plane at about 6 knots and if we wind it up a bit we can get up to close to 15 - 18 knots which is quite fast enough for me. Also that motor is dead quiet and goes forever on 1/2 a gallon of juice. At the time we were seriously thinking of getting a cheap RIB but the idea of accidently putting a hook or knife through the rubber put me off - the boat is made of 1/4 inch thick high density polythene so no probs with hooks or those horrible problems you can get with GRP. Of course it is a fair weather boat only but we would not want to be out in the solent in the weather we are getting at the moment anyway.
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Post by Pete B on Jan 12, 2007 19:16:28 GMT
Nope, not even a chuckle here.
What ever gets you amongst the fish is the point. Some of the most productive fishing I done was from a 9ft dinghy with a 5hp on the back. I bought the dinghy itself from a bloke advertising it in the free-ads for the grand price of £30. Raised the gunnels & myself & Dantastic bought a 5hp johnson that was in bits (again out of the free-ads) put her back together & on the 2nd pull she started. No probs with either boat or engine for the few yrs we had them.
I purposely kept my eye out for a small cheap dinghy for the simple reason I could put her amongst the dozens of other dinghys & tenders on the point (by the Hayling ferry) cost free & not have to worry about any kids jumping all over her.
It was the most convenient boat fishing ever! We would drive down after work, unlock her, drop the engine on the back & off we went.
For us now with a trailable (bigger) boat although it is as easy as we can make it for ourselves it still requires a proper 4x4 to launch it & theres lots to consider, your set up & our old one is ideal!
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Post by topbanana on Jan 12, 2007 19:33:22 GMT
actually mate i aint laughing just looked at website and i might be getting me one can you post some pictures mate
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Post by darenw on Jan 12, 2007 20:06:43 GMT
I've had a couple of small boats and I just painted on a "tender to ........ " sign on the back. Like Pete says no fees  |
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Post by topbanana on Jan 12, 2007 21:05:10 GMT
sorry daren dont understand (free)how?
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Post by RichardB on Jan 12, 2007 21:15:47 GMT
RichardB: The boat was about £850 if I recall correctly - the UK suppliers are in Hull, wherever that is. We were advised that a good motor for it would be a 6 horse Suzuki 4 stroke. At the time they were going for around 950 sobs then we struck lucky and found a dealer in Pompey who was doing them for £750 special offer. Because of it's shallow draft, the boat starts to plane at about 6 knots and if we wind it up a bit we can get up to close to 15 - 18 knots which is quite fast enough for me. Also that motor is dead quiet and goes forever on 1/2 a gallon of juice. At the time we were seriously thinking of getting a cheap RIB but the idea of accidently putting a hook or knife through the rubber put me off - the boat is made of 1/4 inch thick high density polythene so no probs with hooks or those horrible problems you can get with GRP. Of course it is a fair weather boat only but we would not want to be out in the solent in the weather we are getting at the moment anyway. Cheers eccles. Sounds good value for a new set up, for two anglers to share. |
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Post by Pete B on Jan 12, 2007 21:28:45 GMT
I've had a couple of small boats and I just painted on a "tender to ........ " sign on the back. Like Pete says no fees That was what I thought - that you had to be paying for a mooring & it was only tenders that were to be left there but I rang the council or harbour board & they said that that the councils responsibility ended at the road side & the Harbour boards responsibility ended at the HW mark - so that that bit of beach was goverened by no-one, therefore anything left there was at the owners responsibility?? |
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Post by upfalls on Jan 12, 2007 22:17:37 GMT
This is my type of fishing, in my little 10 footer I can scrape in amongst the kelp beds, scrape over the rocks, troll all day for a fiver, in and out in 15 mins, brilliant I would say not daft. I was very tempted by thr Portabote .
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Post by Pete B on Jan 12, 2007 22:25:19 GMT
When Reelbargains (forum member) & myself were at last years boat show we looked at several kayaks, again this is another easy way to fish harbours & close marks. Car topable & light enough for one man to carry a fair distance. You can buy them specifically designed for angling (rodholders'n'all!) you can even strap a small outboard to some!
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Post by Lavy on Jan 12, 2007 22:43:21 GMT
Several people round here use kayaks for bass fishing in the summer , very successfull . They can sneak in close to the fish with no noise.
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