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PORTA-BOTE ULTRA-TOUGH, FOLD FLAT BOATS FROM USA
8ft, 10ft, 12ft & 14ft models, Available in 3 Colours
See/Try Before You Buy in Christchurch, Dorset


There are four different models of Portabote, from 8-14 feet. Much like Nestaway boats, improved portability and storage is their major feature; these fold flat into a surfboard-like package that's just four inches thick. Made in America, from virtually indestructible copolymer plastic, they are lightweight to handle and efficient under power, and have now been in production for 30 years with over 90,000 afloat.  
The new for 2013 Alpha 1 Series Portabotes - in stock now - have an integral folding transom, instead of the removable bolt-in type on previous models.

This makes the new boats quicker to put together, and reduces the amount of stuff you need to carry around separately from the hull.		 

Portabotes fold flat, so they can be carried on the roof of almost any car - there's no need for a trailer. And no time spent trying to find an extra space to park your trailer, nor extra parking fees.

The fact that you don't have to launch from a trailer also frees you to visit waterways that don't have a slipway - you can slide the boat in over the river bank, and explore or fish where other boats can't.
Portabotes are REALLY TOUGH. 

You can do stuff to them that you couldn't to any other boat, folding or otherwise... Like drag it over rocks; or drop it from a great height full of concrete (the Japanese Coastguard did); or even take it up Everest as a tool for crossing melted glacier water (the RAF did). 		 
 Their portability, stability, and the fact that they are almost impossible to puncture with hooks etc, makes them very popular with anglers.

Some swear by the green boats for fishing, but others champion the white ones... we think it probably depends on the type of fish, and whether they're biting that day! 
Folded up at home you can hang them up - completely out of the way - on the wall of your shed or garage. Compared with a non-folding 14x5ft boat for example, the space saving is huge.

Now you can store your boat indoors, without losing all your storage space... 		 

And Portabotes are also increasingly popular for use as yacht tenders. The folded package can be strapped to your cabin roof or guardrails/ lifelines - we would put them inside, rather than outside as shown in this photo. 

Compared with an inflatable they will take much more abuse - without worries about punctures - and because the hulls are easily driven you won't need such a large outboard motor, so there is a saving in money and weight there too. 
 
The flexible sides and bottom might seem "wrong" at first, but in fact they are one of Portabote's best features, because when you hit a wave, or move about in the boat, much of the energy is absorbed by the plastic flexing, rather than tipping. Similarly if you hit something more solid the energy tends to be absorbed into the Porta-Bote's hull material, rather than cracking/denting (rigid hulls), or puncturing (inflatables). 

Porta-Botes will plane more easily than almost any other craft on the market. During a soon-to-be published (we think June 2013 edition) Yachting Monthly Magazine "tender test", using a 2.5hp outboard motor - and with the same driver each time - the Portabote 8 achieved 11mph, whilst the fastest inflatable dinghy achieved 8mph. 

Similarly, a SAILING TODAY review of the Porta-Bote 10 (July 2012) said:"I've taken the Porta-bote out on my own and got it to plane {with 3hp}, something I never achieved with our old {inflatable} dinghies... We can leave it anywhere, and its indestructability has been a blessing against the harsh concrete and rocks in India. Any liveaboard will know that trying to mend punctures is a challenge, especially in places where spares are not available... major headache removed with Porta-bote"  

Another advantage of a Portabote compared to an inflatable "of the same size" is that it has a lot more internal space. That's because nearly half the footprint of an inflatable is its tubes... and with a Portabote you definitely sit inside it, rather than on it - so you feel more comfortable and stay drier.

PORTA-BOTE SPECIFICATIONS
There are four sizes of Portabote. The variable characteristics are listed below but the common features are: 
- All except the PB8 model are 60" wide when assembled (PB8 is 56")
- All models are approx 4" (11.4cm) thick when folded (the new Alpha One series are a little thicker at the transom end)
- All sizes have a folded width of 24" (0.61m)
- All models take a short/standard shaft outboard motor, but if you already own a long shaft motor that is not "on the limit" (for weight or power) it will probably be OK 

 

Characteristic / Model Name PB 8 PB 10 PB 12 PB 14 
Length (folded) 9ft 4"
2.85m 		10ft 9"
3.27m 		12ft 8"
3.85m 		14ft 0"
4.28m 
Hull weight (ex seats/transom) 54-lb
24.5kg 		67-lb
30.5kg 		77-lb
35kg 		97-lb
44kg 
Capacity (people, motor, gear) 445-lb
202kg		585-lb
265kg		670-lb
304kg		807-lb
366kg 
No of thwarts (seats) 2 3 3 4 

NOTE ON ASSEMBLED SIZES... the "PB8" is more like 9ft long; the PB10 is actually 10ft 6"; whilst the PB12 and PB14 are approximately the length you'd expect. We've decided to stick with the manufacturer's official names, as if we start selling them under different descriptions to everyone else it will be even more confusing!

Yacht owners tend to specify the 8 or 10 models as tenders, depending mainly on what length they can store on deck. Anglers typically choose between the 10 and 12 - the 10 is easier to launch/assemble/carry on your own, but the 12 has quite a bit more space when you're afloat and is just about perfect if there're two of you. The 14 is B-I-G, a bit of a handful on your own, but easy for two or more.

PORTABOTE PRICING
Porta-Bote recently launched the new "Alpha 1 series", which looks much the same as earlier models but incorporates several improvements including a patented integrated folding transom and various other tweaks to the hull design. 

The Alpha 1 boats make up the majority of our UK stock but we still have a few of the previous "Genesis V" models on offer at very attractive prices - these are brand new, still in original packaging.

ALPHA ONE SERIES Porta-Botes:
Porta-Bote 8, £1,814
Porta-Bote 10, £2,030
Porta-Bote 12, £2,312
Porta-Bote 14, £2,670 

We usually have in stock a "full set" (ie all colours) of the 8, 10 & 12 models - for immediate collection if required - and can get the 14s fairly quickly. We offer no obligation, on-water, demonstrations of Porta-botes, usually in Christchurch harbour (East Dorset), with petrol or electric motors.

 

We also stock most of the popular Portabote accessories including:
- Oars/rowlocks. Custom made, to fit the rowlock sockets supplied on all Portabotes; oars are two-piece (for storage in boat) and float. £101
- Land transport wheels (pictured right) The official name is "Porta-Dolly". These clip on over the black tubing rails at the top and bottom of the hull, one each side, and the position is infinitely adjustable so that you can achieve a perfect weight balance with or without a motor on the back, and to compensate for any other gear inside the boat. £236		 
 These optional folding seats (not an official Portabote thing) will add greatly to your comfort on longer trips, fishing at anchor etc. They are supplied with custom-adapted, clamp-on swivel brackets, so you can position them anywhere in the boat, at almost any angle. Price is £110 each or £200 for two.
We also offer a simpler, non-upholstered, version at £80 each.		 
If buying an outboard motor at the same time as your Porta-bote we can offer prices as follows (other makes/models on request):
- Suzuki 2.5hp petrol (suitable for all Portaboats) £549. At 13kg this is the lightest water-cooled (relatively quiet) four-stroke 2.5hp petrol outboard on the market, with a proper F-N gearbox. Five Year Warranty.
- Tohatsu 3.5hp petrol (suitable for PB-10 and up) £599. At approx 17kg this offers a bit more power than the Suzuki whilst retaining good portability. Mechanically identical to Mercury/ Mariner (Tohatsu make all three). 5 year warranty.
- Tohatsu 6hp petrol (PB-12 and up) £995. Separate fuel tank, 25kg.
- Suzuki 6hp petrol (PB-12 and up) £1010. Integral fuel tank with connector for external tank. 25kg.
- Tohatsu 9.8hp petrol (PB-14) £1695. Separate fuel tank, 37kg.  		 
 We also offer the Torqeedo 1003S electric (suitable for all Portabotes) at £1,294.

These weigh 13kg including their integral but removable battery (about 5kg of the 13). Advanced German engineering, not comparable with "trolling motors" - this is genuine electric propulsion. It also has a GPS with LCD panel indicating battery status, speed and range; is waterproof, and quiet.

Our price includes a unique-to-us (we make it) 12 volt charging lead, as well as the mains charger.

We actually now sell more of these than we do small petrol motors, so it is definitely worth considering, if the range is sufficient - call us to discuss.
Contact Details:
- email nestawayboats@yahoo.com
- landline 01202 423094 (often on answerphone, please leave message)
- mobile (Ian) 07768 600595