Hi Boaties, wanting recommendations on which tinnie to choose Sea jay 3.5h/s or quintrex F350 outback. Thanks
Peter_n_Margaret said
09:05 AM Aug 30, 2025
Check the legal limit of the pack rack and loaded weight of the tug first.
The chances of being legal AND safe are pretty low.
Cheers,
Peter
Ineedabiggerboat said
01:38 PM Aug 30, 2025
Have a look a Porta-bote. Folds up, goes on the roof rack.
Hendo said
10:47 AM Sep 8, 2025
Hi Justpokinlong
I have a Quintrex Wanderer 320 with a 4.5 Yami motor. Both units a light and easy to load and unload and comfortable for two. Great for the rivers and dams, bit on the small side for Crock rivers.
A Rhino side loader fitted onto the canopy of the DMax and a Folda Trailer carried in the canopy, hook up the van and away I go.
Silkwood said
01:10 PM Sep 13, 2025
If you are towing a van and want a rooftop tinnie, chances of you being within legal weight are very slim. As Peter says, well worth checking (with actual weighing, not just approximation). Last year Qld Police reported over 90% of vehicles they tested (in voluntary weigh stations) towing with a rooftop tinnie were overweight. A recent YouTube video by a mobile weighing company said 100% of the vehicles they checked were overweight!
Yikes!
cheers,
Mark
shakey55 said
12:22 PM Sep 15, 2025
Im a boatie, have owned several larger ones. I would love to be able to take a boat with me, but wouldnt be legal. I shake my head at some of the setups I see on my travels.
Anyhow, a couple of years ago down around the Ayer peninsula, I saw several of those port-a-boats and I was more than impressed.
Obviously depends on what usage you have in mind, but in my opinion well worth a look.
I went a different direction and purchased a double kayak, for its size and use 90% of the time on my own. Have used it in lakes, dams, rivers and oceans..
Peter_n_Margaret said
02:45 PM Sep 15, 2025
Want to take a boat on your travels? Get an appropriate motorhome. We took these to the Kimberley from Adelaide.
If you intend to go into croc country or areas with strong tides, choose your boat very carefully.
I had a Porta-Bote for quite a few years, took it many places (Kimberley, Tasmania, Cape York, etc.). I did use it in some waters where crocs were present, but not in places like Corroboree Billabong, where crocs have been known to harrass smaller boats. It was an excellent addition to our travels, though the low freeboard did limit conditions you could use it in. You still had a bit of gear to carry- seats and transom, engine, safety and fishing gear, but it was a very feasible option weightwise.
As for towing a boat with a motorhome, we did that around NZ South Island and I personally found it to be a PITA... Having to drag the van out every time we wanted to launch the boat. Each to their own, of course. There's no best option, just your best.
We found (for us) an excellent option towing our 6m boat around, mostly, WA last year, using our lift off canopy to set up camp while we could still allowing us to launch the boat.
I'd love to take a tinny and decent outboard, but the compromises (Much larger vehicle, which I dislike for touring, greater cost etc) put me off.
The chances of being legal AND safe are pretty low.
Cheers,
Peter
I have a Quintrex Wanderer 320 with a 4.5 Yami motor. Both units a light and easy to load and unload and comfortable for two. Great for the rivers and dams, bit on the small side for Crock rivers.
A Rhino side loader fitted onto the canopy of the DMax and a Folda Trailer carried in the canopy, hook up the van and away I go.
Yikes!
cheers,
Mark
Anyhow, a couple of years ago down around the Ayer peninsula, I saw several of those port-a-boats and I was more than impressed.
Obviously depends on what usage you have in mind, but in my opinion well worth a look.
I went a different direction and purchased a double kayak, for its size and use 90% of the time on my own. Have used it in lakes, dams, rivers and oceans..
Want to take a boat on your travels?
Get an appropriate motorhome.
We took these to the Kimberley from Adelaide.
If you intend to go into croc country or areas with strong tides, choose your boat very carefully.
Cheers,
Peter
As for towing a boat with a motorhome, we did that around NZ South Island and I personally found it to be a PITA... Having to drag the van out every time we wanted to launch the boat. Each to their own, of course. There's no best option, just your best.
We found (for us) an excellent option towing our 6m boat around, mostly, WA last year, using our lift off canopy to set up camp while we could still allowing us to launch the boat.
I'd love to take a tinny and decent outboard, but the compromises (Much larger vehicle, which I dislike for touring, greater cost etc) put me off.
Cheers,
Mark