Folding Boats

woody · Veteran Member

Folding Boats

petengail · Guru

I have heard some good things said about the "foldaboat", though I think you are limited to a 6hp outboard. Personal preference though is for a 3.5 metre tinnie with a 15hp outboard. They would probably be pretty good in creeks and lakes but I wouldnt want to be a long way from home and caught in a weather change in one. Just my personal 2 bobs worth. My brother did a bit of fishing with a mate in one (on a lake) and he was very impressed.

had a bit of a google around and found this which you may find interesting

http://www.bushtrackerforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=1818&sid=ec9256ea7c54b61471fa402f20c71920

-- Edited by petengail on Friday 2nd of December 2011 05:38:41 PM

Happywanderer · The Master

Saw one at Greens Lake the other week. Was quite intrigued by it. Seemed to go alright. They went over the other side of the lake in it fishing. Once out in the water didn't look any different to a tinnie out there.

woody · Veteran Member

yes thanks very interesting, have had the tinnie on the roof and the 15hp in the back, all gets a bit hard as ya get older. The portabote only weighs 35 Kg and fuel consumption on the tow vehicle is not affected like it is with a tinny on top. They are notcheap at $3000 for a 12 ft plus all the extras,

Vic · Guru

Woody,

I saw someone in a group I was in launch one of those (setting it up etc) and it seemed pretty easy, they were using it on a river and swore by it.

Sometimes you see the odd one for sale second hand (Gumtree?) so you may like to keep you eye out or put a wanted ad in for one.

Last year I saw a bloke with one of those unsinkable canoes and he had an electric motor outboard on it, he was using it on a lake, seemed to scoot along ok not sure how long the battery lasts though, very quiet and no noise.

bill12 · Guru

I have had many a tinnie, and fished all my adult life out of one , and can tell you that a croc looks BIGGER, out of my 3.4 m tinnie. I have , also had canoes, but am always falling out of the things.A foldaboat would be good, but they are expensive, and look a bit fragile. I use my tinnie all the time and it does about 16knots, 2 up,with a 6hp outboard. Its all a compromise, bigger boats are better to fish out of but harder to handle and you have to tow them.Tinnies can be a pain to load, but are handy and tough.Inflatables are good , but, again, a bit fragile.I am sticking to my old tinnie.Bill

villatranquilla · Guru

I have a 10 footer and its perfect for my needs - mostly river or inlet fishing. The big attraction was the storage factor and the ease of travelling with it on the roof. I reakon in a time test with a roof top tinny I'd have mine in the water ready to go quicker - also dont need a trailer or boat ramp to launch - have a 5HP yamaha which is more than adequate and economical to run. I manage it easily on my own.
I was a proffessional fisherman in a past life for 35 years and have owned a variety of small boats so feel I am qualified to comment.
cheers Barry

-- Edited by villatranquilla on Friday 2nd of December 2011 08:28:46 PM

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

do you have to wait for the glue to dry before you launch it? biggrin

Vic · Guru

Here's one link with a review on the Portabote;

http://www.porta-bote.com/freshwaterfish.html

Another link too;

http://www.porta-bote.com.au/

PS: I think there is one for sale on Ebay as well

woody · Veteran Member

All sounds pretty good to me, thanks for the info ,links and comments. The one on ebay went for $3550 last night , but had all the bells and whistles to go with it too. It was a 10 foot, sounds like that size is good enuff 4 me.

Barry how many people do you get comfortably in your 10 footer? I could be looking at 3 now and then. Cheers

Wombat, I think they use superglue wink wink

-- Edited by woody on Saturday 3rd of December 2011 07:17:10 AM

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

woody: part quote: Wombat, I think they use superglue wink wink

that would be super biggrin

villatranquilla · Guru

Hi Woody - mine takes 2 adults (1 large 1 average)comfortably - but for 3 adults I'd suggest the 12 footer - have you checked out the porta bote web site? it gives good specs re boat/motor sizee.

Where abouts on the east coast are you at present?

I got mine off ebay in Perth for $3200 with near new motor included about 3 yrs ago
cheers Barry

-- Edited by villatranquilla on Saturday 3rd of December 2011 12:54:25 PM

-- Edited by villatranquilla on Saturday 3rd of December 2011 12:56:58 PM

woody · Veteran Member

Thanks Barry, am in Ballina at the moment, will be here til end Xmas hols then heading south for a month or three.

I know of one in Bendigo, a 12 footer with a 3HP Komatsu, but it's a bit too far away to go see until we take off, after Xmas, by which time it will prob be sold. This is a sort of relly , asking $2500,all is about 3 yrs old, so the price sounds around the mark?? Has trolley and nose cone,and jackets.

New one from poratabote is $3190 for the hull only, so sounds like you got a good deal!

-- Edited by woody on Saturday 3rd of December 2011 01:50:27 PM

villatranquilla · Guru

thats a good price but I think its underpowered

Joe · Senior Member

I used to have a Porta bote - I think it was the smaller 8 foot version - and I used it with an electric outboard.

It did the job for me until my wife and I tried it out on the Daintree some years ago. We were buzzing up stream looking for a fishy looking spot when a croc surfaced next to us and swam beside us for maybe three or four minutes. It was at least twice the length of the boat. It then sank below the surface and we never saw it again.

My wife said she would never, ever get in that little plastic boat again and I ended up selling it. :(

Are they useful? Yes they are and they are very easy to manoeuvre both in and out of the water. You have to get used to the sight of any waves on the water flexing the side of the boat in and the flexible feel of the bottom of the thing, but it never gave us any concerns.

The croc did though. I think he was just checking us out while we were in his territory, but all the time we were fishing I was thinking that we'd have to go back the same way to get back to the car. A nervous time.

woody · Veteran Member

Peeeeety scary, had a similar experience near Burkrtown once , but that was in a 12ft tinny! so can imagine how you felt, a couple of pple have mentioned to me about using these in croc country, but ya gotta consider the stats, I reckon ( like the No of shark attacks compared to the No of road deaths etc)

sandsmere · Guru

G'dfat woody ,

I've got a Porta Bote . The 12 foot version . 4hp Yamaha motor . No licence needed , no rego .

I can load it on the top of the LC by myself . Takes 7-8 minutes to assemble it , then in the water .

Not made for ocean fishing of course , but great for inland waters or river estuaries .

Holds 3 adults easily and the 4hp sends it along nicely .

They're not just plastic , they're bulletproof . Made of the same stuff the vests that the riot police and security forces around the world wear . They are , literally , bulletproof .

Ma · Guru

Don't think I would like to test the "bulletproofness" in the crocagator area though

woody · Veteran Member

sounds a lot easier than the tinny on the roof. This on is 10ft (not 12ft) and the motor is a 3.5 hp Tomatsu. As you say use it in the right places, there are a lot of dams and rivers in Oz!

Dunco · Senior Member

I wouldn't be using one of those folding boats anywhere there are big lizards in the water !!!