Frequently Asked Questions


What Are The Advantages of a PortaBote?


  • Sets Up Fast! truly portable…..no inflating…..no trailers…..no punctures….. just add water, and go!
  • Incredibly Tough! miracle polypropylene…..developed by space scientists….used to make “lifetime” batteries, car bumpers and even bullet-proof vests…. the more you flex the hinge, the stronger it gets!….steel, aluminium, neoprene, everything else eventually fatigues and breaks
  • Time Proven! been in production for 35 years.......there are now well over 100,000 satisfied owners world wide, many with PortaBotes that are more than 30 years old and still going strong
  • Internationally Tested! meets all US Coast Guard standards for level flotation and stability…..all models have been compliance tested as well as being NMMA and European Union (CE) approved
  • Virtually Maintenance Free! your PortaBote will never need painting………remains unaffected by sunlight or salt water
  • Ten Year Warrantee! engineered copolymer resin hull material is warranted by the manufacturer for a full 10 years.

Why Shouldn’t I Get an Aluminium or Fibreglass Boat?


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They’re ”backbreakingly heavy”. Similar sized ‘lightweight’ boats can weigh well over twice as much as a PortaBote! You will have to ”buy an expensive trailer”. They are “loud”! (Going out in an aluminium boat can be like “sitting in a tin can”! All sounds are amplified 10 times or more – a great way to get a headache, AND drive away the fish!) And when you get home, “where do you store it”?


Do PortaBotes Really Make Inflatables Obsolete?


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Over 50% of the people who buy PortaBotes world-wide are “disenchanted inflatable owners”.
Inflatables can be “easily punctured”. Even the more expensive brands come with patch kits (which don’t help much when you’re in the middle of the water!). If you’ve ever owned an inflatable, you can probably remember pumping it up at the water’s edge only to find it has yet “another leak”! An inflatable also needs a “compressor to inflate it” – unless you want to waste an hour, or so, using a “foot pump”. And the inflated skirt can take up as much as “40% of usable space” – so you’ll need a 12’(+) inflatable if you want the same space as you’re going to get in the smallest 8’ PortaBote. A better brand inflatable of that size is going to cost you “more than £2,500”


What are the PortaBote Specifications and Dimensions?

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PortaBote - Alpha 1 Series
8'PB
10'PB
12'PB
14'PB
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Length Overall (Folded)

9'4"
2.85m

10'9"
3.27m

12'8"
3.85m

14'0"
4.28m

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Folded Thickness

4" - 7"
11.4 to 17.8cm

4" - 7"
11.4 to 17.8cm

4" - 7"
11.4 to 17.8cm

4" - 7"
11.4 to 17.8cm

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Folded Width

24"
0.61m

24"
0.61m

24"
0.61m

24"
0.61m

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Beam
(Width when open)

56"
1.42m

60"
1.52m

60"
1.52m

60"
1.52m

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Draft on Water

4"
11.4cm

4"
11.4cm

4"
11.4cm

4"
11.4cm

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Internal Depth

22"
0.56m

24"
0.61m

24"
0.61m

24"
0.61m

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Hull Weight
(Less seats)

68lbs
30.9kgs

78lbs
35.4kgs

87lbs
39.5kgs

108lbs
49kgs

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No of Seats/Thwarts

2

3

3

4

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Rated Capacity
(Persons, motor and gear)

445lbs
202kgs

585lbs
265kgs

670lbs
304kgs

807lbs
366kgs

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Maximum Engine Outboard Weight

35lbs
15.8kgs

56lbs
25.5kgs

56lbs
25.5kgs

83lbs
37.6kgs

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Shaft Length
(Short shaft)

15"
0.38m

15"
0.38m

15"
0.38m

15"
0.38m

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Electric Outboard Maximum Size

Any size

Any size

Any size

Any size

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Electric Outboard Shaft Length

30" - 36"
0.76m - 0.91m

30" - 36"
0.76m - 0.91m

30" - 36"
0.76m - 0.91m

30" - 36"
0.76m - 0.91m


Where Can I Find Out More About PortaBotes?

What Do Other PortaBote Owners Say?

Read what some of our other customers have said about their PortaBotes;
  • “…opens up a new boating experience...makes inflatables obsolete…trying is believing...”
  • “…surprisingly easy to row, extremely manoeuvrable and very stable...”
  • “…all the advantages of an inflatable with none of the disadvantages - no pumping and no punctures...”
  • “…matches the performance of an aluminium boat with far less noise and half the weight...”
  • “…forget the hustle, just enjoy the fun...”
  • “…the boat is truly a joy to fish from…accommodates fly casting without tipping...”
  • ”...assembly is a doddle…rows well and goes great with just a 2hp outboard...”
  • “…I wish I'd had one 12 years ago when I first started fishing here in Scotland...”
  • “…easily carried on our campervan and still takes us all off for a picnic…”
  • “…two professional inshore fishermen who came out with me were amazed at the boat’s stability and seaworthiness...”
  • “...we were astonished at the way it handled around force 3 waves and wind...”
  • “...as soon as he'd tried his new PortaBote, he was on the phone to me, as excited as a Lottery winner…”
  • “...other anglers at the loch stare with envy as I get my PortaBote in the water while they're still struggling at the slipway or trying to find somewhere to park the trailer…”
  • “...reminds me of the wife - very functional and extremely tolerant - I just couldn't bear to be without her (!!)...”
  • “...it's easy to transport, set up and launch. It goes well with 2 adults, 2 children and just a 3.5hp outboard...”
  • “…a very solid boat, a good load carrier, motors exceptionally well, a great family boat...”

Are PortaBotes Good Value for Money?


See how PortaBotes compare with other (similar size) boats on the market.

Aluminium Boats


The cheapest aluminium boat of similar size to the 12’ PortaBote, is 11'6” long and has a 4'10" beam. It retails around £2500 and weighs just over 60kgs - comparatively light for an aluminium construction, but this is mainly because of the very thin (1mm) single sheet aluminium used throughout. It can be lifted on top of a car's (extended?) roof rack, but it will probably take two people to get it there. It will also spread almost across the full width of most cars. For those who don’t wish to try to ‘rooftop’ the boat, there’s an additional cheap lightweight trailer on offer for an extra £1000.

(Total cost £3500 - still more than the 12' and the 14’ PBs!)

GRP and Wooden Boats


Fibreglass and wooden boats of similar size and space to the PortaBote models weigh in at over 100kgs and will need trailers. A new 12’ long x 5’ beam GRP or wooden boat on a trailer costs between £3000 and £5000 depending on make and quality. The trailer, and/or boat and trailer, needs dedicated and suitable storage space when the boat’s not being used.

Inflatables

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Most advertisements describe inflatable boats in terms of ‘size’ and this can be misleading to prospective buyers. Look at the sketches alongside. A smaller 8' inflatable – normally called a '260' because of its 2.6 metre overall length – is not shown, but the layout is similar. Note the limited amount of internal deck space…

(This is because most of the space in an inflatable is taken up by the inflated flotation skirt)

A good quality ‘340’ inflatable costs between £1800 - £2400 and has an internal floor space of approximately 2.3m long x 0.8m wide. It usually comes complete with a hand-pump, foot pump and/or compressor, as well as a good puncture repair kit and several patches. Owners tell us many amusing tales when they talk about their inflatables - punctures, leaks, getting wet, limited capacity, etc. - so it's not surprising this type of craft is readily available on the second hand market!

(Try to find a second hand PortaBote!!)

At 2.8m long and 1.4m wide, the smallest 8’ PortaBote provides more internal usable space than inflatable boats with an overall length of up to 4.2m and costing up to £4000.

Other ‘Portable’ Boats


There are other 'portables' and take-apart boats available on the market. Most of them require some form of inflation to assist and/or sustain buoyancy. The wooden portable boats require routine and regular maintenance, and the internal ‘depth’ in this type of craft is approximately half of that in a PortaBote. As a result, users invariably find themselves almost sitting at the bottom of the boat with their ‘knees under their chins’!! These boats are typically priced between £1500 and £4000 depending on type, size, requirement, accessories, etc.. But no other ‘portable’ boat offers the same amount of internal space, lightness, toughness, durability and portability as a PortaBote for less money.

PortaBotes


A PortaBote has all of its internal space available to the user except for the space taken by the seats/thwarts that are in place to spread the hull. However, as the seats are supported at the sides and the middle by single solid wires, most of the space under the seats is also available to the user.
Here are the four different models of the puncture proof PortaBote
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Summary


If you’re seeking a good quality all-round portable boat, the PortaBote offers you the best value for money when comparing internal dimensions and available space, portability, lightness, flexibility, versatility, toughness, maintenance, durability, warranty, etc.. There’s no other boat that comes with a 10-year hull warranty - not even the multi-million pound luxury yachts and cruisers!.…”

Are PortaBotes Available In The UK?

PortaBotes are now supplied and distributed in the UK by Nestaway Boats in Christchurch.
Their contact details are;
Nestaway Boats Ltd, 5 Avro Business Park, Mosquito Way, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 4FN
Tel: 0800 999 2535
Mobile: 07768 600595
Email: mail@nestawayboats.com
Website: www.nestawayboats.com

Should I Get Insurance for my PortaBote?

We ALWAYS recommend getting boat insurance. IRCM know what PortaBotes are, and they will offer you the most competitive rate on the market - especially if you quote INTRA01 when you get in touch with them. Full contact details for IRCM are;
IRCM – Insurance Risk & Claims Management Ltd
Three Charter Court, Broadlands, Wolverhampton WV10 6TD
Contact: Carl Ralph - Yacht and Boat Underwriter
Phone: 01902 796793
Email: carlralph@kgjgroup.co.uk
Website: http://www.ircm.co.uk/marine_craft.html