Porta-Bote or Pontoons?

[ICHTHYDEMON]

I'm looking for a boat to take along when I'm hauling my fifth wheel. Something to fish out of when I don't feel like having my wife drag my Seahawk along also. Or for lakes that are too small for a 20' boat.

Basically something portable enough to either get stashed in the fiver,or on a rack below the fiver.

The Porta-Botes look kinda cool,and everyone I've talked too likes them. A couple Pontoons would also be cool,but probably not something my 6 year old can handle yet.

I want this as easy as possible. I don't want to have to build a rack that goes over the cab of the truck.

[fishon_nehalem]

I had a Porta-Bote, carried it on the side of the 5th wheel using the locking rack from Porta-Bote, if that was all there was to the boat it would have been fine, BUT with everything else, 3 seats, transom board, oars, bow cover (brace) and the normal items that are needed, life jackets, anchor, motor, fuel tank and of course fishing gear it gets to be a lot to deal with.

I used a 3.5 hp Nissan motor with forward & reverse, smaller motors don't have reverse, also with just forward they start in gear, due to the low HP there is not really a safety problem, but when you want to back up you have to turn the motor around.

Finally, handling the boat alone is a pain, you can carry the boat alone, but not the rest of the accessories, so there are quite a few trips to do the setup and one person can get the boat open using the stick (prop) provided to hold the boat open, but that too is a pain. Personally, I would save the money and purchase a nice pontoon boat with an electric motor, much cheaper and just as safe.

fishon_nehalem

[Gary B.]

I had a Porta-Bote, carried it on the side of the 5th wheel using the locking rack from Porta-Bote, if that was all there was to the boat it would have been fine, BUT with everything else, 3 seats, transom board, oars, bow cover (brace) and the normal items that are needed, life jackets, anchor, motor, fuel tank and of course fishing gear it gets to be a lot to deal with.

I used a 3.5 hp Nissan motor with forward & reverse, smaller motors don't have reverse, also with just forward they start in gear, due to the low HP there is not really a safety problem, but when you want to back up you have to turn the motor around.

Finally, handling the boat alone is a pain, you can carry the boat alone, but not the rest of the accessories, so there are quite a few trips to do the setup and one person can get the boat open using the stick (prop) provided to hold the boat open, but that too is a pain. Personally, I would save the money and purchase a nice pontoon boat with an electric motor, much cheaper and just as safe.

fishon_nehalem

[Gary B.]

I have a 10 ft. Porta-Bote. Like you it is a great little boat for just the wife & I. We also have a 5th. wheel. I made a wood bracket out of a 2 x 12, about 36 " long or so. I bolt it under the trailer to the frame. I use wing nuts so it is easily removeable. It extends about 12 out the back of the trailer. I stand by boat upright & lash it to the laddar. I had to mount a tail light on it because it covers my trailer tail light. The previous reply was right. They are hard to handle after unfolded but the wheels that Porta-Bote sells work great.

Gary B.