They took a boat where?

[brian.cunningham]

http://www.porta-bote.com/history.html
The British RAF mountain climbing team commissioned by Prince Charles had somthing extra to boast about after conquering Mt. Everest - they also made history by BOATING at 20,000ft. http://www.porta-bote.com/images/evgroup.jpg
http://www.porta-bote.com/images/evwater.jpg

[BrianW]

I saw this on their website too.

I'm very interested in buying a couple of these to use in my chartering business. They would be used by clients and I'd expect them to receive rough treatment. That's why I was looking at these as opposed to inflatables.

Any one have any input on these boats?

[imported_GregW]

I was in one of these things last summer. You'll soon get over the looks, once you see how light, rugged and usable they are. Your regular run of the mill inflatable doesn't come near it. The only thing I would be concerned about, and this is a small concern, is your charteres folding it up and walking away with it. ;)

[PaulC]

My brother in law has one, and they are one tough little boat!

[jakobcornelis]

Is this it?

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

Jake

[BrianW]

Thanks for the input!

My intent was to keep it 'unfolded' for most the year. It was the 'plastic' hull which caught my attention.

I've seen an older one on the back of a local boat, and while faded, the hull looked fine.

I think I may know a good website to help with the wood transom problems. ;)

[Ron Williamson]

I watched a video clip of a guy who lost his balance while trying to install the thwart in one of those boats.
He fell into the boat,on top of the thwart and the silly thing folded him up like a venus flytrap. :D
R

[Chris Stewart]

Originally posted by BrianW:
Any one have any input on these boats?I've had one of the older models (closer to a double ender than the current square transom skiff) for close to 20 years now. Most of that time stored outside in a friend's back yard (plywood seats stored inside). It was still going strong the last time we used it, which was several years ago (a canoe is so much easier for our use - fishing small ponds). In the water they are not really very rigid and take a while to get used to. The seats are attached with cotter pins which we found maddeningly easy to lose. The link in one of the above messages says it will plane with a 4 hp motor. Maybe the new model will (with one very light person). Mine wouldn't with me in it (200 lbs). On balance, they're not bad if you don't have space for a rigid dinghy. I have no experience with an inflatable and can't compare the two.