RV Boating
The Portable Motorboat

You can take it with you.

by John Stead, Orangeville, ON email jstead@CarterRV.com I wanted a boat that met the following conditions ... - no trailer (29ft travel trailer in tow already) - motorized - one person could set up and launch - take with us when we travel - carry the family of four and in turn be carried  Part I: The Boat  Canoe ? The first combination I investigated was a square back canoe and an electric trolling motor. Though today's canoes are built light weight, they are still awkward for a single person to carry or hoist up on the roof of the van. Electric motors are light but batteries are heavy. The issue of "tipping" was a concern with boys aged 5 and 8. Aluminum ? The second style I looked at was a "Jon" boat which is a square bow, flat bottom aluminum boat. This turned out to be too heavy to consider. I definitely would need help in moving this anywhere. Inflatable ? Third was an inflatable. This perhaps was the best so far but was discounted due to lack of longevity and poor abrasion resistance (I had one in my teens that eventually rotted). Quick inflation would require CO2 cylinders and refilling. Setup and pack up time would be lengthy and probably limit its use. What else is there ? I did not think there were any other choices for my application until "Harold J. Carter" told me I needed a "dinghy". This new word opened the door to many products used on large sailboats to get to shore and back. Their needs were quite similar to my own. A portable boat, a porta-bote ? During this search, I came across the folding "Porta-bote". A 10 ft model would fold down to 24 inches wide by 4 inches thick. The load capacity is rated at 585 pounds including motor and gear. The hull weight was 54 pounds and when collapsed, was very easy to carry since it was shaped like a surf board. To my surprise, these have been around for 25 years and have a lifetime warranty on the hull. Yes!!, a porta-bote is the one The model ordered was a 10 foot, three seater which could be used with an outboard motor or as a row boat. An optional sail kit is also available which would be great when the boys are older. I contacted the manufacturer in California to find a distributor in my area. They would take my order directly and accepted VISA as payment. Delivery to my home in Ontario, Canada was no problem at all. I ordered some options as well. The "dolly", as seen in the photo below, enables the boat to be assembled at the trailer and walked to the water and back. The fold down "canopy" keeps the sun from toasting the kids and keeps you dry during a shower. The stainless steel "RV mount" consists of two brackets which mount to the RV exterior and include a place for a pad lock.  Part II: The Motor  This part was much easier to decide on. Weight was the primary consideration. I understand that small outboards last a very very long time when looked after. I see some that were made in the 60's that are still in use today. I decided to purchase a new motor so that it would still be of use to my children long after my boating days are over. I decided to make my purchase from the local marina in Fergus, Ontario. If there was any warranty issues, the dealer was close by. I chose the Johnson 4 HP portable that was new but a model year old. This motor weighed only 38 pounds. It has a built in gas tank and can run from the external tank as well.  Questions and Answers  Q: How can I get in touch with "Harold J. Carter"? A: You can email John Stead at jstead@CarterRV.com with any questions. John will summon Harold and present your information.  Related Links  Porta-Bote's Factory Home Page Portable Folding Boats!	Boat mounted on the RV Boat mounted on the RV Boat docked Outboard motor mounted on the RV Outboard motor mounted on the RV
The folding boat
Porta-bote photos

	Web www.CarterRV.com www.RearviewCamera.net www.MobileSafety.net