Folding Boat & Suzuki 6 HP Outboard Review

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Most popular comments
for Folding Boat & Suzuki 6 HP Outboard Review

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Amellia Mendel - 5 years ago

Is this safe for rough sea? Trying to find a collapsible dinghy that's faster to put together

John Walters - 5 years ago

@Amellia Mendel Amellia this is out of my area of experience and expertise. I am a member of the "Porta-Bote Fan Club" FaceBook page and we have members on there that can give you a more accurate answer. Here is the link to the FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/69668807531/?ref=group_header Good luck and enjoy your cruise!

Amellia Mendel - 5 years ago

@John Walters thank you. Would you consider it a good dinghy for blue water sailing I'm about a year from being ready but the dinghy I got with the boat has seen better days and I'm looking for something that can be by stored easier

John Walters - 5 years ago

It is a little hard to answer your question because "rough sea" can mean different things to different people. The boat is well made and will handle rough water as well as any 12' boat that I have been in. Its sides are a little higher than other 12' boats which helps reduce spray but in a 40 MPH gust I have asked people to sit on the windward side to keep the wind from catching the surface and blowing the boat over. The floor is flexible so it will give a little so you will not get pounded in rough seas and you can keep up more speed than if you were in a hard hull. I will do anything I can to avoid rough water and bad weather but sometimes you just get caught in it. On one such occasion with this boat I was caught in a thunderstorm on a large lake where I had to make it back to land with 40+ MPH gusts that kicked up a legitimate 2 foot sea and at no time did I feel the boat was going to fail me. These boats also have built in flotation so even if you fill them with water they will float. Many people use these boats on their yachts and sailboats as tenders and they travel around the world. Thank you for watching and I hope I answered your question.

Nube Toob - 5 years ago

What is the cost?
And I noticed you have 666 subscribers. Just an observation.

John Walters - 5 years ago

You would have to contact Porta Bote for the current pricing. It’s been over a year and I really don’t remember what I paid for the boat and I don’t want to steer you wrong. For me, I look at it as being able to go on a boat whenever I want while I’m camping and not have to rent a boat or get a guide. From that standpoint I’ve already paid for the boat many times over. You can also pick up used Porta Bote on craigslist and from the Porta Bote Fan Page on Facebook. Thanks for watching and for your question.

Cindy Womack - 5 years ago

We have your Suzuki 6 hp motor but want to take it to Colorado. Any idea how it will run at a higher elevation?

Cindy Womack - 5 years ago

Thanks for your reply. Now the only problem we have is finding a Suzuki dealer anywhere in our area. Everyone keeps telling us to call Browns Point Marina in New Jersey of all places and we”re in Texas. We called a couple of times and were on hold for over 30 min. Getting very frustrating.

John Walters - 5 years ago

According to the Suzuki 6HP motor owners guide on page 17 you may need to adjust your carburetor and/or change jets in it if you operate the motor above 5000 feet. My suggestion is to call your local Suzuki dealer to get the details of what this adjustment would cost. If your local mechanic is not familiar with high altitude operation I would call a dealer in Colorado. Warning!!!... According to the owner's manual if you operate an outboard motor at low altitude (below 5000 feet) when the engine has been modified for high-altitude operation, the engine could be damaged from overheating so you would need to covert the carburetor back after your trip. Hope you have a great trip!

SNEVIC - 5 years ago

Dear Sir, many thanks for the video. Im thinking in purchase a combination like yours: 12" Porta Bote plus a 6HP outboard Suzuki motor. Greatings from Portugal.

John Walters - 5 years ago

Let me know if you have any questions and thanks for watching. Good luck with your decision.

William Klein - 5 years ago

I had one for 3 years that I just sold last year.(12 ft.) Worked well but I got sick of putting it together each time. I got a 12 ft. Jon boat to replace it. I cartop the Jon boat using a system like this ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsIKMeSC6_4). For me, it works better and faster. Hope you enjoy the boat.

Joe Baker - 5 years ago

Love your review but I have to ask what you did for a rod holder

John Walters - 5 years ago

Hi Joe, I use a Cabela's metal clamp on base and into that I put a Scotty's rod holder. They make plastic clamps but I had one break with a big fish, I have had no problems with the aluminum ones. Here are the links for both items: https://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Aluminum-Clamp-on-Rod-Holder-Mounting-Base/701652.uts?productVariantId=1215598&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=02905840&rid=20&ds_rl=1246549&ds_rl=1246552&ds_rl=1252242&ds_rl=1252079&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoM_58vCn4QIVR16GCh3O7wqcEAQYASABEgKf7_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds and https://www.amazon.com/Scotty-279-BK-Baitcaster-Spinning-without/dp/B004O0DR48/ref=asc_df_B004O0DR48/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312061152211&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17666612011321194548&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9011541&hvtargid=pla-557384830023&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=62138615036&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312061152211&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17666612011321194548&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9011541&hvtargid=pla-557384830023

Let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks for your question and for watching!

Frani298 - 5 years ago

Hi, I loved your video. Were those oars and holders included?

Frani298 - 5 years ago

@John Walters thank you so much for your reply! I ordered my own 12' porta-bote last week because of your wonderful review. The only hard thing was the logistics to get it sent to my country (Peru). And kind of getting my payment approved. I didn't realized you were kind enough to reply immediately, thanks again! I'll let you know how she handles in coastal waters.

John Walters - 5 years ago

When I bought my boat the manufacturer was running a special where they included the oars at no cost. The oars work fine and are made well. Some people who like to oar a lot have added different oar locks that give better performance. For my personal use I like using a kayak paddle. The kayak paddle takes up less space in the boat and in the vehicle during transport and pushes the boat just as fast as oars. Thanks for watching and for your question!

William Collejo - 5 years ago

That boat is durable and stable and safe as for me and my two little boy

S/V Tattoo - 5 years ago

Nice review. I have an older 8'6" Porta-bote that I had to replace the transom on as it was a leaky mess. Otherwise it has been a good little dinghy for my 27' sailboat. The bottom now looks like warm death over cold peas, but has yet to spring a leak. I have taken it places where no inflatable dinghy would dare go, and as a bonus no self respecting thief would ever steal it.

John Walters - 5 years ago

Mines not even a year old and it has collected some of those experience marks...lol.

10. comment for Folding Boat & Suzuki 6 HP Outboard Review

Lou Boersma - 6 years ago

Dear John, I like you video. I have also a 12 foot and i'm living in Holland and i'm fishing in Almere near A'dam.

Lou Boersma - 6 years ago

Dear John, it also good fishing in Amsterdam. You can look on You Tube and try "vissen in Amsterdam"

John Walters - 6 years ago

I was in Amsterdam last year. How is the fishing where you are at? Thanks again for watching!

sv strayfish - 6 years ago

Howdy...what is the weight capacity ?
Thanks in advance

John Walters - 6 years ago

The weight capacity of the 12 foot boat is 670 pounds. The weight capacity of the 14 foot boat is 807 pounds. Thanks for watching!

Peter Ratz - 6 years ago

Awesome review and presentation...thanks for sharing!

NuclearShot - 6 years ago

87lbs! no

John Walters - 6 years ago

I should have been more clear in the video, the hull weighs 87 lbs (no gear or seats) and that is the weight that I am tilting down from the roof of my vehicle. This amount of weight is pretty easy for one person to get off of a vehicle roof because if you are tilting the boat off you are probably dealing with around 45 pounds or less. On the 12 foot model there are three seats that you add when you assemble the boat. The total for the 3 seats is probably around 10 pounds, so the total for boat and seats is under 100 pounds plus any other gear you want to take.

Ed Harned - 6 years ago

Looking to bring a 14 footer like this to Ecuador.

Fishing FinAddict - 6 years ago

Great video! We've seen those used by sailors but never considered it's applications otherwise. Good thinking! Hope it's a fish catchin' machine for ya!

chrisnich - 6 years ago

Good production value and review! I've had my Porta-Bote for close to 20 years and love it. While they've added several improvements (most notably the built-in transom) I won't be parting with mine for a while. I liked your comments about your outboard and will definitely keep that in mind when it's time for an upgrade, which will be soon.

chrisnich - 6 years ago

No, I've never used anything to coat the hull. The seams are what I initially had the most concern about, as those would be the toughest to repair. But they are still as tight as ever. (When I bought it, I think I read that Porta-Bote tested the seams at 20,000 opens and closures. But that wouldn't have accounted for any aging or deterioration over time.)

The two areas which show the most age are the seats and transom. The plastic around where the moving metal joins with the seats has chipped away and I've repaired it with Mighty Putty. And the layers of the transom plywood are beginning to separate. Eventually, I will have to cut a new transom. (This is the old version with the removable transom. They are internal and part of the folding unit now.)

As I mentioned in my earlier posting, my next purchase will probably be a new outboard. The 4HP Johnson I have now is good but not great. I'd like a little more power. Finally, in case you don't know, there is a Porta-Bote Fanclub page on Facebook, which has a lot of good advice about maintanence and repair.

John Walters - 6 years ago

Wow 20 years that is great! Have you put anything on the hull to help preserve it? I put ArmorAll on mine but I want to learn from someone who has had their boat for as long as you have had it. Thanks!