I am the market for a new inflatable after being out of boating for awhile.
I see these high pressure, inflatable floor dinghies. They are lighter than
the RIBs.

What is the general feeling on these dinks, and which brand do you like, if
you like them at all.

--


Bill

"Bill" wrote in
news:%p6pe.20833$rb6.5263@lakeread07:

What is the general feeling on these dinks, and which brand do you
like, if you like them at all.



OK if you always wear foul weather gear or your swimsuit as you're gonna
get WET.

Before you buy any of them, I want you to take a ride in a Fold-A-Bote,
either the 10' or 12' model. Note how 5hp planes it, easily. Note how DRY
all the groceries are when you get to the boat, too! Even in a fairly good
chop, the boat rides dry.

To get it aboard Lionheart, simply hook a mainmast line to the bow of it
and haul it up the mast over the lifelines with a winch. Now suspended on
the line VERTICALLY, ease it to the deck on its stern with the line holding
it vertically. This makes disassembly very easy and painless for stowing
it. Once disassembled, push the sides together to fold it flat, lift it
with the line off the deck, again, and swing the stern of it aft as the
line eases the bow down to the deck. It's only about 4-5 inches wide
folded flat!

It folds really FLAT. If you tie it off to the lifelines up forward, keel
down, it's out of the way, under the top of the lifelines as it's shorter
and it will bend itself to conform to the curve of the lifelines.

No pumping, no leaking, no patching. It has a real transom to put the
motor on. It's also sink proof as the seats are all floatation for it.
Full of water it won't sink.

Great fun zipping around in a PLANING HULL at a strange port.......great
for fishing from, you can cartop it easily as it weighs little, too!

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Foldabote.jpg
http://www.foldabote.net/
or
http://www.porta-bote.com/


http://www.porta-bote.com/versus.html
The company compares them a little slanted...(c;

In article %p6pe.20833$rb6.5263@lakeread07,
"Bill" wrote:

I am the market for a new inflatable after being out of boating for awhile.
I see these high pressure, inflatable floor dinghies. They are lighter than
the RIBs.

What is the general feeling on these dinks, and which brand do you like, if
you like them at all.

Bill, like most things, depends on your use.

I love mine since the are lighter than a rib, more durable for my use (I
have a rock beach and scratches ain't as bad as shattered).

I use them as tenders to go from my beach/dock to my boat or as a
carry-on-board. Unless one has a larger boat, carrying a rib on board is
not as practical as deflating a HP floored inflatable and storing it in
a hold.

I have put an engine on mine and they go fine but that is the only time
I have ever gotten wet in one.

As a rower, I love them in ridiculous seas as they seem much more
stable, ride better, and won't sink than any other dink I have used
(although this would likely apply to a rib too).

And, I happen to like the feel of the HP floor on my feets.

I have had great luck with my Achilles.

harlan

--
To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"?

On Mon, 6 Jun 2005 21:06:34 -0400, "Bill"
wrote:

I am the market for a new inflatable after being out of boating for
awhile.
I see these high pressure, inflatable floor dinghies. They are
lighter than
the RIBs.

What is the general feeling on these dinks, and which brand do you
like, if
you like them at all.

I have a Zodiac from West Marine, and I too haven't gotten wet as the
fold a boat person suggest. I am on my third season with it, and over
all I am pleased with my purchase.

-Lee