Motor for Porta Bote--Advice Needed

[Jack]

I've just purchased a Porta Bote (folding boat), 12" (almost 4 meter) long,
for 4 people and I'm about to purchase a motor. There are basically three
models I'm considering buying: Mercury Mariner 3.3, Mercury 5.0 and Johnson
5 HP. I know that those 3.3 and 3.5 HP motors weight about 12-13 kg. (under
30 lb.) whereas the 5HP motor weights 20 kg. (44 lb.). I really hate
carrying too much weight and would love to have a light motor, but of
course, I would also like to have a motor ample to power my boat. I don't
really do too much trolling and I'm not interested in going really fast, but
still, I wonder if a 3.5 HP motor is sufficient for such a boat, especially
when two or even three people and gear are inside... is there a very
noticeable difference between those two motors? Anyway, I would really love
to hear any advice and comments from you. THANKS!!!

Jack

[noah]

"Jack" <torw...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:R86ua.7909$Nu....@news.primus.ca...

Jack- I have never operated a porta-boat, but there has been a noticeable
difference between 3hp and 5hp on any small boat I have owned, especially
when "loaded" (the boat, not me :o). Be careful not to exceed the
manufacturer's hp and load ratings.

Good luck,
noah

[dale_peterson]

"noah" <REMOVE_rec...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:umXua.64639$4P1.5...@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net...

Jack,
Seems like I remember seeing 8 hp advertised as the max for the transom
model. My brother in-law has one and I ustta have one. If the 4 people are
small they may fit, but My brother in-law and niece seemed like an overload
to me. I think with 4 you'd have one bailing. Not to worry though they
float full of water.
Dale

[Ronald A. Widman]

I own the 12' Porta-Bote with 5hp Nissan 4 stroke. This is the largest
engine recommended for the boat. It will plane and go 14mph (GPS) with one
person (160lb) aboard but it can act squirrelly at this speed if you cross a
wake or wave. It's kind of strange to watch the shape of the bottom
(remember it's flexible) change as you hit plane. Performance really
suffers as you add weight (I'm not going to post my wife's weight here but
she does weigh more than I do). On a boat this small, passengers shifting
around in the boat have a significant effect on handling. Every time my
wife shifted her weight I would have to correct the steering. An adult and
two children would be much better. Never any thought of swamping.

We've since gone to a larger boat and the Porta-Bote and engine are
available for sale.

Ron

<BinaryBillTheSailor@Sea++.com> wrote in message
news:6fjpbv87tpoi2q9u3...@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 9 May 2003 18:53:02 -0700, "dale_peterson"
<dale_p...@charter.net>

> From your remarks, I tend to doubt you have ever used a porta-bote. A 12
foot
> porta-bote will carry 4 people EASILY. Porta-boats also have a relatively
high
> freeboard. There would be no need for bailing. They plane with very lttle
power.
> With one person aboard, the 12 footer will plane with 3 horsepower.
>
> BB