Frequently Asked Questions

1. Doesn’t "everything" eventually break if you bend it enough times? Why doesn’t the Porta-Bote hinges and hull break?
   Excellent question. The answer? Miracle "Polypropylene". The entire hull is made of this stuff! Frankly, without it there could be no folding Porta-Bote.The hinges are absolutely water tight and are so unique they have been granted international patents.

   So, what exactly is this copolymer? It’s an exotic engineered resin originally developed by the U.S. Aero-Space industry. It has incredible properties. The hinges can take stress of over 90,000 pounds per square inch. They have been designed so that the higher the pressure on the hinge the more it "wants" to remain sealed. The Porta-Bote Polypropylene hinges have been modulus tested at a rate of over 500,000 openings and closings without failure.

   Also, our formula utilizes an ultra-violet (UV) filter. This renders the material unaffected even by exposure to saltwater. It won’t even burn! This same formula is presently being used in the manufacture of the new "lifetime" batteries, automobile bumpers, bullet proof vests, Astro-turf, and even non-rusting highway road signs. How long will it last? We have inspected 25+ year old Porta-Botes and they looked almost as good as new!

   That’s right…the hinges and hull material have now both been time-proven for 31 years by almost 60,000 satisfied customers, worldwide! That’s why we can offer our famous 10 year limited hull material warranty.

2. If there are so many Porta-Botes out there (60,000+) why don’t I see them?
   Simple…. They’re INVISIBLE! When Porta-Bote is mounted atop a car, it looks just like a surfboard. When on top of an RV (Caravan) you can’t see it at all! When Porta-Bote is out on the water, it looks just like a "non-folding" boat. The only time you can be sure you’re looking at an honest to goodness Porta-Bote is during the short time it takes to open or close one. Once you own one and know "what it’s all about", it’s easy to identify Porta-Bote. All of a sudden, you notice them "all over the place".
3. How puncture resistant is the hull?
   Porta-Bote’s Polypropylene hull is almost 1/4 inches thick… twice as thick as an aluminum hull. And, Unlike the thin skin of an inflatable (every inflatable comes with a patch kit!) even the sharpest rocks would have a hard time piercing the almost indestructible Polypropylene material.

   Porta-Boat is also used as a rescue craft by many municipalities around the world

   Many Portaboats are in use off the shores of Florida and the Bahamas where skin divers use them on sharp, coral reefs.

   They make "bullet proof" vests, rust proof highway signs and automobile bumpers from this "stuff"! How puncture resistant can you get?

4. What about maintenance of the hull and hinges?
   Almost no maintenance is required. It never needs painting! Why? The color goes thru and thru every molecule. You couldn’t rub it off even if you tried. If it gets dirty just wash it off with mild soap and water. Almost nothing sticks to it. You won’t be spending your time cleaning and "rubbing", just having fun, boating!
5. What kind of row-boat is Porta-Bote? What kind of performance can I expect out of an electric outboard?
   Because the hull is so light (you’re not fighting 300 pounds [136kg] of hull weight), Porta-Bote is a delight to row. The fact that the bow has a "Deep V" Entry-Level Design also gives you an added advantage. You’re not pushing very much water. It’s a lot like "gliding".

   You have the same advantages when you use an electric outboard. Ultra-lightweight hull plus "Deep V" bow. You can actually plane when there is one person aboard using a 50+ pound thrust electric outboard. No kidding. Just another advantage you have over using an INEFFICIENT inflatable or a heavy aluminum or fiberglass boat.

6. Does Porta-Bote meet U.S. Coast Guard and international capacity specifications?
   YES! All four models have been tested at a U.S. Coast Guard approved testing facility. The production models exceed the latest compliance standards. Yes, Porta-Botes are also NMMA and European CE Certified.
7. I have a small private car, will it be able to carry the Porta-Bote or will I need a boat trailer?
   One of the Porta-Bote’s most great advantages is that it can fit on top of any vehicle of any size, not only RV’s and 4WD. Further more, the Porta Bote doesn’t require joining a boat trailer of any kind.