Thanks for stopping by. Any questions about my setup, feel free to leave a comment or contact me and I'll try to help 👍🎣

I have had my Porta-Bote for almost 12 years. It is older than the one you are showing so some of the bits and pieces are a little different. I love it for many of the reasons you listed in your video. The two large ABS plastic seats failed due to kids jumping on them from the dock. I built two new hollow box seats from plywood and mahogany, filling the hollow part with foam for added floatation. They're a bit heavier but have stood the test of time, about 7~8 years now. I also re-enforced the transom with two mahogany slats running athwartships and thru bolted to the transom piece at the ends. To keep the black split pipe on the gunnels from marring big boat topsides I got a piece of 1 & 1/2" (38mm) inside diameter nylon re-enforced water tubing and cut a split in it full length. This easily fit over the gunnel pipe and is fastened from the inside ONLY to the black gunnel pipe with round head SS sheet metal screws thru the nylon and into the black tube. Did this about two years ago, still working fine. Another problem I had was with the folding plastic transom piece that is stapled into the boat. Due to age and flexing this piece cracked on its centerline about 6"(150mm) up from the bottom of the dingy and for about 4"(100mm) along the bottom joint to the hull on each side of the centerline. Sealing this crack proved to be a very difficult task for a number of years since nothing I tried in the sealing / adhesive range sticks to the plastic from which the boat is made. UNTIL I stumbled upon a solution. Just for kicks I applied a a small patch(50mm X 50mm) of good old fashioned contact cement(NOT the water based stuff) to the surface of the plastic transom piece in an out of the way place and let it thoroughly dry out. Amazing! This contact cement stuck like glue(pun intended) to the plastic. In fact it stuck so well I found it near impossible to remove the test patch. BUT what really make this work to repair the cracks is...wait for it...cotton fiber. This is the stuff that is sold in most any grocery store in the baby goods or cosmetic section. Cotton balls would also work. It tales bit of fiddling but works in much the same way a fiberglass re-enforced plastic like boats. Many do not know but natural cotton fibers are quite strong. And they remain flexible along with the contact cement. I found that applying a base coat of the contact cement first and letting it go tack free is a good way to start. Then tear up the cotton into smallish pieces and stick it into place with more contact cement. Anyone experienced with applying fiberglass mat and resin will get this method pretty fast. BUT the cotton fibers and contact cement do not behave quite the same way as f/g and resin. The cotton will "wet out" just like f/g but the whole thing is quite a sticky mess to get it to go and stay where you want it. Hence "It tales bit of fiddling". I built up a number of layers doing this and made something like cotton rope applied parallel to and inside the cracks and applied more cotton over the top of this. To insure good adhesion I overlapped onto the surface about 50mm beyond the cracks. So far, something over one year now, this repair has held up 100% leak free.

I upgraded from a cheap princess auto buffer/polisher to the dewalt after breaking the handle off. kzfaq.infoUgkxfzbDkCRyv3CFXnLZI4APZtRRuG2uRmP2 The dewalt is beyond rugged! It's super comfortable to use and the "D" handle has many options for holding onto it if you are working in weird positions. The electronic speed control is precise and it has a nice variable speed trigger for slow ramp up.I have upgraded to the 3m quick change setup and been using it for 3 years for reconditioning gel coat on boats. It's hard work for any machine and I've had no issues. If you need a machine that can put in serious work, this is the one you want. If you want to light buffing, on your car, this is not the machine for you. It's easy to control but you can get yourself in trouble very quickly if you don't know what you are doing.

Lovely setup. I was unaware of this type of boat. I use a BIC 254 hard polypropylene boat, paired initially with a Mercury 3.5hp, but later replaced with a trolling motor and LiFEPO4 battery. Weight of boat is 39kg dry. It is ok to get on and off roof rack, but I have a coastal spot where I leave it. I was even able to set it up with a swivel chair on a DIY base. Works well and is comfortable. Am using boat mainly for mackerel, pollock and lately trying for bass, using tips outlined in your excellent bass videos! Thank you!

I have the same set up. Mine is a 10foot paired with a 3.5hp Mercury 4 stroke. I.m very jealous of your 6hp. I looks like your going really fast! I got horse feeding buckets that have brackets on the back of them to hang them on stable doors. They fit lovely onto the sides of the boat.!!! I use a few of them for gear/lures/food. Helps keep stuff off the floor. 😊👍

Look so much fun...I have watched your video again and again...Thanks for sharing

Some memories with that boat mate, the most handy piece of kit i've ever seen. Just a few days ago, I came across the video when we were sailing it on the ocean :)

Bravo ,I luv Porta Bote . Strong and reliable, thxs for the demo😎👍

That's a workout Marcin having to do it twice great video keep them coming.👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌

Great video, I'm off to buy one as a result, many thanks, and happy sailing! :)

I had one of these for a few years. It is kind of neat. Quite stable to stand in when casting, though it felt a little like standing on a trampoline without the bounciness. I could fold it up and lay it along the top of some cabinets in the garage for storage and then put the seats on another shelf. That was convenient. However, when actually transporting it folded up on the roof of the vehicle, the seats took up a huge amount of room in the back of the SUV which limited the other gear I could carry. I think if I were to get a small boat again I’d get something light and simple that was not foldable, but which I could put on the roof and leave the back of the vehicle available for other equipment.

Brilliant video Marcin. Deadly boat 👏🏼

Nice work! Thank you for the information on the Porta Bote.

Just purchased my 10ft Porta-Bote today due to your video.

Superb video Marcin perfect, now I want one lol!

You must have heard this before Marcin - but I love how much of a mix your English speaking voice is between Irish and your native tongue 👍🏻

I also have a porta in 12 feet in a newer version . But what an ingenious a fishing area you have ... that makes really envious ...

Brilliant video. Brilliant boat. Thank you. 👍

Hi. Came across your brilliant channel looking for videos on the Bote. Got a 12 footer running on a 10 hp, 2 stroke and use it in African waters. Its a bit risky here with the crocs and hippos but such a fun and convenient boat to have to get to waters larger boats can't reach. Hoping to get a 14 footer

Very helpful Marcin . Thanks

Nice, and very informative. Thanks.

Excellent review Marcin! I have a much older 12' model...it might be one of the original ones. I bought it used from someone so I have no idea of it's original production date. Besides mine having wooden seats, the transom is different, using an aluminum plate for making it rigid. Also there are "stabilizer fins" at the rear underside of the boat that fold with the rest of the boat and lock into tabs with linchpins. I have a 3.4HP Mercury 2 stroke on it and it pushes it along nicely ( a 2 stroke has more thrust than a 4 stroke and they're lighter by about 8-10 lbs, but some places have outlawed them for environmental reasons). I've had mine for about 3 years and use it in small freshwater lakes but am soon planning to move to the Georgia coast and am looking forward to seeing how it works as an inshore craft. I usually keep mine assembled and just slide it into the back of my pickup but I recently downsized and went from an 8' bed to a 5' bed so IDK if that method will work, we'll see. Overall the Portabote is a handy option for those who don't want or can't have a bigger boat or trailer one, and who want more room than a kayak or canoe. They're not for everyone, but for the right person they're great. BTW: For some great videos using the Portabote in the ocean check out the #OffTheHook channel.

Very helpfull video, thanks for sharing. Looking at buying one from Germany soon.

Excellent video . I love my bote

Czesc ! I have the same 12 foot porte bote in green color with 6hp yamaha. Cheers from NYC !

I bought the Porta bote 12 ft in late 2019. I haven't even used it once yet, still in the box sitting in my garage but this year the maiden voyage will happen as long as I live long enough it will happen this year. I am going to use oars to maneuver the boat instead of the 6hp Suzuki motor that I purchased for the boat, this way I will have Popeye arms in a matter of no time & I don't have to mess with registering the boat if you only use oars in my area!

Shocked missing a seat it does not flex too much. Thank u for sharing

"And some nice pike caught in Ireland." Pity you didn't show more of that german shepherd with fins you caught at 35:11. Nice work. Thanks for sharing.

It looks great..just what i allways needed..where they built..+how much do they cost..the 12ft one..

Great review Marcin, im exhausted just watching you do that though, i think ill stick to the shore for now 😃🎣👍

Great video mate! keep them coming with more Porta bote vids! 👍 What do you think about the 10 foot vs the 12 foot?

Thanks for this great video. I was led to it searching for information about Portabote. The info you have given in your video is what I was looking. Where can I purchase one? I know you are in Ireland but where in England can I buy it. Perhaps it could be cheaper buying it from Ireland? I read somewhere that it could be used as a sailing boat. That would add a lot to the fun. Lastly, I would just like to say that your video has greatly encouraged me to take up fishing!

I must have one of these.

Thank you for you very detailed video, it was very helpful. I have 1 question: was the rod holder an available option or was it homemade?

Thank You for the awesome video. I just bought new 12 ft porta bote and getting set-up for serious fishing when spring arrives. Thanks for all the ideas on set-up. I'm currently looking at fish finder / sonar equipment - comparing Lowrance Hook, Garmin. Any thoughts appreciated. Also - love the Ikea bag - a go to on my outdoor adventures as well!

Nice! I attached my rodholder by screwing it in place on the side near the stern. I had to cut of some foam, but it sits in place and dont affect tge folding off the boat. Now i have one less gear to take along

Great video I was thinking at getting a bark inflatable boat soon good to look at other ideas and was looking for a good engine as well but notting to pricey,thanks for this 🙂👍

Nice boat. What batterie box you useing that u have the garmin mounted to. And transducer bracket. Looking at getting a portable one for our small rib.

Great video I just bought a used 112 footer like yours. Quick question I know your motor is 6 horsepower what is the recommended size for that type of boat? I'm looking at 20 in and 16in but not sure

I had a porta-bote. Bought it brand new. Within a year, the transom started leaking. I couldn't fix it so I gave it to my brother. He managed to fix the transom, but then in broke again. He fixed it again. Then the main seam failed and it was garbage. I never got to use it more than about a half dozen times. Very expensive for the few uses I got out of it. I would never buy another one. For the same money, you can get an old town fishing kayak with pedal drive, and the hull has a lifetime guarantee.

Love it, I just purchased one. May I ask where you got your anchor mount?

Good info on the video Well done 👍👍 A 5hp outboard is all I need for my dinghy, to cover more water. The way you have it in the boot.. does it leaks any oil or petrol??

Nice vid! What fishfinder setup do you have if you don't mind linking the url?

Very nice video, Thanks for sharing! I have 10" Porta boat which I got last year. I am looking to do some modifications this year. I wanted to ask, if you do not mind, where did you get this sliding rod holders? Or did you improvise it and attach a piece of plastic so that rod holder can slide over the transom?

I wonder where most of those 1.89 thousand subscribers went. Great video ( :

Hi Marcin Excellent video Great setup Where did you buy the boat and engine any advise would be great!

Also forgot to add, you answered my question about the use of a fish finder, which I will definitely add. In your opinion, in some lakes I fish in the USA, you can only use electric/trolling motors, no gasoline powered allowed. Do you think a trolling motor could work? THANKS again.

do they still manufacture porta botes, i cant seem to find any prices for them

Hey Marcin, How are you ? Could you please let me know where you got your tranduscer attachement mount to the pole ? I got the pole but I cannot attached if properly without this accessory.

Hi Marcin, how did you find your Nordrive roof bars, do they not make to much aerodynamic noise without boat on? Just looking for upgrade for my VW estate and yours look good. Thank you, Adrian

Nice. I never tried without a middle seat. Neat anchor setup for the bow. Looked at new video from porta bote and looks like they added a support brace for the transom. Wonder if it makes much of a difference with the gas motor.

There is a detachable wheel set for moving the boat and launching it. There are videos of this

Would 3 adults fit comfortably in the 12’?

Nice video. Any advantage getting the 14 foot one over the 12 or vice versa?

The engine with L or S size? Which one is correct?

Could you please let me know what ratchet strap you used for the roof rack top?

Siema Marcin super łódeczka właśnie szukałem wiadomości o tej łódce a tu kolega również z Irlandii powiedz mi jak stabilna jest na falach byłeś kiedyś Na większym jeziorze ja z Galway to bym i czasem chciał przy brzegu na ocean skoczyć, dzieki pozdrawiam kolego

hey buddy i hope your well, where can i order one and get it delivered to ireland?

Do I need registration for the boat or not?

Hello and thanks for sharing. In regards the anchor did you buy it from the manufacturer or is it something that you customized. Thank you.

Hi Marcin I am interested in buying a 14ft porta bote. Can you recommend a good site to buy from. We are living in Ireland Thanks

What is the total pounds it holds including 2 people and the gear

Have you ever used a fishing kayak before?

What kind of transducer mount is that?

What is the maximum weight it can hold?

Where did you get that anchor?

Is that the 10 ft or 12 ft model

I like this video because you show assembly and disassemble off and on top of car you carry more junk than I do what about a lake that only has a ramp one way in and one way out

Hello, what is the name of the boat and where can I buy one like it, or tell me the website. Greetings from Romania.

What did you guys spend on the 10' and 12'? Be honest please. Thank you.

Hi Marcin, great video, how much did it cost you ?

This is the first vid of yours I’ve watched but I’m gonna guess based purely on your accent that your a polish land living in Ireland? Edit: or Latvian/Lithuanian

How to buy this bot?

You must have adjusted the seat legs to ensure proper support - outside legs at 45 degrees to the boat side of hull - this is hours of time and sweat.

Customer beware hidden costs of ownership. Customer support if you need it reaches the scam zone. You need a small part replaced and call customer service? They will NOT sell q replacement piece but only offer to sell an entire placement system. For example I only needed an oarlock. They refused to do that and only offered the entire oarlock and paddle package. If you lose or break a piece be prepared to spend a lot more than you need to for pieces you won't need just to get the part.

you still using this boat?

Thousands of dollars.

this port bòot is too complicated

Way too many commercials. Stop watching after 2 minutes