Row, Row, Row your Bote!

Griff,
There was a thread titled "Inflatable, tinnie, kayak or nothing?" (last reply date 11.15.2002) on the caravanners forum (http://groups.msn.com/Caravanersforum) which may be of some help. Especially as our Angie contributed. :-)
It didn't cover your fold-up one but I got the impression that a tinnie is seen as the minimum requirement for croc insurance.

At one stage I was looking for an inflatable so passed over the portabote. I took a peak at their web site and if you believe their blurb we all NEED one ! As far as crocs go I sat down and had a think about tinnie V croc V portabote. The reason crocs puncture a small tinnie is the sheet is rigid and the wall thickness is about 1.5mm .... imagine rounding off a slag hammer to resemble a croc tooth and whacking a tinnie it would puncture quite easily. Because of the portabote flexibility and hull wall (6mm polypropylene) trying to puncture the hull with the slag hammer would probably take a force greater than we could swing the hammer. I know a croc can exert great pressure with its jaw and both types might be in trouble with a 5metres of Qld's finest but I think the poly would be more resistant to puncture than a tinnie of the same length. You really need to talk to an owner for feedback. I'll keep an eye out for one as I'm interested in a boat for the kids when a little older. Did they scare you with prices ? The Aust. agent must be somewhere as I have seen these at boat shows ? Would be the ultimate if you could fit one of these under BT above chassis height in a long thin sheetmetal box .... not much room with water tanks under there .... Anthony

Anthony, I tracked down an agent - at Glenorie, NSW, 02 9652 0707 Fax 02 9652 0808 portableboat@ozemail.com.au Yes, expensive ($2790 for 3.7m), but I still think its a 'value' proposition. I've seen one second hand on a fishing forum site for under $900 (including sail). Worth hunting around for? Agent happy to bring one down to Roseville Bridge for a demo. Will probably take him up on the offer. Will have to leave it till we get back from our trip to the factory (on the 17/6/03) to do some arm wrestling on the design. Both Oars in the Water Griff

griff,
If Roseville happens, let me know and I may join you up the creek. The durability of the folding joins is probably the weak point. If they crack/degrade there's probably not much that can be done. Maybe that's why a used one drops to $900?

If I found myself in one of those things in water any deeper than my ankles I would contemplate growing wings and flying to safety. This is not a boat just a play thing. I've been around long enough to know that there are a lot of nasties swimming around just below your backside so get something serious or stay out of the water. I wonder how an insurance company would react if you fronted up minus a leg and wanted some money off them.

Nomad

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Kiwi, you're on! Always glad to have a second critical eye to check things out. Probably look at a couple of weekends time (after we return from BT Central). We'll organise the life-jackets & try it out with 1-4 aboard & see how it performs. By the way, what the heck happened to the Blacks the other night? I hear the Poms played a real spoiling game, & it was scrappy as anything & no tries scored, but the Poms had to be in your half to get the ball over the dot! Bodes well for a real stoush coming up in the next month or so. Imagine the possibility of the World Cup going to the Northern Hemisphere. Blasphemy! Commiserations Griff

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Would anyone reccommend a tarpon boat up north where the croc abound?