The major difference between a Porta-bote and an inflatable is that the inflatable will generally have far more cargo carrying capacity for the LOA than the porta-bote will. I have enough space on the ama deck to store the boat in its folded form. While it might be a bit more difficult for someone to unfold the boat on a monohull, it can be done, as I know several monohulls that use a portabote as a dinghy.
As I stated previously, the things to watch out for are the plastic seats and transom failing on the newer boats. The older wooden seats and transom seem to hold up much better, especially if you've gone the extra step and fiberglassed over them.
I'm in the process of building new seats for my boat, since the plastic ones are finally starting to fail. As Triquetra pointed out the stock seats are black and heat up like a bastage... and the new seats are going to be a very light grey or white. I also have to take the transom of my boat apart and fiberglass it. I'll be using either 3/4" plywood or 3/4" foam to make the seats up, so strength and durability won't be an issue.
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Sailingdog
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Telstar 28
New England
You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
—Cpt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity (edited)
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