Looking for experiences with 8ft 6in Porta-Botes

[GuyFromTheNorth]

There's alot of reasons for it, but in the end I'm looking at getting a porta-bote for my new dinghy. I'm using it just to shoot from anchor to the beach from my 33ft mirage.

Has anyone used the 8ft model of portabote? I'm wondering how "big" it actually is. I need to move myself (6ft 4in, I'm tight in ALL dinghy's) plus 1 adult and maybe a backpack at a time. No issues doing multiple trips back and forth for more passengers\cargo because I already have a 3hp honda outboard. This is just weekend warrior cruising on the great lakes, nothing major, nothing extreme.

[krivanj]

Maybe this will help.
I’ve had two 10’ Portabotes, one that had the pea pod shape at both ends and my current one that has a square stern.
It will plane with me and the dog with a 5hp motor.
The first one one had six adults and a dog for over an hour in it and ferried all of us to our anchored boats. Of course we were drunk.
The 8’ will be tighter but doable.

[GuyFromTheNorth]

Originally Posted by krivanj

Maybe this will help.
I’ve had two 10’ Portabotes, one that had the pea pod shape at both ends and my current one that has a square stern.
It will plane with me and the dog with a 5hp motor.
The first one one had six adults and a dog for over an hour in it and ferried all of us to our anchored boats. Of course we were drunk.
The 8’ will be tighter but doable.

Lol, so I'm guessing the "weight limits" on the website are VERY conservative and informed by lawyers. I figure with me + a passenger + bag(s) we would be at or above the 8ft limit most of the time. Of course, as I mentioned, we aren't braving storms or long ferry rides to and from the boat.