Just sold my 31 year old Porta Bote

[u079721]

So I noticed the other day that the 8 foot Porta Bote dinghy for our Ericson 38 Rag Doll was still sitting unused in our garage, so I thought I would try selling it on Craigslist. By now it was 31 years old, and had not even been unfolded in 17 years, so I rather expected it to crack when I tried to open it. I mean, it's plastic, so how long can it last? But to my surprise it opened just fine, with no cracks or problems at all. So I put it on Craigslist for $500 and it sold within an hour. (Guess I should have asked for more.) I still feel kind of guilty about it though, because it IS made of polypropylene, and I would not be at all surprised if it cracks and leaks the first time it gets in a chop. That's me on the left rowing it 31 years ago, while the photo on the right was after cleaning it up for sale.

 

[gabriel]

Why not post it for sale here first (rhetorical question)?

 

[Christian Williams]

$2300 new. I think you both did well.

 

[u079721]

Why not post it for sale here first (rhetorical question)?

When we sold Rag Doll back in 2004 I did post it here first. But an Ericson 38 is worth traveling for. No way you could afford to ship a $500 Porta Bote. Which, by the way, cost me $969 in 1990. The new designs with the square transom are great for use with an outboard, but these older double ended ones rowed as easily as a kayak.

 

[gabriel]

When we sold Rag Doll back in 2004 I did post it here first. But an Ericson 38 is worth traveling for. No way you could afford to ship a $500 Porta Bote. Which, by the way, cost me $969 in 1990. The new designs with the square transom are great for use with an outboard, but these older double ended ones rowed as easily as a kayak.

Yes I agree shipping that thing would be a real pain…i’m just bitter I didn’t find such a deal