Folding boat
Encyclopedia
A folding boat is usually a smaller boat
, typically ranging between 6 to 12 feet (3.7 m). This style of boat must also allow for easy lifting which requires a light weight. Some folding boats are made from light weight materials such as marine plywood
, aluminium
or more exotic man-made materials lighter and tougher than aluminium. Folding boats fill a need for people who do not have storage space for a full-size boat or cannot transport a full-size boat.
There is much to be said of the advantages of a folding boat, they are becoming more commonplace in boating. Aluminium and inflatable non-folding boats are a little more prevalent despite some folding boats such as Porta-Bote having been sold for several decades. Sailing versions are particularly popular.
Traditional boats in the same category of folding boats include inflatable dinghies and small aluminium boats (tinnies). Inflatable boats try to solve the portability problem with an inflatable keel
and side pods. This allows better storage and weight advantages. The main problems with inflatable boats are that they are still quite heavy, they can puncture while on the water and can be time consuming to inflate and deflate for usage. Folding boats require only 10 to 15 minutes to set up and put away and are much tougher than an inflatable craft, and may ultimately be smaller in storage as an inflatable boat may have hard board components for the floor. [
but can be up to 10HP. Electric motors are versatile on a folding boat and are well suited to calm water fishing due to low noise and weight.
Boat
A boat is a watercraft of any size designed to float or plane, to provide passage across water. Usually this water will be inland or in protected coastal areas. However, boats such as the whaleboat were designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. In naval terms, a boat is a...
, typically ranging between 6 to 12 feet (3.7 m). This style of boat must also allow for easy lifting which requires a light weight. Some folding boats are made from light weight materials such as marine plywood
Plywood
Plywood is a type of manufactured timber made from thin sheets of wood veneer. It is one of the most widely used wood products. It is flexible, inexpensive, workable, re-usable, and can usually be locally manufactured...
, aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
or more exotic man-made materials lighter and tougher than aluminium. Folding boats fill a need for people who do not have storage space for a full-size boat or cannot transport a full-size boat.
There is much to be said of the advantages of a folding boat, they are becoming more commonplace in boating. Aluminium and inflatable non-folding boats are a little more prevalent despite some folding boats such as Porta-Bote having been sold for several decades. Sailing versions are particularly popular.
Traditional boats in the same category of folding boats include inflatable dinghies and small aluminium boats (tinnies). Inflatable boats try to solve the portability problem with an inflatable keel
Keel
In boats and ships, keel can refer to either of two parts: a structural element, or a hydrodynamic element. These parts overlap. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in construction of a ship, in British and American shipbuilding traditions the construction is dated from this event...
and side pods. This allows better storage and weight advantages. The main problems with inflatable boats are that they are still quite heavy, they can puncture while on the water and can be time consuming to inflate and deflate for usage. Folding boats require only 10 to 15 minutes to set up and put away and are much tougher than an inflatable craft, and may ultimately be smaller in storage as an inflatable boat may have hard board components for the floor. [
Powered
Some folding boats have a transom for attaching an electric or petrol engine outboard. These are usually in the order of 2 - 4HPHorsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
but can be up to 10HP. Electric motors are versatile on a folding boat and are well suited to calm water fishing due to low noise and weight.