Porta-Bote

What Porta-Bote does

Porta-Bote (legal entity: Portabote International) is a U.S.-based manufacturer of folding boats established in 1970. The company designs and sells a patented folding-boat hull that collapses flat in seconds for portability, removing the need for marina docking or large storage spaces. Its product line is organized around two series — the consumer Alpha Series and the Pro Series — each offered in 10, 12, and 14-foot lengths, supplemented by a refurbished-boat program, replacement parts, and accessories including oars, the Porta-Dolly transport set, RV wall mounts, and a telescoping bow ladder (accessory prices ranging $159-$399). All boats are handmade in the USA by Morgan Hill Plastics, the company's manufacturing partner, and backed by a 10-year limited hull warranty.

The business model is direct-to-consumer, primarily through the portabote.com e-commerce storefront (WooCommerce-powered) with worldwide shipping, and is supplemented by in-person sales at outdoor sports expos and boat shows. A layaway plan allows installment payments for higher-priced boat purchases. The company sells to three identifiable customer segments: outdoor enthusiasts (recreational fishing and backcountry use), RV and recreational-vehicle users who need stowable watercraft, and government water rescue agencies in Japan and Australia that use the boats as deployable rescue craft. A 2025 Limited Edition RED color variant across the Alpha Series, an active 2024-2025 trade show calendar, and a media partnership with OffTheHook! fishing content indicate ongoing merchandising, marketing-channel, and content initiatives.

With 11-50 employees, no disclosed investors or funding rounds, and 200,000+ units sold cumulatively since 1970, Porta-Bote is a privately held, single-product-category niche manufacturer reliant on a specialized patented design and made-in-USA craft production as its core differentiators. No AI, software platform, or data products are part of the offering; the moat rests on intangible IP, accumulated brand equity, and skilled domestic manufacturing.

Name

Porta-Bote

Legal name

Portabote International

Website

https://portaboat.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Porta-Bote (Portabote International) is a U.S. manufacturer, founded in 1970, of patented folding boats sold direct-to-consumer worldwide to outdoor enthusiasts, RV owners, and water rescue agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recreational Boats

NAICS

Boat Building (336612), Ship and Boat Building (33661), Ship and Boat Building (3366)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Day Cruiser, Bowrider & Runabout Manufacturing (IMAJAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recreational Fishing & Sportfishing Boat Manufacturing (IMAJAEAH), Yacht Tenders & Auxiliary Leisure Craft Manufacturing (IMAJAEAO)

Keywords

• Folding boats
• Portable watercraft
• Recreational boating
• Boat manufacturing
• Marine equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Mountain View

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Boat Sales: Direct sales of folding boats in various series (Alpha Series, Pro Series) in multiple sizes (10, 12, 14). Boats are available in standard colors and limited edition Red color.
2. Accessories Sales: Sales of complementary accessories including Deluxe Oars & Locks, Porta-Dolly, RV Wall Mounts, and Telescoping Bow Ladder. These are add-on products to enhance the Portabote experience.
3. Replacement Parts: Sales of replacement parts for existing boat owners to maintain and repair their folding boats.
4. Refurbished Boats: Sales of refurbished boats, providing a more affordable entry point for customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Porta-Bote manufactures and sells portable folding recreational boats designed to fold flat in seconds for ease of transport and storage. The company sells its boats and accessories directly to consumers through its e-commerce channel.

Product overview

Porta-Bote is a single-product company (with accessories) that manufactures the revolutionary Porta-Bote folding boat — a portable watercraft that folds flat for storage and transport. The product portfolio centers on two boat series (Alpha Series and Pro Series), with additional offerings including refurbished boats, replacement parts, and a line of accessories (oars, dollies, mounting systems, and ladders). The company was established in 1970 and has sold over 200,000 units worldwide. All boats are manufactured in the USA by Morgan Hill Plastics and backed by a 10-Year Limited Hull Warranty.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alpha Series: Boat product line featuring models 10, 12, and 14, including a limited edition RED color option.
• Pro Series

Products and services

• Porta-Bote folding boat (Alpha Series) Portable folding recreational boat in the Alpha Series that collapses flat in seconds for transport and storage, sold to individual consumers and rescue agencies.
• Porta-Bote folding boat (Pro Series) Portable folding recreational boat in the Pro Series that collapses flat in seconds for transport and storage, sold to individual consumers and rescue agencies.
• Refurbished Porta-Bote boats Pre-owned, refurbished Porta-Bote folding boats resold by the manufacturer as a lower-priced entry point for buyers.
• Porta-Bote accessories (Deluxe Oars & Locks, Porta-Dolly, RV Wall Mounts, Telescoping Bow Ladder, replacement parts) Aftermarket accessories and replacement parts for Porta-Bote boats, including oars with locking collars, a Porta-Dolly transport cart, RV-compatible wall mounts, a telescoping bow ladder, and replacement parts.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Japan Water Rescue AgenciescoreOthersInternational water rescue agencies including Japan use Portabote as reliable, portable and safe rescue craft for water rescue operations.
• Australia Water Rescue AgenciescoreOthersInternational water rescue agencies including Australia use Portabote as reliable, portable and safe rescue craft for water rescue operations.
• Morgan Hill PlasticscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerManufacturing partner that produces Portabote products in Morgan Hill, California. Products are handmade in the USA by Morgan Hill Plastics.
• OffTheHook!minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFishing media partner that created behind-the-scenes content showcasing the craftsmanship behind Portabote products.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Hobie Cat Company: Manufacturer of kayaks, pedal boats, and sailing catamarans (e.g., Mirage, Passport). Comparable in the portable, recreational/adventure watercraft category with premium positioning similar to Porta-Bote.

Direct peers

• Pelican International: Maker of Pelican kayaks, canoes, and small recreational boats with roto-molded and modular construction. Overlaps with Porta-Bote in the portable recreation craft segment, particularly fishing and family use.
• Intex Recreation Corp: Major manufacturer of inflatable boats, kayaks, and recreational water products sold through mass retail. Adjacent competitor in the portable, low-cost watercraft space with broad consumer distribution.
• Sun Dolphin: Maker of recreational kayaks, canoes, and small fishing boats sold through mass retail. Competes with Porta-Bote at lower price points in the entry-level portable/personal watercraft segment.
• Achilles Inflatables: Manufacturer of inflatable boats and roll-ups for recreation, fishing, and tenders. Competes directly with Porta-Bote in the portable, easy-to-store small boat category, with similar price points and use cases.
• Sevylor (Coleman): Mass-market inflatable and inflatable kayak/boat brand owned by Coleman/Newell. Competes with Porta-Bote at the lower-price end of the portable recraft category, targeting casual outdoor users.
• Zodiac Nautic: Global leader in inflatable boats and RIBs used for recreation, fishing, and professional rescue. Comparable to Porta-Bote as a portable, stowable small watercraft aimed at outdoor and rescue end users, although Zodiac's boats don't fold in the same patented way.
• Highfield Boats: Manufacturer of rigid-hull inflatable boats (RIBs) and aluminum tenders used for recreation, rescue, and yacht support. Comparable to Porta-Bote in portable, multi-purpose small craft with international rescue and tender use cases.

Broad incumbents

• Tracker Boats (Bass Pro): Mass-market aluminum fishing and recreational boat brand owned by Bass Pro Shops. Overlaps with Porta-Bote in fishing and recreational use, though their boats are rigid hulls sold through dealers rather than portable folds.
• Mercury Marine (Brunswick): One of the largest global marine propulsion and small boat brands (including Mercury outboards and tender boats). Broad incumbent in recreational boating that competes indirectly through brand and dealer scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@portabote_official
• Facebookfacebook.com/PortaBote/?locale=es_LA
• Instagraminstagram.com/portabote
• Xx.com/portabot
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/porta-bote-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Porta-Bote