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350 hull size
- Thread starter tf
- Start date
A
Anonymous
Guest
Reduction unit or no? If so, what kind?
Without a reduction unit, I'd say 14x7.5 is about the max, but again, it depends what you want/really need it to do.
Without a reduction unit, I'd say 14x7.5 is about the max, but again, it depends what you want/really need it to do.
Airboatcapt2
Well-known member
I put 350's in boats up to 18ft. (with 2:1 belt reduction unit)
nebraskaairboater
Well-known member
I had a 350 direct drive on a 15 x 7.5 aluminum boat... was great when I was alone on the boat, put 3 more people in it and it could hardly keep up. I changed to a 500 Cadillac and it is nearly perfect now (but still wish I had reduction). The Cadillac only weighs about 60# more than the small block Chevy. Just a bit of info if weight is an issue.
Dan
Dan
Waterthunder
Well-known member
It truly depends on what you want your boat to do. If you have a 20ft hull and only run the water that’s fine. But if you haul people and burn up the hill a 16ft is to big for a 350. So here is how I would break it down. What do you want to run thru, how much weight will you be hauling, how long will you be running this boat hard. In general if your hauling four or more people with gear or running dry or if the hull doesn’t run that free in the water you will be running a 350 to hard and it will not perform well. I know 15 people will say I own a 97 foot with a 350 it runs perfect. I’m just saying if your boat is heavy or you haul lot’s of weight or if it plows in the water don’t expect it to run dry or live long. It solely depends on what you use your boat for. I have seen ton’s of 16ft hulls go thru bran new G.M. crate motors like they were candy some times three a year it just depends on what you use your boat for.
A
Anonymous
Guest
Tom, Thunder is telling you right, and probably as completely as anyone can on a forum like this. It all depends on what you need the boat to do.
I run a basically stock block 350 with a belt drive on a 14' fiberglass boat. It gets on plane easy, runs on plane easy, and has enough power to keep me safe ..... but it is far from fast. My engine probably makes about the same kind of horsepower and torque as most "5" number A/C engines, and I never run it hard. With three people, a cooler, and a few bags on board it starts to get a little sluggish but it's still safe and enough for what I do, which is just ride and do a little fishing.
If you want more performance than that (and be very honest about this) then you need to look for more horsepower than I'm happy with if you need a boat longer than 14'. My opinion ......
BF
I run a basically stock block 350 with a belt drive on a 14' fiberglass boat. It gets on plane easy, runs on plane easy, and has enough power to keep me safe ..... but it is far from fast. My engine probably makes about the same kind of horsepower and torque as most "5" number A/C engines, and I never run it hard. With three people, a cooler, and a few bags on board it starts to get a little sluggish but it's still safe and enough for what I do, which is just ride and do a little fishing.
If you want more performance than that (and be very honest about this) then you need to look for more horsepower than I'm happy with if you need a boat longer than 14'. My opinion ......
BF
This 15X8 350/330 airboat will be used for pleasure airboating but primarily for bowfishing with two guys and some gear. The airboat will mostly be in the water unless the fish change their behavior patterns and start slipping away across the land.
What is your assessment? Will this airboat fit the ticket?
Also, what do you feel is the maximum payload that a 15X8 350/330 airboat would be able to run dry ground without endangering the engine? How many people do you feel could ride in the airboat on water without straining the engine?
Originally, I thought this combination would wok. Someone recently told me that a hull size no larger than 14X7 should be used with a 350/330. This is the reason that I am perplexed.
As always, thanks for your expertise,
tom
What is your assessment? Will this airboat fit the ticket?
Also, what do you feel is the maximum payload that a 15X8 350/330 airboat would be able to run dry ground without endangering the engine? How many people do you feel could ride in the airboat on water without straining the engine?
Originally, I thought this combination would wok. Someone recently told me that a hull size no larger than 14X7 should be used with a 350/330. This is the reason that I am perplexed.
As always, thanks for your expertise,
tom
Waterthunder
Well-known member
If you are running a reduction it will work O.K. but don’t go running thru the forest with 4 people. That wide of a boat will actually work better than you think running dry just don’t load it to the gills. The main strain will come from running the water for long periods of time when heavily loaded. Them big heavy boats when loaded require allot of energy to stay on a plane.