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A Southern Airboat Build

Southern Airboat Gallery Archives

Everglades Area 3a South
01515
Loughman Grand Reopening Ride
2014 Hamant
Bruce
Christmas Air Boat Benefit, May 2011
W

WallyGator

Well-known member
Okay as we know I sold the boat and am ready to start building my new one. Now all the information collected on this site will come in handy.
Wants
18+ feet
5 People
Salt Water use and some river
Car motor with gear drive
SS cage and rig
Fiberglass hull, I think, never owned alum.
CAN DO
Some welding,but would like to buy and bolt it together.
Have complete shop but not a lot of time.But Father son project(ya know)
Father builds and pays for son runs.
YOU CAN DO!!!!!!
Input on a constructive level and we will follow this project from start to finish.

IDEAS!!!!!! INPUT!!!!!!!

OKAY GUYS LETS BUILD A BOAT
 
currently i have a budget of about 20 I spent less than that on my rivermaster but i am lookig to get a bigger rig.But if needed I can sell the kids shoes.Momma will not go in a smaller boat anymore
 
wallygator my suggestion on a motor would be a stroked cadillac motor from richard potter guaranteed 550 horsepower and only $5500.00 and all you have to do is mount motor hookup wires and hoses, exhaust and oil and go.i think that this motor is a bargain for big cubes and a reliable motor.then add a 2.38-1 gearbox and 80 inch 3 blade prop and thier is an awsome powerplant.just my input and opinion.
 
Have you looked at a Kit boat from one of the major builders. They used to offer them at a reduced price.

I believe that Diamondback, Panther, and American all used to offer them. I think American no longer offers a kit, but call around.
 
Can't go wrong with a BBC

The torque versions of GM's crate 454 and 502 should work nicely with a 2:1 or 2.38:1 ratio gear box and a big 3 blade prop.

No special parts, not a lot of money and lots of upgrades available for the future are strong benefits to Chevy power

I love Cadillac engines, but a stroker Caddy is definitely out of my budget, and I think the Chevy is a better all-around choice for the multi-purpose rig
 
WEll here is where I make someone mad but whats new right. DONT BUY A KIT BOAT. I would go around and get whomever makes the part I like best to make that part and then assemble all the parts and end up with your dream or nightmare boat but it would be just what you asked for. I have old floral city metal works modified after last big oops by alumitech, an alumitech hull, a motor currently by wheeler motor sports in jacksonville, soon to be by thunder performance. The trailer is a b& s sportsman aluminum. The fine tuning on everything is by the crew from the race car I sponsor. rudders by buster stratton are required for making a statement of your intentions and dedication LOL. Exhaust system is by custom exhaust works in bradenton florida and by the way he races an outlaw series camaro. The gas tank is from alumitech now, I have found out there is a difference especially when you hit a few bumps like I do. gearbox stinger softdrive 2.38 or 2.68, prop 4 blade master blaster , 4 is quieter than two or three and if you get a serious motor you can adjust it without losing thrust in the long run.

so there you go NOW DO WHAT YOU WANT TO ANYWAYS LOL its the airboater way. The above combination works for me but probably wont work for you but its worth everthing you paid me to tell you about it.

Happy assembling by the way leave the engine stand to the pro's if your going serious hp for real not jokin on that one
 
141 is probably right about the engine stand. It's very hard to cut the precise angles that you need to have to make the metal fit tight together before welding.

TIGHT FIT IS THE KEY TO SOLID WELDING!!!
 
okay lets try this
Motor
prop
Gear box
HUll
who to build the riging?
I was at a builder and saw a boat that had a big three blade anda gear box and turned it real slow it was quite and he said it had balls. but it also had the pice.
Caddy does seem like an option but I do notice alot of people working on them,What about thunder?
 
I think the first thing is to find a hull. If your going to run salt you really need to think about a aluminum hull with polly I've had 3 buddys of mine that had glass and run the gulf and ALL 3 had to replace there hull. Are you looking for a new hull or a used one. Here is a 17" panther used for sale. May save you some money that can be spent on the engine.

Year_Manufactured: 1988
Asking_Price: 3200 obo
Owner: Rob
City: Ft. Lauderdale
State: Fl
Phone: 954-563-0769
Cell_Phone: 954-444-3173
Email: lmc118@aol.com
Date: November 21, 2005
17 foot Panther Aluminum Hull. Aluminum engine stand set up for car motor with reduction. Three double seats two with cushions. 25 gallon Aluminum fuel tank. Dual rudders with cable steer. Pancake cage, nice boat deep sides.

Here's the site

http://www.airboattrader.com/boats_under_$5,000.htm

just look at the bottom of the page and you will see some pictures of it Looks like a nice boat but pictures always look better.
 
Hoffman built the rigging on the airboat world boat, Faron builds a darn good looking set of metal works as does alumitech. You need to be able to communicate to them how you want it to look when its done and be honest about your intentions on running it.

Thunder motors are great and really about the same as a crate motor but have more horses and weigh less. But again you gotta tell him what you want to do with the boat. I just spent a chunk with him on a new motor and we spent lots of time talking about how I would run it. With him you need to be careful because he can build more than you may be able to drive one size does not fit all.

I like whirlwind props but let them know what you are running on the boat as far as engine, gear or belt and ratio. How big the hull is and how hard are you gonna run it.

aluminum is my first choice now it is alumitech, Hammant builds a good hull, diamond backs tend to run on the nose a little but that can be good also depending on how free a boat you want or can handle. Again honestly tell them what you expect out of it and what all the components are as to the engine , box, prop.

So your budget is 20K that should be very do able with a little for gas left over.
 
I can build what ever rigging you want for less than most of the boat builders..also you could get a all aluminum ls1 from water thunder preformance turn key with big power for less than most of the boat builders and would weigh less as well and he stand behind his work so I would look around and find out..
 
Sorry CC I forgot ... BUilds nice looking rigging at a really great price. He can do round or square stainless or mild. He still gets to drive an airboat instead of just build them so give him a call for sure while your looking around. And definetly call thunder about the power plant before you decide on one. Sorry guys it must be that darn oldtimers disease thing. I need a new job.
 
hey dont get me wrong i'm not saying just stick with a cadillac,but a cadillac is a good answer for budget big power.if i had to choose between a crate motor and a thunder motor i would go thunder any day of the week.but between a caddy and a thunder i would have to think about it hard, and budget and power would be on my list to help me decide. but if it was in my budget even though my caddy has been strong and good to me i probably would go with a thunder motor the power and wieght of the motor sales me.cause i like barge airboats too.big boat means big wieght so where ever you can conserve wieght and gain lotts o power that would be a key issue.
 
No doubt, the Caddy is great, as would be a Buick or Olds. If it's in the budget and you don't mind waiting maybe a few days for parts, the Caddy might be the way to go and be a little different than the norm.

If it was my boat and I was starting from scratch, I'd go BBC, but I certainly wouldn't shun a boat with Cadillac power
 
OKAY,
I HAVE MAD A HULL CHOICE I AM GOING WITH AIRBOATS INC.15X8 HIGH SIDE.SIDE BY SIDE SINGLES IN FRONT DOUBLE IN THE BACK .SS RIG NO POWDER COAT.
JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW.

STILL HAVE TO TALK TO THUNDER ABOUT THE MOTOR BUT I HAVE TIME WILL BE 3-4 MONTHSTILL I SEE IT.
WILL BE TRAVELING TO THE PLANT NEXT WEEK TO START THE PROCESS

PAT
 
Talk to GTO. They helped me out with mine. They will build or supply the parts you need and help with questions. If you go with aluminum make sure the bottom is out of one sheet, not two welded down the center.
 
OKAY ANOTHER UPDATE
AS YOOU KNOW HAMMANT HULL 15X8
NOW A THUNDER MOTOR 625-650 HP
WE ARE COOKIN NOW JUST HAVE THE 3-4 MONTH WAIT TIME
WALLYG
 
Make sure whomever is building your rigging knows what kind of hp your gonna be making. Make sure you are ready for that much hp. I am not picking but it aint for everybody. pick the prop and box carefully as well. Interesting things are gonna happen when you kick that one in the butt.
 
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