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airboat powred with radial engine

emmitt Kelly

emmitt Kelly

Well-known member
any of you in airboat world happen to see a radial engine on an airboat?
I have heard stories but have not seen any.
that is something I would love to see.. radials were being phased out when I was in
the air force (1964-1968) there is nothing better sounding than a radial starting up!!
thanks for any info..emmitt kelly covington,ga
 
This is a very old photo, so I'm not sure that this rig is still around
95Web_radialboat.jpg

This Boat was for sale sometime back. I believe it was located out in TX.
boats_2402.jpg

This boat is owned by one Mr Ward. I think it runs on Kissimmee often.
P1010035.JPG

I'm not sure about this boat. Where it's from ect.
Radial_Airboat_001.jpg

Radial_Airboat_002.jpg
 
great day in the morning!!
where do these boats put in?
you guys have got it together..
so they are real!!!
any description of engines and where they hang out would be appreciated!!
 
The yellow one is still on AIRBOATTRADER.COM in the "over $15K" section. About 2/3 the way down the page. Listed as 525 hp.
 
I added some descriptions above for ya.
Perhaps some folks will come along with more info than I do.

My old man ran a radial for years, on a big open Palm Beach Boat.
The Big R is what he called her. It was a beast.

He had a buddy who ran a radial also.

Open stacked radials in the marsh at night....... it was quite something for a little kid to see I'll tell ya.

And your right about them cranking up. That's the best part!
My Dad's buddy ran an inertia starter on his for a spell.
That was super cool to see and hear in action!

I still wish for a radial one day.
 
just curious- im not too famliar with these radials.... they're pretty rare i take it? wat is it that makes them so great? are they light? or just strong? if anyone wants to school me on them, it would be greatly appreciated... thanks!
 
Well it's kinda like this. You are sitten at a red light and a guy pull up beside you on a ricer burner Jap bike. You look over for a second and shake you head, not bad. Then all of a sudden another bike pulls along side you on the other side. This time it's a big ol HOG and its beefy and just sings a sweet song in your ear. Now you have a big $hit eatten grim on you face and you don't look over to the other side any more.

i once heard a old german man tell his wife, something like this. Oct, Polli,liisen to dee souund!!!

it's just old school and pure Testosterone!!!!! Man!!
 
The biggest appeal for a radial engine is the raw sexiness of it. It looks cool, sounds cool and is cool.

They are powerful compared to their weight.

Old, leaky, not impossible to muffle, but difficult (as I understand it) are the downsides. You are not going to find many NEW parts for them from what I've heard.

They sure do have a GIANT WOW FACTOR - and if you put that much power in a little 10 or 22 footer - some PUCKER FACTOR too! Hot Rod!!! :twisted:

matt.
 
Radials are a pretty good space saving design for pre Korean War aircraft.

They suck a lot of gas, are heavy, noisy shake and rattle. Harley Davidson engines are just 2 cylinders off a radial engine.

I've never seen one that didnt leak. Some say (and I agree) they are just marking their territory. They can be hard to start and smoke like a locomotive on startup.

On the other hand, they were fairly reliable when properly maintained and are beautiful to look at and listen to in my opinion.

Owning a Radial Powered anything is kind of like owning your own steam locomotove. They are beautiful, fun to watch and listen to and still do the job they were asked to do. They will both eat ya out of house and home on fuel and maintenance though.

I love them and think it would be so awesome to have one.

Nearly all of the WWII planes were powered by radial engines save maybe the P-38, P-40, and P-51. Check out some old movies like "The Boys of The Memphis Belle".

There was s special type of starter developed for them called a Koffman ? Starter. See the old Flight of the Phoenix movie. I think it would be totally awesome to have on an airboat !

Its a nostalgia thing more than anything practical. To me they are one of the sweetest mechanizations ever devised by man. Just like Steam Trains.

Scotty
 
Does anyone wear dress shirts that use cuff links anymore? I knew I had these things laying around - I'd be willing to part with them for if someone made a very special offer. PM me if interested.

Sterling Radial engine cuff links!
I've had these things for 30 years. I used to have a matching prop tie-tack that went with them. It's probably around the house someplace.

(that's a nickel in the background for size comparison)
cufflinks.jpg


But if they'll make cuff links out of a radial motor.... you KNOW they are sexy!
Like Adam says - Chick's dig Aircaft motors. :D

matt.
 
dumount aircraft is a local rebuilder for them they have a sign on the door that states radials dont leak oil there just marking there territory. when i was in the airforce 72 76 they had 4 hurricane hunters in homestead i loved to hear them fire up they allways had a crew there with huge fire extingeshers because they would exsplode into flames awsom
 
Radial engines: If they're not leaking, they're out!
Really, there IS something special about them the sound, smell, and torque from hell.
I'm not positive it's an "American design" but they are the quinessential (sp) WWII era aircraft engine.

AFAIK: BMW designed the horizontal/opposed "Boxer" engine. BMW's badge is representative of a propeller on motion. :wink: (There's a '76 BMW motorcycle in my garage...will trade it in on a Harley as soon as it's worn out.) :P
 
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