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Building A Airboat

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Cody_Bowfisher

Active member
Hi I am From Texas and Me and my buddies go Bowfishing For Gar and Carp. We are going to make a Air boat but like most people we aren't Fortinate enough to go out and buy a brand new one so we would like to biuld on. If and one has any tips on Building on from just a hull please reply.
 
One tip,

As an inexperienced airboater, "Don't build what you can buy already built".

First timers will do well to buy a boat someone else has spent $s on. They will usually take .50 or less for their investment as they seek to move up and on.
 
SO How much would it cost to build one?

How much would it cost to buy one that aint all that great just good enough to bowfish out of?
 
Trust me---Big Daddys right. Don't waste your time and money. Find a turn key boat from a reputable dealer or person. You'll be bow fishing instead of trying to figure weight and balance, power, angles, clearances, props, etc etc etc. You can also buy a kit----but I think it's still less expensive to find a boat ready to go.
Good Luck,
Harvey
 
But I live in Texas Where could i find one in East Texas. I have looked but alls i have found is in florida and in louisiana.
 
Odd as it may seem, a used complete boat is cheaper than the parts to build one. I know there are always a few bad apples, but as a whole, the airboat family is very honest. Being close knit, no one wants to be labled by selling bad equipment. Most guys are selling boats to upgrade, not because there is something wrong with them. Look at the classifieds on this site as well as airboattrader.com. Chances are there is an airboat club in the area of the seller. You may be able to get opinions on a particular boat from people other than the owner. Airboat people are always more than willing to help. It may cost you a few wild goose chases looking at boats, but it will be far less than building from scratch and you will meet some great people. Lots of guys will also be willing to meet you half way to sell their boat. Also, don't know how close you are to Orange, TX... American Airboat is there. 800-241-6390. Good luck.
 
I tell all newbies this because I have seen so many people make this mistake. Unless you have a ton of cabbage (money) to waste. I strongly recommend buying a used 220 GPU boat. For two reasons one you need to run an airboat for awhile before you really know what you want out of an airboat. Two even if you build one you really don’t know what and how you want to rig it until you get some seat time. So save money buy a good used 220 boat then you will find out what you do and don’t like about it. Hell you might even find out you really don’t want an airboat but at least you can learn with out spending a ton of money. If you buy a cheap boat you can always sell it for what you paid but if you buy a new boat with out knowing what you want and you find out you want a different kind of boat you will loose a ton of money.
 
Over here in east texas when we go in some of the rivers there are big rocks you hit. Will The rock poke a whole in fiberglass hull.
 
Man, it's VERY hard to find OR build a boat for under $3500.

I missed a really decent boat for $3800 and been kicking myself ever since.

I ended up buying a hull, mainly because I wanted a new hull with no repairs or decay, and because I already have lots of motor parts. I don't know how much I'll end up spending, but I imagine it will probably end up around 5000+

I don't know what your credit is like, but if you can get the bank to loan you some money, you can get an excellent beginner boat for 6500-7500 and if I had any credit, that's where I would be at now.
 
Where is This Place where i can get a boat for 6500-7500
 
Cody_Bowfisher":dqdwdx2c said:
Over here in east texas when we go in some of the rivers there are big rocks you hit. Will The rock poke a whole in fiberglass hull.
Click to expand...

Yes, if you hit it going fast!

Sounds like you need polymer on the bottom of your boat. It helps protect the bottom of the hull and makes it slick.
This adds some expense to building a boat and can be a difficult job for someone who hasn't done it before. If you don't get it on flat, it can cause leaks and bad handling problems.

Another reason to look for a boat that has polymer already on it
 
I know some one that has a dricet drive 350 boat that was redone before hunting season it's 12.5 x 7.5 72-34 wide blade wood prop with trailer for $4000.00 obo It has not been put on any web site yet
 
don't matter just found out about it today thought that i would relay the information . might be to small for you to bow fish out of. as for aluminum of fiber glass thats up to you. thats a 50-50 thing
 
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