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Do airboat go faster in less water

J

josh_2562

Well-known member
I was told by a friend that airboats go faster in 1 foot of water then 3 feet. Is this true? if so can any one tell me why? thanks josh
 
its caused by the boat displacing water. the less water it has to displace the less resistance or drag it will have. Boats will run even faster if there is grass on the water to give the hull more lift.
 
jpatter123":rjq7hg5h said:
its caused by the boat displacing water. the less water it has to displace the less resistance or drag it will have. Boats will run even faster if there is grass on the water to give the hull more lift.
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what it is I talked to a guy that has a mini air boat and he said it does about 24mph in a foot of water but only about 10 mph in more then a foot. I can under stand it going faster in less water but once you get up on plane in deeper water it that like being in less water. thanks for the help sorry about the dumb ??'s but i have only been on a air boat a few time when younger
 
When the boat is on plane it is still in the water and uses its momentum to overcome the drag to stay on plane. Gravity is still a constant that has to be overcome. In an inch of water it doesn't need as much power because there is less drag and it doesn't have to climb up on plane. It is more like hydroplaning.
 
It's been my experience that the type of soil the water is sitting on makes a big difference as well. An airboat hull compresses the water underneath it so an airboat compressing 3" of water on a hard bottom area will get more lift than it will while compressing the same 3" on a soft mucky bottom. Getting the boat on plane in deep water is still not the same as riding that cushion of very "skinny water" in the shallower parts of the marsh. Certain grasses and other vegetation can also give your boat a "lift" and reduce drag while other types of vegetation will throw you out of the seat like hitting a patch of black mud in the south Florida glades.

Riding skinny water on hard sandy ground is about as much fun as you can have on an airboat with your pants on. :shock: JMO

In general, yes your airboat will run faster at the same rpm in shallow water than in deep.
 
NO ! 1/4 INCH IS BEST . DEEP WATER IS THE MOST DRAG , ON PLANE OR NOT ! SORT OF HARD TO EXPLAIN SKINNY WATER ! AND BOAT DRAG !
 
Ever skim-boarded at the beach? You look for the skinniest water possible, right? The theory is the same.

Also, if you're curious, look up "ground effect" as it relates to airplanes.

Same thing again.
 
that why i always say i like skimboard water, but going fast on skim water is as out of control as you can be on a airboat
 
Only if its an aircraft boat.Just kidding.Boats are also faster in saltwater its more buoyant.When I raced hydro's we would set up our record courses in salt water.
 
In my limited experience with a 16.5 ft Pix hull, "skimboard" water over a sand bottom is a WHOLE lot of fun!!! But, like was mentioned earier, nearly out of control. Mine really doesn't lilke more than a foot.
 
Exception, moving water. when you hit skinny water when moving and not on plane, it seems like you are slowing down but the current gets faster in shallow water vs deep.
 
bigkavr":3ih9ht03 said:
Ditto on the ice!! :D It DOESN'T get any funner than that...... :wink:
Brian..
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Couple feet of snow on an open field in't half bad either! Gotta really plan turns & stops, else "OH Schitt" will be the words you're saying while thinking how much this is gonna hurt. :happy8:
 
FP1201,

You are correct Sir!! :D It's funny how fast the human mind can conjur up words to fit the occasion.
I've had my airboat up to 92MPH (on snow) one time only!! I checked out the course by going back and forth 4 times before I did my "speed" run.. Needless to say, I WILL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!!! :shock: Going that fast on skinny water is one thing, going that fast on snow is bordering on REALLY STUPID.. "Hi folks, just call me stupid" :oops: ..... That high speed run scared me more than anything else ever has.. Snow can really bring out the OH SCHITT. Right FP1201 & roberti53? :D
Snow is a blast to run on, and it'll make a man out of you real quick too.... :wink:

Brian.
 
You forgot to mention that it gets really cold the faster you go. You really do need to think about stopping long before you need to.

snow1.jpg
 
D M B,

I didn't mention cold because I figured the only cold the southern boys knew was "how cold is the beer"...... :D :D (remember guys, just joking...)
But you are right, it does get a little cold... Aw hell, who am I kidding , it gets fricking COLD!! :shock: But on the good side, no bugs, no weeds, no other boaters, did I say no bugs... Just you, the airboat, the snow and your blood that's quickly getting thicker and thicker with each heart beat.... :wink:
You know, if we could just get the southern boys up here for a little playtime in the snow, maybe then they'd understand why we're as crazy as we are... It's the cold!!!!
Man I love Winter... :D :D :D
Brian.
 
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