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Freeing a stuck boat..

A

Anonymous

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I am new to airboating, got stuck on a mud flat. I know, should never have stopped, so one lesson learned. Question for you experts, what are some ways to get a boat unstuck? We were able to get out of the boat and turn the bow, break the suction, and the boat came right off. I have a polymer bottom on a 16 ft alum hull, 454 GM , 3 blade prop with reduction gear.
 
Sounds like you are learning, probably like lots of us, from mainly experience.

Hard Ruddering completely from one side to all the way to the other, back and forth, while hard on the gas will sometimes do it.

I have carried PVC pipes that we would jam under one boat to give it something to slide on just to get moving.

Good luck
 
Hardrudder back and forth is a good approach.

If you have any water under the boat then shaking the bow to work water under the hull will help.

I like the pvc pipe idea.

With experience will come the ability to spot these places to avoid. Hopefully you won't have to work too hard to gain that experience:)
 
We always carry a bottle of Ivory dishwater liquid and a bottle of Tire Magic. These will help most of the time to get the boat moving after shaking the bow and powering through shifting rudders.

I have seen the PVC pipe trick works several times. Four 4' sections of 3" schedule 60 will break almost any boat loose. Broken off tree limbs do about the same thing.

If your boat seems to get "sticky", you might want to think about installing a soap sprayer system with a five or ten gallon tank.
 
Tire magic or tire shine is handy stuff however the game wardens take a real dim view of using it I don't believe it is environmentally friendly. I know when your stuck though the environment is not really on your mind except how to get out of that particular piece of it.
 
Far as I know, there are no rules against silicone sprays - Tire Magic, Tire Shine, etc. I KNOW dumping or spraying diesel on purpose is against the law - no matter how slick it is.

The game folks regularly drop flamibles to start controlled burns.

Not suggesting dumping anything in large quantities on any of our marshes or wild lands, but, a dab will usually do you to break your boat loose.
 
Woody - Have stuck them in soft clay before where it took sticks, PVC, hard ruddering, full throttle, and 2 men pushing/pulling on the bow with the ruddering to get it to move up onto the sticks.

BEWARE of dredge mud the Corps of Engineers pumps from the navigation channels. Until it sets up and dries, it is very bad. Fun to cross when fresh, but as the water settles out, it thickens, and if you stop you might be surprised. The weight of the boat causes you to sink in some and it forms a suction like glue. It may have been the boat we were in but, typically that boat would run dry real easily. The only other time I heard of him sticking it was in some willows. (Another warning, if the saplings don't bend over as you go through then, them may stop you real suddenly).

An old timer told me the mud on river deltas after spring floods came act the same.

Try Ruddering first, then the sticks and PVC, unless you have some lube. Lots of boats in Louisiana have sprayer systems built in. An ag spray 6 to 15 gallon, with nozzles under the bow that spray downward will help alot. As you hit hard running stuff, push the spray button, and you get a little extra. A hand held 1 to 2 gallon garden sprayer will work just as well. Wisk or Dove detergent about 8 oz per tank works fairly well. Never tried the silicone stuff, but should work wonders. Diesel is very slick and you get some very bad fines with its use like Big Daddy said. It will get everyone in the state up in arms about airboats and the next thing you know is they will all be lobbying to ban airboat because of the envirnomental issues. So DON'T USE IT.

Also, don't use the stuff to allow you to get somewhere, cause you might end up looking for a buddy with a swamp buggy to pull you out. I have seen that many times in the seismic field, some boats would run dry all day and others would try to keep up by using a little slickum. I remember at least two motors that went to pieces on boat that were trying all day for several days to keep up with others by using sprays. Just learn your boat and stay to those areas. Good Luck
 
When I know I am going to be running some skicky marsh with no trees to pull off of I will carry a couple of trailer house ancors with me so i have something to come-a-long from. It takes a few minutes to screw them in the mudd but it will help pull the boat up on something solid like PVC pipe to get it moving again.



Kevin
 
I've found that throwing hundred dollar bills at the boat will help keep you from getting stuck. LOL They all get stuck if you run them long enough.
 
I thought about a small electric wench. Has any one ever done that?
 
Duece,

Short of starting another revolution :shock:

Marshmaster Pat said: This last one is only for the crazy or very experienced and you need two running boats. I have seen two airboats park side by side. Tie lines from the cage to the eye of the third boat. The lines must come from sides of the two tow boats that are nearest to each other. Gently add power and the two come together and then sometimes can be used to power the third rig out. Have seen it done on a few seismic jobs, scary as you know what. We were dragging the third boat on PVC joints. Pull it 100 feet, stop and reset pipe, then go again. Was the only way we could get her out since they wouldn't let buggies in the marsh.
Click to expand...

Here's another...
2) always carry a 4' long section of 3" pvc pipe. if you get stuck shove it as far under your bow as you can....works really well because it'll roll a little and also it lets your boat slide for at least the boat's length allowing you to gain momentum or to spin around and leave the same way you came in
Click to expand...


And yet another...
One suggestion is to keep a handly supply of 1/2" or 3/4" pvc pipe to lay on the ground in front of you. It doesn't take a lot of it to help you out. It beats staying stuck and out of breath.
Click to expand...

Basketcase
 
How about used deep-fryer oil?
It's a slick, bio-degradeable, non-hazardious substance. :D
A little in a sprayer would do the trick, of course you'll be hungry by the time you get out. :wink:
 
Basket, no revolution seen from here. Marshmaster Pat was a fine and very experienced contributor to this Forum, and I miss his comments.

When you're stuck, especially when you're all alone and stuck, if you can't get the witch out by yourself the only other option is to hike out.

I say whatever works in a situation like that. Several of us were trying to have a little fun with that a short while back and a member was unable to laugh along with us. His comment on here is also missed.
 
flboy,

Well sometimes when your stuck your stuck. PVC is a real life saver in the right circumstance but if your alone when you get stuck you need to remember where you left your PVC so you can go back and get. If you leave to much out there it gets expensive. Don't worry even the baddest boat can get stuck, it just takes a little time to learn you boat and you'll be good to go.
 
Deuce,

Yeah you right mud is a whole other animal, its easy to get unstuck in the grass or floating turf but the mud, major suction.
 
a sprayer :lol: but don't think there legal anymore so don't get caught :D


sounds like you have plenty of engine and prop just need a little more practice. the Hard ruddering will do it just to get it started




all this talk of PVC I though for sure as I read down through the post Grant would have chimed in :lol:
 
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