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Homework

BoHawg

BoHawg

Well-known member
In my 42 years of existence, I've come to realize that the worst decisions that I have made, have come with not doing enough homework on a subject before shuckin' out money. I've decided to not get into a hurry, but within time, to look for a small deckover boat, 10-12 ft, with a four cylinder A/C motor. Hopefully this boat will run dry with two people, will be lightweight and not be underpowered. I primarily use my boat for gator, duck and turkey hunting and occasionally just running around the marsh.

My first question is this, I hear some of y'all talking about "aircraft riveted" and "all welded" aluminum hulls, so which is best and why? Is there anything else to look for on a deckover? I've only owned a 'glass boat and I really don't know much about aluminum when it comes to airboats.

My second question is, which is the best four cylinder A/C motor and why?

My last question is, if I'm way off base and chasing something that won't be a good performer, what else should I be looking for? Thanks in advance for any replies on this.
 
Im still doing my homework too! Your looking for what I am lol. From what Ive heard though riveted seems to be the way to go but Im sure both have there pros and cons. I also here the 180 (o360) is probably the best four cylinder but they can be kinda pricey. I believe a 10-12 deckover with a 160 will run good if you dont wanna fork out the money for a 180 but you can find a lot of good deals if you wait.
 
well here are a few differences between riveted and welded hulls.

a airboat is opposite normal aluminum boats and riveted are preferred , they are more expensive most because of the extra labor involved to build them, they have a tendency to need re-bucking but this also makes it easier for joe blow to repair or replace the bottom or deck. A rivets hull gains most its weight in the framing then using a very thin sheets to cover the hull (called skin) witch is normal a higher alloy such as 7071 aircraft aluminum this is a stronger tensile strength but unweldable.
A welded boat is preferred in most other application as they tend to be less maintenance down the road and are more expensive in other boat applications but for the the most part are unpopular in airboat hulls partly because of stereo typing people have that you can't build a strong hull with anything other then aircraft grade aluminum. typically welded boats are build form 5052 H32 or 5086 H32 alloys witch have high corrosion residents . Both these alloys are weldable.
 
Ill try to help here some with comments from my most recent project.

I don't think there is much difference in the long run between a equal HP Comtinental and Lycoming. Both are superb motors. I got what appears to be a 210 HP Helicopter Lycoming but any of them is great on a small boat. There are quite a few reports of folks getting great service out of built up 200+ HP 4 cylinger GPUs. Talk with Westside about this in chat tomorrow night at 8 PM if he shows up. I was about ready to go that route when I found this rig at a bargain.

My boat is 11'6" and it is a combo. The transom is welded in and the decks are riveted. Mine is 2/3 deck. Maintenance is the key to longevity of anything, motors, hulls, trailers, trucks, dogs, and women. The difference isn't so much ion the running of the boat but in the longevity and the riveted hulls have certainly proved top notch in that respect.

Since you will most likely be running some form of plastic on the bottom the actual alloy in the hull will make more difference in the corrosion resistance department than in the actual running. If your not a brackish or saltwater runner you won't see much difference if you keep the boat up with good maintenance. If you slack off then the non-weldable alloys may live a little longer. Remember that they have to have the same corrosion resistant rivets in them as the sheeting or the rivets will corrode just like the hull would have were it the weldable variety.

Performance is at least 70% opertator more than engine. I have seen little 90 HP GPU engines on a 10' hull run dry around and with the big boys with O-540s and I have seen 200s stuck fast and the operator ready to burn the boat down. There is no boat that can't get stuck. I recommend finding someone and getting a ride with them on the kind of boat your looking at getting or building. Get them to run the areas you want to run and loaded the way you want to load your boat and see if the performance suits you.

Smaller motors require a greater degree of finess when the going gets rough, but that doesnt mean that 500 HP boat doesnt require an astute driver by any means.

Hope this helps some. :)

Scotty
 
Bear, that may be the most astute explanation on that that I ever read. Crystal clear where I'm sitting.
 
Same here, sounds clear and informative. I appreciate y'all and I'll keep you posted on my progress.
 
Whitebear,
" Maintenance is the key to longevity of anything, motors, hulls, trailers, trucks, dogs, and women."

do you do them it that order? I always though the dog and the truck went before the trailer :lol:
 
MAN YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT "THE LIL ENGINE THAT COULD" THIS GUY GLEN HAS THIS LIL DECKOVER YOU SEE IN THE PIC BETWEEN MY OLD DIAMONDBACK AND MY BUDDYS FULLDECK . THE NAME ON THE BOYS RUDDER IS "THE SKEETER" THIS GUY GLEN HAD NEVER BEEN HUNTING WITH HIS BOAT AND WANTED TO TAKE IT TO LAKE CYPRESS WITH US , I WAS PRETTY WEARY TO SAY THE LEAST , THE BOAT IS MAYBE 10 FT INCLUDEING THE RAKE , I WOULD SAY MORE LIKE 8 FT WITH A 90 HP CONT. I FIGURED THIS WAS GONNA BE A BABY SITTING TRIP WITH THIS LIL BOAT. I DIDNT CUT THIS GUY NO SLAK WE WERE RUNNING LATE AND WE GOT UN LOADED AND I HEADED STRAIGHT ACROSS THE LAKE TO START HUNTING , I GOT ABOUT HALF WAY ACROSS AND STARTED WORRYING ABOUT THIS LIL BOAT MAKING IT ACROSS THE LAKE IN THIS CHOPPY WATER, BUT HERE HE CAME GIVIN IT HELL , HE WAS WHITE KNUKLED BUT HE WAS RIDEIN. WE FINALLY GOT THERE AND PUT THE DOGS DOWN IN THE OAK HEAD , ALL I COULD THINK WAS WHEN THESE DOGS OPENED UP AND THE RACE WAS ON ACROSS THE DRY WITH THE BOATS THAT WE WERE GONNA LOOSE "THE SKETTER "FOR SURE . WE JUMPED A PACK OF HOGS AND ME AND TOMMY WERE RUNNING THE DRY HARD TO TRY TO GET ACROSS THE PASTURE AND CUT THEM OFF BEFORE THEY MADE IT TO THE BLUE SIGNS AND THE OAK HEAD.. WELL THE DOGS CAUGHT TWO AND ME AND TOMMY WERE EACH LEGGING A HOG AND HERE COME "THE SKEETER" GIVE'IN THAT LIL 4 BANGER ALL SHE WANTED !! HE PULLED UP WITH A SMILE FROM EAR TO EAR THAT HIS LIL BOAT RAN ALL THAT DRY. :lol: I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED THE WAY HE HANDLED THAT LIL BOAT , IT EARNED ITS MONEY THAT WEEKEND.

GLENS_SKEETER.jpg
 
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