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Is There A Way To Build A Airboat?

Many companies offer kits. If you have to build your own I think this would be a good way to go. I really think it's usually less expensive in the long run to buy a turn key boat from a reputable dealer or person . It is very easy to end up with a boat with some very bad ( and dangerous) habits. You'll find lots of help and good info on this site.

Good Luck,
Harvey
 
Cody are you close to the state line? There is a builder in frankin called Mark's Airboats. Give him a call are swing on by there and talk to him face to face. Most of the time he has some second hand boats ready to run for a decent price.




Kevin
 
wow ull r making the man drive all the way to south louisiana when there is a world reknown airboat builder in Orange, TX.

Faron Floyd at American Airboats can help him out too. And dont forget Ronnie is south louisiana too.
 
I believe American Airboats is no longer offering kits, correct me if I am wrong
 
I know buying a truck some big dealers try to screw you but do yall think that American Airboats will try to screw people around on prices and things?
 
Cody - Take the time to look around. I know that diamondback and panther(Classic) both offer a booklet with prices for all the various options listed in it. American used to do it, call and speak to the ladies in the front. Tell them you are THINKING OF BUYING A NEW RIG and would like some type of price list from them. I bet they will send you something. Call Alumitech, I still like those guys, nothing fancy but solid as hell. Call Mark's as well.

Between the 4 of them, you could get an estimate of what you want would cost. Of course all the bells and whistles will cost more. But do this before you visit any of the places. Then visit "Airboat Trader" on line. I have seen some nice rigs on there that would be excellent starter boats.

For bow fishin, I would assume that a larger hull would provide a more stable platform. Especially if you were not going to run dry.

Remember - If they talk like a snake oil sellsman, they just might be one.
 
Cody,

You're digging deep & just the way togo :D
Green Horne myself you wouldn't believe the ground our Son & I have covered digging everywhere for info to put our diesel quest on the table. We've learned that most of the Guys on this board have been straight up & straight shooters.

I would like to mention that we've been to thealaskagold Airboat Forum also & found some interesting study abt how an Airboat can hurt you. Just type it into google search & you won't read far to find the info that any newbie should know.

Pat,

When you typed Panther(Classic) did you mean that they're one & the same?
They were listed in the back of Airboat World seperate & at two different addresses. I ran them in MSN Maps along with others & off we went to Cocoa. We found Diamondback no prob, then Panther(on the side of the building anyway) but after several deadend streets no Classic could we find.
Our time was running short so we didn't try to call but still thought we would catch them another time.
Will the real Classic please stand up? :(

Thanx Guys, Gben
 
Cody,

Just a little praise for someone not afraid to ask the questions & get to the heart of the matter :D

What we're after is not out there in anything used that we've found anywhere. So new in a big work boat special built could easily run 40- 50 thousand which is simply beyond our means. So the only other option is to find the right hull if possible to match what is tobe carried & get it to the right person somewhere.

Now this is hand work & will run into the thousands but when you really want a certain thing sometimes it is worth a little more. Then too, who has the knowhow to balance something different without winding up with an Edsel boat that acts like a junkyard dog? :(

Thanx, Gben

BTW, At the above mentioned website goto the Questions from newbie thread among others. Not very good directions.
 
Ok I have been spending alot of time oing through Airboattrader.com and The classifieds here and i looked at dimondback's boats and American's
 
Cody,

Just a couple things abt a used one sense you're leaning in that direction as we are also.

First see if they will give you the compression numbers before you even goto look. You can have them verified right here on the board.
If you know what to look for in buying a pickup truck it will also apply here too.
Get the dipstick out & look for signs of water or milky look before it is run. Then run the engine until it gets upto temps, dipstick agn to see there is no or very little blowby. Listen, listen & then see if there is overtemp. Can't bowfish running hot.
If the engine shakes pull plug wires to see if it is just a simple thing like that or worse.
Make them keep the engine running & even get to ride if you can. See smoke, smell like oil? Fuel? Inside tailpipe greasy?
Lift front of the boat where you can see the entire bottom. May need patch in fiberglass & look for corrosion especially inside metal boat.
I wouldn't be afraid to travel a little either. Not many Airboats in north Fl where we are & we've put in over a thousand miles already.
If American is closest at Orange Tx I would at least pay them a visit. We're clear across the world from them but they have some info we want first hand & still may run out there before long. Can learn a lot from good people.
Lots more checking todo like props & maybe some of the others will help too.

Thanx, Gben
 
Ok man thanks I know alot about motors so i wont get a boat with a bad motor but i honestly dont no much about the boat so i may get screwed there
 
I don't think you can get screwed by a bad hull ... I think a bad hull at first is a good thing ... it will teach you humility and caution. A really good hull will let you get in way too deep to get out and you will never see it coming. a bad hull is a good thing for a newbie hope ya'll understand what I am tryin to say.
 
Gbenz - I think that Panther and Classic are the same. Classic handles all of the state or federal orders and Panther handles the others. I think it is something to do with business dealings with government contracting agents.
 
Cody ,
You are doing right thing by asking lots of q,s..You should find most of the people you deal with will be pretty honest.Like gent said if they start talking things that are hard to believe or things dont add up Dont believe them,tell them youll get back to them and get on here and find out most peeps here will tell you truth
ALSO GENT WAS RIGHT. A FLAWLESS BOAT COULD WIND UP REALLY HURTING OR KILLING YOU WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING YOUR IN TROUBLE TILL IT IS TO LATE DEFINATELY WANT STARTER BOAT WITH SOME FLAWS
YOU WILL UNDER STAND WHAT WE MEAN THE MORE Q,S YOU ASK AND THE MORE YOU LEARN
NEVER HAVE TO MUCH PRIDE NOT TO ASK QUESTIONS AND YOU WILL DEFINATELY LIVE TO APPRECIATE IT AND AS TIME GOES BY
KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS!!!!!!!!!! 8) 8)
 
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