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yellowboat

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Been hanging around the edges of this southern airboat and I have learned a lot. I have a 13 x 7.6 diamondback airboat with a zz5 350 short block rated at 385 hp, magna flow mufflers, all aluminum rigged, stinger 2:1 belt reduction,spinning a power shift 78" falcon blade. The motor tach's out at 5,000rpm, but I do not have any speed. Boat runs with GPS at about 45-48 mph. Boat has poly bottom and pushes dry ok, could be better. Like every airboater I want it faster and quieter with tons of push.

Wanted to throw this out and see what type of ideas the gang would recommend to pump this boat up. Long time watcher and reader first time writer.
 
Change your box ratio to 2.68 to 1 and get a 76" 3-blade Sensenich Q series Ultra Wide prop. Best bet probably. Waterthunder and Cntry are the experts in this area of quiet boats.
 
Yellow boat the best guy to talk to is WaterThunder but my advice would be to put a 2.68 gearbox on your boat and a Sensenich Q series Prop I don't think you have enough HP to swing the S series which I have on my boat and I would go with a three blade it made a huge differance on my boat over the two blade set up, the Sensenich props really push hard so your dry ground running is going to be much better
 
Your first problem is that you will need a new engine stand, at least the rear legs to switch to a gear box. Then you will of course have to buy a box, then you will need to buy a prop. This is going to run into some serious money quickly. You can change to a 2.3 belt drive for a lot less and come very clos eto what you are looking for for a whole lot less money. You can make a few minor modifications on your engine to improve your tq. area while you are at it and notice great improvements.

I urge you to make these changes one at a time so you know which ones make a difference and which did nothing. some may not appear to make a difference by themselves but when other mods are made then the previous ones will come into play.

However if you got a butt load of money and are dead set on having a powerful quiet airboat it can be done. No matter what folks say a good exhaust system is key to the sound issue. The right prop at the right speed is crucial. 0.5 mach is the magic number if you want really quiet.
 
You are doing pretty good. If you start to make the changes when will you stop? How deep are your pockets?

Nothing wrong with your rig. The big thing is the belt drive. The gear drives have higher ratios. Something like 2.3 or 2.68 to 1.
have a friend with a hammant 14x8. It is eallya great boat, but it has limitations. He has the 2 to 1 gear box. with crate motor.
it seem you are running at the top of your envelope. Play with the pitch and get the most out of it.

New 500 hp motor LS1 type motor and 2.68 or higher gear box gonna cost you. New prop. Wow you got to have deep pockets.

The box on airboating has been expanded. Talk to water thunder, Sniper and CNTRY.


With the DB hull, they are known to run on the nose. Adjust it and get the best ride you can.

Tim the toolman "MORE POWER" awlawlllllllawllllllllll!
 
From what I remember I think you can build an adapter to put on your engine stand to go from a beltdrive to a gearbox although I did have Diamondback build me a whole new engine stand and there is a great guy on this site that builds Squair rigging and does it at a great price I don't think you need to change your motor out the prop and gearbox should do the trick but it is not going to be real cheap believe me I know I just went down that road and I am very happy with the results but it was not cheap thank God I am not married.
 
yellowboat, you might be able to re-cam your engine ( my Comp cam, springs, and lifters came in at around $300) for more torque, and then go for the Sensenich Q prop. You probably have a roller motor already so all you'd need is the cam and springs.

I think you'd be amazed at the difference and you wouldn't have to re-rig your boat.

You'd make more push and be a lot quieter to boot. If you really get serious about quiet then a pair of Dynomax #17748 mufflers would cost you a few dollars more. Just an idea.

olf
 
Wow guys, I knew that I would get some ideas! As to the deep pockets, I am married and the wife lets me spend some money, but how much is the question. It was her idea that we get back into airboating. Taught her how to drive and I really don't like the back seat.
Thanks!
 
good Idea and WaterThunder or Olf Art could tell you which cam to get but I do know that Comp Cams are very good that's what thunder used in my LS6
 
deepsea diver":mkolh6pr said:
You are doing pretty good. If you start to make the changes when will you stop? How deep are your pockets?

Nothing wrong with your rig. The big thing is the belt drive. The gear drives have higher ratios. Something like 2.3 or 2.68 to 1.
have a friend with a hammant 14x8. It is eallya great boat, but it has limitations. He has the 2 to 1 gear box. with crate motor.
it seem you are running at the top of your envelope. Play with the pitch and get the most out of it.

New 500 hp motor LS1 type motor and 2.68 or higher gear box gonna cost you. New prop. Wow you got to have deep pockets.

The box on airboating has been expanded. Talk to water thunder, Sniper and CNTRY.


With the DB hull, they are known to run on the nose. Adjust it and get the best ride you can.

Tim the toolman "MORE POWER" awlawlllllllawllllllllll!
Click to expand...

Hal, Did you get a boat yet?
 
Basket, that is a very cool video ..... quiet too 8) . I sure wish we'd had a little more water for you to run in in May.
We'll get em next time.

olf
 
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