• If you log in, the ads disappear in the forum and gallery. If you need help logging in or getting registered, send request to: webmaster@southernairboat.com

Just got Floral City airboat need help please

J

JParanee

Member
Hello everyone I was wondering if you can give me some advice I grew up running fishing boats fresh and salt water. I currently have two boats a 31 contender and an 18 ft ranger bass boat . When i go to louisiana to visit a friend we go out on airboats and bowfish and I have always been facinated by airboats and really liked them. Well the other day we where fishing on the Susquhanna river in Pa on my buddy's flat bottum jet boat and I saw a airboat and made the comment that I always loved them and would some day like to get one for fishing the delaware and susquhanna rivers and to also use in the salt marshes of maryland and N.J . to duck hunt. Well my friend proceeded to tell me about a client that was selling an airboat that was brand new only 18 hours on the motor . One thing led to another and I now have three boats including an 04 Floral City. The boat is 18 ft long and like new with a 454 chevy and a four blade prop. I love the boat but have alot of questions and was wondering if you guys could help me out.. First question did I get a good boat and even though I have piloted many different boats is there anything I need to know about safety and Main. I plan to practice before i take my children out but any comments about safety would be paramount. I will start there and probaly have alot more questions to come. I really apreciate your help and any imput would be greatly apreciated


thanks joe
 
take it from another relativly new to airboater: take it slow & easy until ou get the "feel" for it, then take it slow & easy.
Floral is proabably as good a boat as anybody elses, it the 454 a direct drive or does it have a reduction unti? Pictures tell a thousand words, and the folks on this site can tell it all. one thing for sure, you've got a hoss of a boat!
 
Thanks I think it has a stinger transmission in it. is that good? I am very interested in learning about what to keep an eye on for maintence. There are no dealers up here. Also any safety yips about uaeing and running in rivers especially... Any help would be apreciated.


joe
 
Welcome Joe, if you have any questions or need help with your boat I sugggest you see Tom Snyder of Snyder Boats just outside Millerburg, he will be happy to answer any of your questions. He also has some info on his site about reading the the river. Just be very careflul when it is windy because the ripples caused by the wind make it hard to see the rocks just below the surface. be Safe! I usually launch at the boat club by the ferry, hope to see you around!
 
if you want to know exact details of the boat call mike at floral city airboats and he will talk with you personally and answer any question you have .Mike and Terry are verry nice people and will treat you well.
 
My Team leader in my Search & Rescue unit has a Floral City boat and so far it has been a very good boat and he has had zero problems with it his is a 16 ft, like every one else said just take it slow and easy you have a very large boat as Airboats go and will be a lot harder to handle than most of your average boats that are from 10 to 14 ft as far as the gear box goes I have never heard of any one having a problem with them just change the oil in it about every 100 hrs you will have to find out what stinger requires for gear lube for it
 
There are two types of airboaters, "those who have, and those who will", hit something, roll it, or sink it. Just remember NO BREAKE and NO REVERSE !
When in doubt power out. Treat it like you would your dog, or truck, or wife and
it will become your first love.
 
Congratulations on your new boat!
The most common mistake that new operators make is letting off the gas in a turn.
We have a natural tendency to try and slow down for turns, but when you take your foot off the pedal you no longer have steering.
I watched a guy slide sideways into a cypress tree one time because he panicked and took his foot off the gas.
These boats will turn on a dime at any speed as long there's air flowing across those rudders.

Also when you're coming off of a plane in deep water bring it down gradually.
That car motor is very heavy and it'll swamp the boat if you just let it drop.

You're gonna have a lot of fun learning to run that boat.
The adventure begins!!!!!!
Post pics.
 
I live in Millersburg Pa. I run the Susquehanna River all the time with my Diamondback airboat and also have one that Snyder airboats built. Thier are quite a few airboats here and i know Tom Snyder of Snyder airboats. If I can be of any assistance send me a email airboat@comcast.net
 
Boy I am continually amazed when I read these post on how many Airboats there are up north, glad to see you guys looking after the New bee but that just seems to be universal with Airboaters looking after one another
 
Cherpa":1kx09kvr said:
There are two types of airboaters, "those who have, and those who will", hit something, roll it, or sink it. .
Click to expand...

:lol: amen... just don't be like me and sink your boat on your second trip out. It happens alot easier then you'd think. Least your in a big boat I'd say your biggest worries would be the hit something aspect of that equation. Like the others have said the hardest thing to get used to is powering into your turns and always leave enough throttle in a turn if you need to shower down on it quick to get you moving in the right direction. No matter how many times you tell yourself to do it it will take time to get used to it.. slowing down is a natural reaction like blinking your eyes when something is quickly thrown at your face. You'll get used to it quick enough but you have to realize you'll have a few gut check moments in the early goings.
Btw welcome to the world of airboating.. I have been a boater my entire life since I was old enough to hold a pole but nothing has gripped me like airboating.. just nothing like it!
 
EVERY BODY ALREADY COVER THE BASICS !BUT ONE ! WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN FAST JUST WATCH FOR THE BACK SPLASH ! FLORAL BOAT ARE HIGH TRANSOM BOAT ! BUT ON THE SAFE SIDE JUST WATCH THE BACK TRANSOM ! WE DONT HAVE SPLASH WELLS ! WILL SINK YOUR BOAT ! PLAY IN SHALLOW WATER FOR A WHILE ! AND HAVE FUN AND WELCOME :DI AM SORRY (FROG) ALREADY SAID IT !
 
You need to get with those Millersburg boys & run with them............join their club too.


Keep an eye out for deep & rough water, try to avoid it. Same for the wakes from larger vessels. Always have a plan where you can get away (calm, shallow water) from trouble. The throdle is your friend, so learn how & when to use it.

You have a very solid boat in a Floral City. Does it have a microwave?
 
Guy's I am really excited and really thankful to all of you for helping me out . I am really relived to see such a cool welcome. It has been better than I expected and I am relived to know I have a place to go to for info. As I said before I have been fishing and boatig my whole life and normaly I would be thinking of tuna and marlin at this time of year and now all I can think about is smallmouth and bowfishing carp. Funny how you come back to where you started sometimes. I know the airboat has everything to do with it. This really was a spur of the moment decision and literaly happened over a 2 day decision. was not even looking for an airboat . It just came up and there was a brand new airboat with 18 hrs on the engine and I could not resist. The boat was not ran for over a year and I am leaveing for Canada for a week with my son and a group of guy's for a fly in fishing trip. I am also really fortunate to have for a tenant Jim Taylor of FX cams .. He is a big block builder that has been featured in alot of hot rod mags and is also a technical editor for mopar magazine. He is getting the boat and tuning it up and making sure everything is running perfect. My next thing to do is put a trolling motor on it and some sort of light setup for bowfishing. I would really apreciate some ideas from you guy's on the best setup for a trolling motor and bowfishing lights.. Thanks everyone and i look forward to hearing what you guy's have to say


AirBoat Mike I am emailing you with my number would love to talk please call. Anyone that would like to talk about airboats and setting them up for fishing my # is 610 657 9515 Thanks alll


jp
 
Your Stinger takes 75w/140 Amsoil severe gear. 1 quart. 15 hours on a new gear box break-in then every time you change your oil in the motor.You still have a warranty left on the Stinger and the confidence that you own the best. Call if you have any questions call :)
 
there are some tutorial literature and vidios out there might not be a bad idea to do some research it would be better to seek out someone in your area with a boat for a few friendly tips, one reason ive never tired of air boating is the pure nature of never really feeling iwas totaly in control thus small shots of adrenalin very addictive good luck take it slow and welcome to the clan
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top