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Lycoming 0320

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Fanboatman

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I'm new to this site and to airboating. A friend of mine and myself have been restoring an old airboat (1983). It's a 12'X7' welded aluminum hull with a Lycoming 0320 and a wooden prop (can't remember the specs on the prop). It's almost finished except for the instrument panel. We've never driven the boat or even ridden in an airboat. Just wondering if anyone out there has had any experience with the 0320 and this size boat?
I completely rebuilt the engine so it should produce the rated 150hp. Any idea's on how fast it will run? The guy we bought it from said it would do around 45 to 50 MPH. We installed Poly on the bottom, will it run dry ground? Up here in Maryland the dry ground will be mostly dry gravel and some packed sand with rocks and gravel. Thanks in advance for the help.
 
I ran the same set up for years before upgrading to a 0540. (Only because the family expanded and the 0320 was struggling with 4 people in the boat) You will be pleased with the performance of that 4 banger as long as you keep it light. With two people and a cooler you should run dry. The key is knowing the different surfaces and capabilities of your boat. I was running a 5 blade warp drive prop and found it had better response and a noticeable push increase when pitched right. The speed sounds a bit high but is possible in shallow water, but be careful at wide open throttle steering can get a bit hairy. Wet sand can stop most airboats regardless of the HP, but if pebbles and small rocks are mixed in it may run it rather easy. Keep in mind when you are first getting started that an airboat handles nothing like an outboard, with an airboat all the steering comes from the prop wash through the rudders, when making a corner more throttle is necessary (that’s just something to keep in mind). With a little practice it can be mastered.


Kevin
 
Thanks Kevin
I can’t wait to get this thing out on the river. It’s starting to get a little cold here but not too bad yet. We’ve spent two years on this project and I’m ready for it to be done, (that included redoing the trailer). I’ll take some pics this weekend and post them. I know what you mean about the steering. I had a Bass Boat before with an outboard jet on it and I’ve ridden a few jet skis so I imagine it’s a lot like that. Turn the ruder (there’s only one large aluminum ruder) and give it the gas.
 
3 to 5 an hour. Sometimes more if i was running the marsh or dry alot and had to keep my foot in the carb. It really depends on the type of running your doing. Playing on the mud flats in the lake i could run 6 to 8 hours on 10 to 12 gals of fuel, but that type of running i was only a little above idle to 1500 RPMs max.




Kevin
 
Yea, crossing rocks and pebbles is not hard to do, just can be tough on the hull or polymer. We used to regularly cross a few rock plugs on ditches. 6 to 12 inch rock used to block the ditch to the height of high tide line to prevent erosion. Easily done, but hard on the polymer and even pulled polymer screws out of the hull. We always use screws and nuts now.

A friend had a fiberglass 12X7 with a 0-360 (180 hp) and it ran well. Replaced it with a 0-540 and the thing was scarey.
 
Thanks to both of you for the replys. Sorry for taking so long in getting back to you but I have to use my computer at work and I've been out sense last Wednesday. My computer at home died! I'll post some photos if I can fugure out how.

Thanks again.
 
Brad,

Good luck on your project boat. Couple of things that have not been mentioned that should be considered.

Please make certain your prop is not dried out or cracked, look closely at the tip. More airboats have been sunk or cages destroyed by the tip of a old wooden prop turning loose that about any other cause.

That's why, even at 3X the price of new wood, adjustable pitch carbon fiber props are the safe choice. Yours will most likely spin a 68" 0r 72" with little problem. Contact Florida Airboat Propellers in Winter Haven, FL or Sensenich in Plant City, FL if there is any question that your prop needs reconditioning.

Also, the other most common cause of putting an airboat on the bottom is stern wash over of the following wave when power is suddenlty cut or lost. Strongly suggest a Rule bilge pump of 1,500 GPH MINIMUM.

Always wear a PFD and find yourself a shallow marsh to learn on. You will have a blast. Once gotten, Airboat Fever is almost always lifelong.
 
Thanks for the reply. I wanted to put a bilge pump in but my partner didn't think we needed one. After reading what you had to say I think I'll put it in anyway.

Thanks Again
Brad
 
Yep That was a funny one. I run two just in case one breaks or one aint enough. It is a good idea to train passengers in the meaning of the term "FRONT !!" as in get all the way to the front and then some as fast as you can. ARTIFICAIL REEF , LOL I gotta remember that one way too funny. What would the term be for runnin the old prop ??
 
"What would the term be for runnin the old prop ??"
Click to expand...

In my own case, several could be applicable.

Term # 1: "Hard to believe that just breakin' air could hurt anything"

Term # 2: "That prop ain't old, it's cured"

Comments after the tip blew off:

Hers: "Hey Capt., why's water running into the boat?"

Mine: "Hey, Janet, Where did you put the tweezers?"

:roll:
 
Maybe ...

toothpick factory or welders dream or sudden multiple impacts about the head and shoulders.

I blew one up once right after I spent a week brazin the wire on ever so perfect with old coat hangers and a torch. man I was sick the holes in the bottom were bad but all that work on the cage ... oh man it still rolls my stomach just like it was yesterday.

Old props belong on the wall in one piece or you can wait a while and put several of the pieces on the wall if it dont get you.
 
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