Mini Mini Airboat

[FrogNutz]

All of this talk about mini airboats has got my gears turning a bit. I've been looking at the Florida boating laws and if I'm understanding them right, a child can legally operate a motor boat as long as it does not exceed 10 hp. Is that correct, or am I missing something? It says no child can operate a Personal Watercraft, but I understand that to be a jetski.

The point is, I'm kickin' around the idea of building a "mini mini" airboat for my granddaughter. I was looking at a Honda 9 hp engine with a 2:1 gear reduction box on it. Obviously it wouldn't be for running dry ground or even planing out. It would just be something for her to play on and learn how to operate an airboat with, in a wide open area with shallow water and my rapt attention.

Has anyone else ever built one of these? Any pictures? Any good advice would be appreciated, as well. Would this even be legal?

 

[playin69style]

well i think your seeing it right and from what ive seen this weekend out at juniper wayside a popular airboat hangout here there was a mini mini airboat it might have been 6ft long and 3 to 4 foot wide it one regular boat seat and prob a lil bigger then a 9 hp briggs motor and a small 3 blade wood prop it was ideal for what you are talking about this weekend coming up i might head back out there and if its there ill try to get some photos for ya

 

[NorthWestFloridaBoy]

When I was lookin for an engine for my mini on ebay I saw some small honda motors for sale that had a 2 to 1 reduction built in. I think they were for mixers or something. I thought they were unique because the only other reducted small gas motors I've seen were a 6 to 1 for tillers.

 

[FrogNutz]

When I was lookin for an engine for my mini on ebay I saw some small honda motors for sale that had a 2 to 1 reduction built in. I think they were for mixers or something. I thought they were unique because the only other reducted small gas motors I've seen were a 6 to 1 for tillers.

Exactly. That's the same one that I'm looking at. It's a Honda 9 HP with a built in 2:1 gear reduction.

It's made for mixers and such. It should be able to swing a decent little prop at about 2,000 RPM.

 

[papee]

All of this talk about mini airboats has got my gears turning a bit. I've been looking at the Florida boating laws and if I'm understanding them right, a child can legally operate a motor boat as long as it does not exceed 10 hp. Is that correct, or am I missing something? It says no child can operate a Personal Watercraft, but I understand that to be a jetski.

The point is, I'm kickin' around the idea of building a "mini mini" airboat for my granddaughter. I was looking at a Honda 9 hp engine with a 2:1 gear reduction box on it. Obviously it wouldn't be for running dry ground or even planing out. It would just be something for her to play on and learn how to operate an airboat with, in a wide open area with shallow water and my rapt attention.

Has anyone else ever built one of these? Any pictures? Any good advice would be appreciated, as well. Would this even be legal?

I just noticed this post, I built a mini from a 14 jon boat with an 8 hp briggs, and 36 inch prop. It planed out with my 200 lbs(well back then) on board.