countryboy88
Member
i'm 18 years old and i want to get into airboating. i have no idea what would be the best kind of boat to start out with or what type of motor? :?: any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks
-
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
new at airboating
- Thread starter countryboy88
- Start date
SwampMatt
Well-known member
Welcome Countryboy. What part of the country are you in?
Have you ever been around airboats much? That would be a good way to see your choices.
Take a $30 airboat tour. Hang out here, make friends, go out for rides. Come to one of our group events and get a chance to see a TON of different boats in action.
There is a saying in airboating... There are those who've sunk their boat, and those who WILL sink their boat. Just so you know going in. These craft sink easy and fast. Learn good info, and don't let your expectations get too high.
Stick around! Hope to see you out on the water one of these days.
Step ONE: Get a high paying job so you can pay for parts! These boats are not cheap!!!
matt.
Have you ever been around airboats much? That would be a good way to see your choices.
Take a $30 airboat tour. Hang out here, make friends, go out for rides. Come to one of our group events and get a chance to see a TON of different boats in action.
There is a saying in airboating... There are those who've sunk their boat, and those who WILL sink their boat. Just so you know going in. These craft sink easy and fast. Learn good info, and don't let your expectations get too high.
Stick around! Hope to see you out on the water one of these days.
Step ONE: Get a high paying job so you can pay for parts! These boats are not cheap!!!
matt.
Welcome to the group Countryboy88. We love to see new members anytime. Youll find there is no one size fits all boat. They are all fun and they will all sink, and they are all expensive.
I see on airboat trader some smaller boats with 90 HP GPU and some with 150 GPU motors. I started my kid off in a 90 GPU in a 10'x6.5' deckover West Palm style and it served its purpose as a trainer. He learned its quirks and how to handle it. By the time he was ready to move up he was running like a pro.
Generally speaking big HP and big weight arent the ticket for a beginner, but if ya find the right deal anything can work if you have a level head, learn from the right people and take it serious.
You aught check out
http://www.airboattrader.com/
Theres stuff there you can get for under or around $5,000 that if you tear it up it wont kill your budget. Especially if you are handy with tools and can do a lot of the work yourself.
Make sure that you have all the necessities of life wired first though. Airboats are fun but dont neglect family, transportaion, housing or food to get one. We dont know your finances so all we can offer is advice and cautions. An airboat at the wrong time can ruin your life, at the tight time it can add a tremendous amount to life.
If you live close to any of us you might get in contact and go for a ride and such, get to know some airboaters before setting out on it all alone. Lots of good folks here willing to help.
Scotty
I see on airboat trader some smaller boats with 90 HP GPU and some with 150 GPU motors. I started my kid off in a 90 GPU in a 10'x6.5' deckover West Palm style and it served its purpose as a trainer. He learned its quirks and how to handle it. By the time he was ready to move up he was running like a pro.
Generally speaking big HP and big weight arent the ticket for a beginner, but if ya find the right deal anything can work if you have a level head, learn from the right people and take it serious.
You aught check out
http://www.airboattrader.com/
Theres stuff there you can get for under or around $5,000 that if you tear it up it wont kill your budget. Especially if you are handy with tools and can do a lot of the work yourself.
Make sure that you have all the necessities of life wired first though. Airboats are fun but dont neglect family, transportaion, housing or food to get one. We dont know your finances so all we can offer is advice and cautions. An airboat at the wrong time can ruin your life, at the tight time it can add a tremendous amount to life.
If you live close to any of us you might get in contact and go for a ride and such, get to know some airboaters before setting out on it all alone. Lots of good folks here willing to help.
Scotty
SAFARI RICK
Well-known member
Welcome,
I too am fairly new to airboats and have just built my first boat. My advice is to ask questions-lots of questions. You'll get alot of different answers but use common sence and take it from there. I personally went with a car motor on an allluminum hull.(car motor vs. aircraft is a huge can of worms to open) in my case the all mighty $ was a major factor.Good luck. If you feel like it check out my photo gallery,have pics from start to finish.
I too am fairly new to airboats and have just built my first boat. My advice is to ask questions-lots of questions. You'll get alot of different answers but use common sence and take it from there. I personally went with a car motor on an allluminum hull.(car motor vs. aircraft is a huge can of worms to open) in my case the all mighty $ was a major factor.Good luck. If you feel like it check out my photo gallery,have pics from start to finish.
countryboy88
Member
thanks for all the advice. i have not been around airboats alot just ocassionally and i've decided to buy on. i live in debary, fl. about 500 yards from the st. johns river and lake monroe. hope to see all of yall out there soon. thanks again.
bondsman
Well-known member
hey countryboy88, on may the 20th at loughman lodge which i dont believe is to far from you i could be wrong,is having a big airboat demonstration .on one of the previous threads i believe there was around 50 boats or more going.that would be a great place to weigh your options and maybe score a free ride.
Hi Countryboy88 and all.
I'm new at it too and just found this board. I wish I had found it sooner and might have saved myself alot of grief. I now have two airboats. One that is so underpowered that it will just barely get on plane and the other has enough power that it scares me lol.
What everyone has said about those that have and those that will sink an airboat is over for me. I sunk one about two weeks ago and that was a big eye opener. I never imagined that they would just roll over so easy but it taught me that the slick side is supposed to stay down. LOL Maybe I won't do that again for awhile. Oh I got lucky I think. All that got tore up was the grass rake. That was from pulling it out of the lake with a truck. Anyway I'll be asking many many questions from now on.
BTW I live in DeBary.
Dan
I'm new at it too and just found this board. I wish I had found it sooner and might have saved myself alot of grief. I now have two airboats. One that is so underpowered that it will just barely get on plane and the other has enough power that it scares me lol.
What everyone has said about those that have and those that will sink an airboat is over for me. I sunk one about two weeks ago and that was a big eye opener. I never imagined that they would just roll over so easy but it taught me that the slick side is supposed to stay down. LOL Maybe I won't do that again for awhile. Oh I got lucky I think. All that got tore up was the grass rake. That was from pulling it out of the lake with a truck. Anyway I'll be asking many many questions from now on.
BTW I live in DeBary.
Dan
countryboy88
Member
Well thanks for the help. Does anyone know about this demonstration on may the 20th at loughman lodge?? That sounds like somewhere that i could get some good advice. thanks
SwampMatt
Well-known member
Cool. A couple a DEbary guys. Nice area. (I've learned from friends in that town that it's pronounced DEE-bary, not D'Bary) You guys are in the neck of the woods of our fearless leader, Rick, who lives in the Deltona area.
Welcome to the gang Dan.
THIS COMING SATURDAY - Go to Loughman Lake Lodge. It's an easy drive for you guys - get over to Hwy 415, drive over the river and head east on Hwy 46. About 5 minutes after you cross the river again, you'll see signs for the little road to Loughman's on the right.
It's gonna be a party! Come on out both you guys and ANYone else too!
And Yes, Dan. Ask questions! THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!!!!!
matt.
Welcome to the gang Dan.
THIS COMING SATURDAY - Go to Loughman Lake Lodge. It's an easy drive for you guys - get over to Hwy 415, drive over the river and head east on Hwy 46. About 5 minutes after you cross the river again, you'll see signs for the little road to Loughman's on the right.
It's gonna be a party! Come on out both you guys and ANYone else too!
And Yes, Dan. Ask questions! THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!!!!!
matt.
SAFARI RICK
Well-known member
DON'T FEEL BAD SUNK MINE RIGHT IN FRONT OF A BUNCH OF TOURIST 3 DAYS BEFORE MY UNCLE WAS COMING DOWN FROM GEORGIA TO GO FOR A RIDE. GOT IT GOING AND WAS ABLE TO TAKE HIM FOR THAT RIDE. SAD SIGHT LOOKING AT THE WATER AND THE ONLY THING I COULD SEE WAS MY NICE ORANGE FLAG STICKING ABOUT 3 INCHES UP FROM THE SURFACE OF THE WATER.
basketcase0302
Well-known member
countryboy88,
Welcome to Southern Airboat,(yes, it is the worlds best airboating resource online) :cheers:
Hang around and these guys will teach you a thing or two!
Hope to see you on a monthly ride.
Basketcase
Welcome to Southern Airboat,(yes, it is the worlds best airboating resource online) :cheers:
Hang around and these guys will teach you a thing or two!
Hope to see you on a monthly ride.
Basketcase