New Guy on the Forum

[Mohawk_Aero]

Just a "HEY THERE" shout out to the forum. I just joined today, and don't know a cotton pickin' thing about airboats. I am ready to learn, and want to get started on a project right away. I live in Columbia, SC. Looking for a boat that needs a motor, in the 150HP range. I am going to install one of my Yamaha YG4 150HP aircraft conversion motors on it.

My webpage is www.MohawkAero.com and my email is info@MohawkAeroCraft.com.

I make PSRU (propeller speed reduction unit) kits for 4-cycle Yamaha snowmobile engines, have been since 2011. I have gearboxes in inventory with bolt-on engine adapters available for Yamaha RX1, Apex, Nytro, and Vector snowmobile engines. The geargox prop flanges are for all popular props, 75mm, 100mm, 4 in., and SAE1. I am a dealer for Warp Drive and Luga props. We use 66" to 72" props on our gyrocopters, and up to 84" on fixed wing aircraft.

My Yamaha YG4 kit puts out 600+ lbs thrust, not boosted. All-up installed weight for this liquid-cooled, carb or EFI, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder engine with exhaust, radiator, starter, oil tank, electrical system (less battery), gearbox, clutch, adapter, dry but otherwise ready to run is 165-175 lbs.

We do not use belt drives. We have, however, made a HY-Vo chain drive that works great.

I recently sold some YG4 kits to some airboat guys in Alaska, and decided I should get into it in my own backyard. Why should they have all the fun???

What should I look for in a good, used airboat for my YG4 kit? I don't want a fixer-upper, I want a worthy boat that I don't have to tinker with.

Thanks!


GT

 

[mojoe]

Welcome aboard!

There are some nice little AC boats with similar power plants. Do some browsing and you will see ideas.

As a (very gemeral) rule, you want 1/4hp per lb total weight to run good. If you can keep it small and simple with a total weight around 600lbs before people and gas you should end up with a really fun boat.

Would be a great idea for you to visit a big airboating event and see a bunch of airboats and how they run before getting started.

 

[Slidin Gator]

Mohawk, X2 on the welcome, it looks like you guys do some Sh!^ :!:

You are an aviation guy, so you obviously understand the weight to hp issue. It is actually worse with airboats!

Mojoe missed a constant (in your favor), so its all good.

As a starting point you are looking for a thrust/weight ratio of 1/2 to account for dry running with a friction factor of 50%, which is a general baseline for a useful airboat.

We can all devolve into how much thrust is possible per Hp, but being and aviation guy you should understand the prop, thrust and Hp relationships. 150 Hp should support up to 700 lbs of thrust and 1,400 lbs (+/-) of total boat weight. Keeping things lighter is always better.

A <200 lb motor and gear making 150 Hp would make a 10-11 foot hull fly.

Stay small, 2 seats max and you will understand how airboating can come close to Gyrocopering for fun :!:

 

[Sniper]

wow that is a real sweet set up you will probably get a lot of business on here with the mini Airboat guys, what is the cost of a set up like that motor and gear box, we do not need Airworthy stuff for Airboats, so hopefully that would keep the price more reasonable

 

[kwanjangnihm]

Welcome to SA & the Insanity! :salute:

As stated above build it light and have some fun! :thumbleft: