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New member, first airboat

pepi

Well-known member
New member to the airboat world. I'm a big duck hunter and have always thought that the aluminum boats converted into an airboat was the ideal duck hunting machine, so I ended up buying one. The boat has an 85hp Continental aircraft engine which needs work. I had a mechanic open it up today and said that the engine might need a complete overhaul. He thinks the crankshaft could be bent, and tomorrow he will take it out and know more. Could someone tell me around how much this cost? I'm new to this and don't have a clue.
 
Pepi, welcome to airboating and to this site. This is a great site and I'm sure someone will be able to help. As far as the cost issue, I have no clue, I own an auto motor and am by now means a mechanic. I saw you had purchase the airboat recently on AWF. Hope things work out for you.


John
 
Welcome to the group Pepi. Where in So. Fla. are you? Check out Glenn & Pete at Westside Airboats in Davie. (not far from 595 & Flamingo) They can fix a motor, and will probably tell you that it's not cheap. But they are good people and will get you up to speed really fast.

And if your motor is "good for parts" I recall seeing a few aircraft and converted GPU motors for sale at their shop. Ready to bolt to a boat. So, with the right money, you could be out on the water THIS weekend.

matt.
 
Thanks alot John and Matt. I've hunted out of airboats before, but never owned one. I want to do this the right way. My mechanic just told me that the engine is crap and needs a complete overhaul or put another engine on the boat. He said the overhaul would be $3000 to $4000. I thought that was a little steep for an overhaul. Today, I'm going over there to take a look at the engine myself and way my options. It might be better just to slip another engine on there. I really would love to overhaul this engine, or buy a recently overhauled engine. I don't want something that I'm going to be taking to the shop every other month.
 
pepi,
Keep an eye out on ebay.

For some reason they seem to have a steady stream of good looking small 4cyl continental aircraft engines on there.

Some go for a very reasonable price.

You may find a drop in replacement engine way cheaper than rebuilding that one.

I guess nobody really want those little 65's or 85's anymore. At least not if the aren't airworthy.
 
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