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NewBee to air boats

C

ca JT

Member
I have a fasination for air boats. Goes in shallow water, high seats, but I really hardly ever see them in Calif. I was wondering how stable they are with, say, other boat wakes and maybe choppy water, slow moving river etc. They appear to be top heavy. Only, of course, an observation by me since motor and people sit high. Will probably have to come out to Florida just to buy one and figure what it's all about. Maybe someone can help me out on this! Hey thanks in advance. JT :D
 
ca JT,

Welcome to Southern Airboat.

I got a boat that uses a long belt drive to lower the engine into the hull for just that purpose, (not top-heavy).

Check out Diamondback Airboats website and several other companies that sell the long belt drive for testimonials on boat stability.

I'm very happy with my long belt thank you!

Basketcase
 
ca JT - It really depends on the size of the hull and the shape of the bottom. Even with hulls the same size, some hulls are very stable and some are not stable (almost spooky).

They are fine in slow moving water, and some do well in a light chop. I have seen those 18 footers running the Laguna Madre in 2 foot + chop, mean ride, but they were pounding it out. Fast water is something that requires different skills and have not do any.

Just a word of caution, a wave over the stern and they dive so fast, submariners get jealous, so beware and have fun.
 
JT you might consider a deck over boat i run one and have taken water over the boat several times with no affect as for rough water all i can say is flat bottom and waves make for good use of preperation-h most airboats are wider than regular boats to help with stability but i recommend useing a well known and reputable builder they can help you rig the boat for your demands. HAPPY BOATING!!!!!!!
 
This has been done, but the gentleman was a very experienced airboater and builder. I believe it was a step hull. This sort of thing is not for beginners.

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Jim
 
From ca JT...Hey thanks everyone for your valuable input on these airboat questions. Sound like I need to get to Florida and find out what it is all about first hand before thrashing myself. Does sound like a blast...as I have had DuneBuggies, road harleys, dirt bikes, jet skis,... and Jeeps running the Rubicon and Moab, Utah trails. Just looking for yet another thrill. I'm not, of course, getting any younger though! Say, why do the seats sit so high (this I really like)? To keep the alligators from nipping at your feet? Or to keep you from the wind tunnel?

JT
 
The high seat is darned handy to see where you are goin. You get a different perspective of your surroundings when you are lookin down on it.

Yep you should come to florida and check it out in fact if you come when we have a monthly run I bet getting a ride will not be a problem.
 
MOOD you are a trip LOL I am far far from great or wise but that is really funny. I placed my seats trying to compensate for the torque roll and still have some visibility. The wire fence part was why they used to call grass rakes .... fence jumpers... at least thats what we used them for you see when the water used to come up high we often found ourselves in pastures. Also it was easier than lookin for a gate out there and opening it up.

The old time gator poachers I grew up with used to run only a 1/2 cage and had their motors timed so that the prop would stop sideways to the hull so they could slide under low bridges of course they sat a little lower in their seats.

The game wardens were not allowed to use 1/2 cages because of the obvious reasons. I remember several of those old boys who were chewed up by the props when things went wrong.

so thats my story and I am stickin to it. LOL get that horn fixed on your boat
 
From ca JT Ok, I guess I'll rule out the gators nipping at the feet. Sounded good to me at time of writing. But wait...In fact, maybe it would add an air of total excitement if one should hang a pork roast on a line dangling over the front of the airboat to attract the overgrown lizards for added giggles and adrenaline flow. I saw something similar in a movie where a plumper chick fell out of a tree...think that was Australia though. Not sure about the train tressle theory. BTW, I was looking at airboats for sale online and some stated "pulls hills"??? Never heard of a hill on the water. I assume that means...well I don't assume anything; this is all too new to me. JT from Red Bluff. Ca
 
ca JT ..........and the A. R. Boate dude would have needed a steam powered engine with boiler and fuel supply of some sort in 1850.
HMMM...I'm trying to remember when that Fulton fellow invented the steam engine. Guess it was before the civil war so OK. :lol:
 
Jt you catch on ok. believe me you won't need a pork roast for an adrenaline rush on an airboat. Just find a skinny trail with shallow water and trees on both sides and then stand on it till you cant take the pressure anymore or till you wreck.
 
I was in your same situation about a month ago. Then I got an air boat. I am a yacht capain and have run all kinds of boats for the last 30 years. Nothing I have run prepared me for the air boat. I was shocked how ruff the ride is on choppy water. I got my boat to run in the Fla keys where I am now and unless it is almost flat it will give you a good shake. I got a 16' so I thought it would handle the water better. It is nothing like a 16' anything else. It is a ball to run and I am far from a good operator. It will take some time to get good at. Docking is a trick, come in to fast and you crash into the dock to slow and you are paddleing to get there.
If you are looking for a new thrill like I was go for it.
Tim
 
JT

Don't know about the "pulls hills" but generally speaking "runs the hill" means will run on dry ground. To some this is most important to others this is not. IMHO if it don't run the hill then why have it. But before I offend anybody on the site that is just for what I like to do. Like every boat I have ever been in there are trade offs.
 
Tradeoff is the name of the game. My boat is not the fastest but it gets along ok. I cant run the big waves but I can run a few miles dry if I need to. I cant run all night dry but most of them cant do waves as well. I built my boat to be a compromise so I could do a little of everything. I based it on what I liked to do and where I liked to do it.
 
cntry - "Tradeoff is the name of the game" - have not seen more truthful words than that. Anyone says their boat or hull can do everything is either lying or hasn't done much.

Shop around (bum rides) and see how each boat handles. Find one that does most of what you want to do well and get it.

Running the hill is fine and dandy, but that is the last thing I need to worry about. Heck the biggest hill around here is the levees we cross and I know fellows that do that with jonboats. But running a few miles dry, that is what I need regularly and could care less if the boat is the fastest.
 
I used to spend a lot of time stuck trying to run dry even when it was a slight miscalculation that caused the dry run. In fact I spent so much time stuck messing around with dd boats my runnin buddies back then wouldn't even let me run with them, but they did get big muscles thanks to me and my boats LOL.

My longest dry run lately has been 7.5 miles per GPS I burned a lot of gas rubbed a few trees, laid over a fence post or two ( now the trail is wider :wink: ) ran down and over a couple of hogs which was why we were there. So I am happy with my dry running ability of this boat.

I have had it out in waves which were 2-3' rollers and if you haven't tried that and practiced it I suggest you pass on it, but you can surf them and get where you want to go just maybe not the most direct route sorta like tacking in a sailboat. Really though start out with smaller ones because waves are very bad if you screw up.

I have had 1000 lbs in my boat and drove it to the top of the dike at OKEECHOBEE but you need to pick the route because some parts of it are very steep and most boats including mine will not make it up those parts.

I also have been out on very hot humid nights when with 500 lbs on it I had to really struggle to get to the top of the dike. So it all depends on load, weather, terrain and many other variables and the only way to know what you can get done is to have been doing it for a while the bad part is there is no instruction manual that I have found yet and mistakes are very costly and can be hazardous to your health not just your wallet.

BUT I WOULDN'T TRADE IT FOR NOTHIN ELSE
 
Hey 141,

Then what was that manual you gave Moodfood and I on the last ride??? Now I remember, it was toilet paper,(not a manual) for the ride back!!

More good advice from the pros!

Thanks again!

Basketcase
 
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