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Proper way of salvaging an airboat

leo_081103

Well-known member
Guys

Olf and I were having a good discussion on the other thread of positive floatation in case something happens to our airboat. It occured to me that I have not sunk an airboat nor my airboat yet. I am not sure if this topic was discussed before here but if so, maybe some better ways have been found out. Just in case it happens to me, how do we properly salvage our boat if it goes down to say around 10'/15' deep waters?
 
Leo

There seems to be some rather standard procedures for raising your boat.

As close as I can figure this list is incomplete but seems to cover most of it.

1. Massive amounts of cursing, swearing and taking every diety that there ever was name in vain. The more vulgar the curses the easier it will lift off the bottom.

2. Run down at least 1 cell phone battery calling what you thought were your friends for help. More cursing and swearing here. Eye the dog carefully.

3. Induce your "friends" to help by offering free beer, gas and party makins. More cursing. Begin to blame it on that damned dog.

4. Meet this troup of people you are angry with and pass out the beer and marvel at all the contrivances they have amassed to make this a simple quick and easy job. Relate several times how it all happened while swilling just one more beer before we begin. Take a kick at the dog, its all his damned fault anyway.

5. Arrive back at the scene with your posse and see how many people can give directions at the same time. Drink more beer. More heavy cursing, fumbeling and try to get the beast off the bottom. Soon as it breaks free, curse some more as it slips from the masterfully created sling to lift it with. Toss that damned dog in the canal and curse at him some more. Consider shooting that worthless mutt in the water.

6. Work until near daylight and are frozen like a bag of ice. Shivver, shake and give up 'til tomorrow when it's daylight. Call the dog to get in the boat, were going home you useless egg suckin hound. Thank everyone and head back to the hill and agree that noon will be good enough to try again.

7. Climb in the truck and call that pitiful excuse for a dog to get in. He jumps in and cluddles close to share his warmth with you and warm your frozen hands.

8. Get home, pass out on the floor with the dog. Long nights sleep with the dog cuddled in close. Warm, dream, fade to black. (read pass out)

9. Noon, wake up shower, eat & call for your faithful mutt to join ya in the truck. Stop at 7-11 and get a soda and some water and meet back at the ramp. Scratch that companions head and hug him.

10. Arrive back at the scene and tie a rope on and the craft nearly floats to the surface on its own. Find that there is water in the oil so yall tow it in and load it on the trailer. Thank all your close friends who stood by ya through this and offer money which is duely refused. Head home after a stop at IHOP or Waffle House. Everyone has breakfast and you order a take out order. Soon as ya get to the truck, feed that noble companion his own plate of eggs and bacon for his loyalty and fidelity and undieing friendship. He sure has learned a lot about how to behave in 24 hours. Swear you gotta find some way to improve that breath though.

Home and watch the game with the dog.

Scotty
 
We always get it sitting flat on the bottom, then tie on to it with a strong outboard (115HP or better) and 100' or so of strong rope. Pull her to the top and if the area permits pull it up on a sand bar. We have also had someone waiting in another boat to jump in and pull the plug out of the sunkin boat once it surfaces while on step and keek it on step until all the water is gone.


Kevin
 
That's simple enough kb. Maybe I'll go for the someone with the 115 hp outboard. It'll take just one call rather than draining my cellphone battery for an entire army.

That's one method I have to see for myself.
 
Leo she don't need to no nothing about that! If she cared so much she would have been with you on the boat! Remember you did not sink the boat, her not allowing you to purchase a better boat, a better motor, a better prop, etc....its her fault. In all seriousness I have helped two sunken a/b at camp mack. a rope and several men pulling it towards shore till it was on the ground, bailed and had it restarted in a short period of time.
 
BADBILLY


Is that so. With this airboat of mine ( yes that's just my airboat, not with my wife :) ), I have not yet prepared for such a time in my life... got to invest for a full battle gear when I tell that to my wife!!! :D
 
Whoa...this is really getting serious. Before I get to sink my boat, I too must make a good friend out of my dog?

I think I'll have to chat with Olf Art some more on those floatation devices and concentrate on keeping my boat afloat rather than knowing what to do when it sinks LOL


This sure is making this thread more interesting!
 
The rules change according to the depth of the water.

I can envision a couple of scenarios where you would just say grace over it and call your insurance adjuster instead of your bubbies.
"Yup, yessir ... sunk that sucker. Well, they say it's pretty deep right along there. Something like 300', yessir. Whaddaya think we need to do next ?" :lol:

olf
 
I have taken inter tubes & put them in the bow compartment & inflated them with compressed air from a sucba tank The took one tube on each siide a back by cage & tied a half inflated tube on the prop guard down next to side of of boat to keep boat stable. The pulled the boat up on to dry land where the transom is just out of the water & pumped it out. If in salt water disconect the battery ASP after a few moinutes All wires will be history. Fresh water not so.
 
There's only one thing worse than telling your buddy that you sunk the airboat and need his help pullin' it out....

That's telling your buddy that you sunk HIS airboat, and that you need him to help pull it out!!!!

Some things just 'aint right!!!!
 
a friend of mine...who reads this forum, swears he put the plugs in"they must have come out" atleast he had his chix with him for the night at a camp. 4ft of water and 3 guys floated it long enough to put the plugs in and bail out enough to let the bilge take over.
 
Rich, the number #1 reason boats sink is heavy rain (no automatic bilge or dead batteries).

The #2 reason is not having enough people aboard to bail until somebody can find the plugs and get 'em back in ...... :) .

Those have to be memorable times though. I'd love to have a video camera for some of them.

olf
 
Guys I sank my boat in 8 feet of water. You are right about getting it up and out. I hope I never have to go through this with my boat ever again. It went down still running cracked a cylinder head. So I just rebuilt the whole darn engine just to make sure it was good to go again. Oh I forgot to mintion both my sons were ridding with me YOU guys probably KNOW MY OLDEST UNCLE BUBBA
 
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