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Questions for airboat users from a northern yank

S

Skinny

Member
OK, I do not own an airboat. I am an aircraft mechanic that had an airboat dropped in my lap. Gent just bought it and needs me to make run right.

This is a 12' boat with a Continental 520 or 550 non aircraft engine..... Just looks like one. It is supposed to be rated at 220 HP as I was told. This CID engine in aircraft produces 250-300 HP. I had to repair both magnetos and the carburetor. I am ready to run it.

I am scared to start it! There are no provisions to tie the boats back end to the trailer. I have been informed by the owner that it will drive just fine on the grass.

My question today is: Can the boat be safely run while on the trailer, provided the trailer is connected to a tow vehicle? IF SO, How much RPM can I safely run to test the repairs? In aircraft, we run it up to 1700-1800 RPM for magneto and carb heat checks. I assume the boat will be in the back of my truck if I tried that on the trailer. OR, Should I unload it from the trailer and take it for a ride in the grass? I have only been on an airboat 1 time as a little kid on the Platte River in Nebraska. Now I am in WI, and have not seen an airboat for close to 10 years prior to this one showing up.

Any help would be appreciated.

Skinny
 
Naw your 520 cont is probably around the 300hp range. As long you have hooked to the trailer attach to the truck it should be fine with out any fear out all. Just make sure that the rope or strap it is hook to is in good shape. If not replace the rope with brand new boat reel that has the strap instead I think they're rated to 10,000 pounds. Then make sure that the metal that the reel is on is good shape. If everything is in good shape you should be able to hold it wide open for a few seconds or longer really. Just use your common sense and you'll be okay.
 
sounds like a pe-150 commonly called a 220 Continental that's with 470 jugs the 520/550 will give him a little better then that . on the trailer is fine like already said
 
one things for sure, if you take it for a ride in the grass, you will be buying your own boat next week
 
huntnfish87":8mnxxhiu said:
one things for sure, if you take it for a ride in the grass, you will be buying your own boat next week
Click to expand...

but most certainly one with a lycoming on it. :D
 
First of all, I would like to thank everyone that posted a reply for giving me the courage to take it for a ride. First I chained the bow to the trailer.... Good thing too! I started it and about 1500 RPM, The chain got tight. At 2500 RPM, I had cleared all the dust and pebbles from the tarmac and had the park pin on my truck screaming for mercy. It does move nicely on the damp morning grass.
From the research I have done it is a Continental 220 HP GPU motor.

Woody, The continental 520 and 550 have varying HP Ratings
O-470 (Carbureted) 225-250 HP
O-520 (Carbureted) 280 HP - Continental Never produced this motor this is TX Skyways mod
O-550 (Carbureted) 285 HP - Continental Never produced this motor this is TX Skyways mod
IO-470 (Fuel Injected) 240-260 HP
IO-520 (Fuel Injected) 285 HP
IO-550 (Fuel Injected) 300 HP
TSIO-520 (Turbo-Supercharged Fuel Injected) 315-335 HP
GTSIO-520 (Gear Reducted Turbo Supercharged Fuel Injected 340-375 HP

Goldhunter, The cylinders on 520 and 470 are the same part number, The difference is the stroke. The 550 has a larger bore

huntnfish, OK, the ride on the grass rocked! I would love to have one! Problem with here is that there is no where to take it. WI is not an air-boat friendly state.

jpatter, I would have to agree. If I had one, I would want the angle valve 360 Lycoming fuel injected at 200 HP. Since it would not need to be airworthy, I would also install helicopter pistons and shave the case and cylinder decks to up compression even more. Should be about to get 220-225 HP out of it at 2700 RPM and retain 10-12 GPH at WFO Throttle.

Again, Thank you for your responses! I was happy I was able to get his boat running properly for him. The boat performed to his satisfaction once it was running right. It is amazing how bad a magneto can be messed up and still make an engine run. I spent a couple hours and very few parts to make the magnetos work like new again. The drive bearing was missing (not wore out, NOT installed) on the only mag that was working. WOW it is a screamer now.
 
Skinny":x4v6ront said:
Goldhunter, The cylinders on 520 and 470 are the same part number, The difference is the stroke. The 550 has a larger bore
Click to expand...

Skinny, 470 and 520 are not the same bore but do share the same stroke.You would have to bore the 470 case to accept 520 cyls. However the 550 and 520 cyls are the same bore but the 550 has a .25 longer stroke. http://www.tcmlink.com/producthighlights/ENGTBL.PDF

engine MODEL # hp @ rpm bore stroke

IO-550-D, E, F & (L) 300 @ 2700 5.25 X 4.25
IO-550-G 280 @ 2500 5.25 X 4.25
IO-550-N 310 @ 2700 5.25 X 4.25

IO-520-L 285 @ 2700 5.25 X 4.00
IO-520-M, MB 285 @ 2700 5.25 X 4.00

IO-470-C 250 @ 2600 5.00 X 4.00
IO-470-D & E 260 @ 2625 5.00 X 4.00
 
Geneva, thank you for the correction on the bore and stroke. The HP Rating I gave was from the FAA TCDS (Type Certificate Data Sheets.)

The more I read and the more I see, the more I like airboats. I have enough used (non-serviceable) parts at the shop that I might just build an engine or 2 and search around for a donor hull to make an airboat.

I need to do a little more research on noise requirements in WI. I sure would like to ride around on the ice in one. That is the only way I would feel safe Ice Fishing, and I do LOVE fishing!

I am hooked! I am going to be a regular to this site!
 
and another one down and another one down
another one bites the dust.. :D

its like a damn disease touch an airboat and ya gotta have one. :lol:
 
Quit your job, move down here and build airboat engines! And sell them to me for cost since I gave you the idea!! :D
 
Skinny welcome to airboating form Michigan.. You have come to the right place for information on your new habit. Sorry I do not know anything about aircraft but it sounds like you have that handled.. But I do know some about the laws up here and running on ice and snow. So if there is anything I can do to help let me know.
 
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