Which engines on glass or metal hulls are adequate to run dry with 3 people? My experience for 30 years is running the Chassahowitzka coastal areas with GPU's and 260 Lycomings on medium sized glass boats. I now own a 16 ft. Hartline with a 502 with polymer. Have not taken this boat to the interior but will in time. I am considering a small, aircraft powered hull to run the Kissimmee area. (I need another boat, Honey!) Question...Will my 502 perform OK in the thick and dry areas? I'm also concerned about the needed horsepower/engines needed to run a small hull in the same areas. On the coast, we run mud and deep water, and my 502 Hartline performs well. I plan to retire in 3 years, and I will spend a lot of time in the interior part of the state. We have owned a cabin for 45 years on the Chassahowitzka River near the refuge. I am interested in the experiences of you guys who run the interior areas of Florida.
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Small hulls with aircraft engines
- Thread starter eagleone
- Start date
rick
Administrator
Sometimes I run with a 16' Alumitech with a gear reducted 502. I've always been partial to smaller boats, but that boat is awsome. You can load it with 4 grown people & gear and go just about anywhere you want to go.
I think I would take that 502 & go to the Kissimmee Chain & hang out for a few weekends. You'll see just about every kind of boat imaginable. I will have to say though, that I like the 12' boat range with a straight valve Lycoming 540 or the Continental O-520.
One more thing:
I think I would take that 502 & go to the Kissimmee Chain & hang out for a few weekends. You'll see just about every kind of boat imaginable. I will have to say though, that I like the 12' boat range with a straight valve Lycoming 540 or the Continental O-520.
One more thing:
Did You know the Hampton family over there?eagleone":1c58tiqn said:
Daddy Dave
Well-known member
Eagleone,
Ran my first paid charters as a teenager catching big winter trout in Mud Hole and off Crawford Creek on the Chassahowitzka river more than 40 years ago. Ate breakfast many mornings at Miss Maggies and about ran William and Paul Hampton crazy. The Gleatons were my next door neighbors in Tampa.
Many of the Kissimmee Marsh boats favor aircraft engines. In summer, when the back country is green, dry and sticky, the overall weight of auto powered larger boats make them somewhat limited in their ability to get around. If you plan to frog and stay mostly in the water, there will not be a problem with the big boat.
However, one of my best friends runs the boat you describe with a SBC - he has a cabin on the Homosassa - and he has amazed me with where he runs over there.
Ran my first paid charters as a teenager catching big winter trout in Mud Hole and off Crawford Creek on the Chassahowitzka river more than 40 years ago. Ate breakfast many mornings at Miss Maggies and about ran William and Paul Hampton crazy. The Gleatons were my next door neighbors in Tampa.
Many of the Kissimmee Marsh boats favor aircraft engines. In summer, when the back country is green, dry and sticky, the overall weight of auto powered larger boats make them somewhat limited in their ability to get around. If you plan to frog and stay mostly in the water, there will not be a problem with the big boat.
However, one of my best friends runs the boat you describe with a SBC - he has a cabin on the Homosassa - and he has amazed me with where he runs over there.
Thanks fellas for your comments. Rick and Big Daddy - I knew Paul and William many years ago on the river. They eventually ran a fish house and fishing operation out of Homosassa. I think William passed on some years ago. My father fished and hunted the Chass. starting in about 1928 or so and my first trip was in about 1945. It was a wild place in those days. Pigs running all over the place, to the point they would tear your camp up. We stayed at old man Bryant's camp in those days if we didn't camp out.
I am from Tampa and grew up there, knew Mr. Gleaton as well.
Crawford and Potters Creek are about the only places you can catch Bass anymore, the Red's are coming back though.
Big Daddy and Rick: when I get down again, I will give you a call , maybe you can come to the river, would be great to talk to some airboaters from my area.
P.S. My 502 boat was about the fourth boat that Chuck Rackley installed the crossover pipes on. It works pretty well.
I am from Tampa and grew up there, knew Mr. Gleaton as well.
Crawford and Potters Creek are about the only places you can catch Bass anymore, the Red's are coming back though.
Big Daddy and Rick: when I get down again, I will give you a call , maybe you can come to the river, would be great to talk to some airboaters from my area.
P.S. My 502 boat was about the fourth boat that Chuck Rackley installed the crossover pipes on. It works pretty well.