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sprayer pros and cons

W

webfoot1

Active member
Okay fellas...more questions from the new airboater in your ranks!

I have a 16x7 marks airboat hull, 350 DD, swinging a 70 inch paddle prop. I am in the midwest and will use the boat mostly on the ice. I have been running quite a bit this week while planting millet for duck season and got stuck about 15 feet on a dry mud back. I guess curriousity got to me and I had to see if I could cross it at the current speed I was going...the resounding answer, NO! Oh well, I'm learning and trying to get all the stick time I can. No education like expierence in my mind....

Well, I didn't notice when I bought the boat but there are sprayer nozzels up on the bow right below the rake. Well, being a newbie I was confused and then researched and found out what they are for. Now the questions!!!

Being in the midwest should I hook a system up? How much will it help me crossing semi dry ground? With the Direct drive I need all the help I can get. I understand that a sprayer is no subsistute for HP or a reduction unit...but will it make a big difference? Tell me more fellas.....this idiot has to learn somehow!!!
 
Webfoot1,

By no means am i an expert, but sprayers are a plus. They will help in some situations but as you have stated they are no replacement for gear reduction or hp. Keep this in mind all airboats can get stuck, it really is an issue of time and learning your boats capabilities. What is really bad is when you have hp and reduction and get stuck, then your in a real bind finding yourself way further off the beaten path than a expierenced dd boater that knows his boat. I would say this though and it's a toss up but a composite prop really wakes up a motor capability but, is the reduction cost plus new wood prop versus a new composite prop gonna get you what you need. In the end it really only matters if you are happy with your boats capabilities. Hope that helped you a little, happy airboating to you.
 
Webfoot1,

I forgot to mention that if you do decide to get a reduction unit you will also incur the cost of a new cage to make up for the added length of the reduction unit. Does your boat have polymere? I have heard a lot of good about Mark's hulls and dry ground running.
 
Yup, it's got polymer on it and is in great shape. I really want to beef her up as much as possible without going to a reduction unit right off.....as handsome as I may be my good looks don't pay enough quite yet :wink: !!!

I just gotta figure some things out....how much will a new prop help out? What am I looking at cost wise?
 
Webfoot1,

I can't tell you exactly what prop to use for a 350/DD but you should talk to Faron Floyd his user name is AirboatCaptn2 i believe, he has the hook up and info for Whirl Wind & Sensenich props. He can tell or get you what ever info you need and he is real easy to deal with, good guy.
 
Well my 350 could only turn a 72 32 stick it was old the motor that is. My 400 turns a 72 34 paddle. I actually need to sell the stick prop
 
I have 76"X 32 Sensenich PaddleTeflon tips 20 hrs had recondition in the box I take 350.00 (813) 758-1915 Mike
 
I say 3 hundred for the one I have. Its in good shape ready to run. Its to small for my new motor
I have my 72 34 paddle getting reconditioned right now.
Well Dan if you want it call me 407 484 7119
I will be working on my boat most of the week end, So if I don't answer I may be in the middle of spaying my rudders just leave a message I call you back.
The prop is in my garage if you want to look at it.
 
If you are going to run that sprayer be sure to only put something like Doz Laundry soap in it and save the bottle so you can show it is biodegradable. You get caught with petroleum products in it in some areas its a federal offense and in some areas its a state offense but either way you will likely lose the boat.

Scotty :wink:
 
If you are going to need to run dry on an intermittent basis and want to retain the DD configuration...you might consider swapping that 350 for an old Cadi 472 / 500. With just a few modifications, they are really THE ticket for auto powered DD low rpm torque.
 
I ran a soap system for many years. My boat would run dry without the system but I still used it. When you run dry you can feel the polly get hot and start to grab, well you hit the soap and it is like hitting nitrous. Also if you are in water hyason (sp) it will build in front of your boat if you are just putting around bowfishing. Well if you shoot some soap on it you will just slide over it without pushing the whole mat around. The best spray in the world is diesel but they will throw you under the jail if you use it.
 
I"d also think that a surfactant would go a long ways, soap breaks the water tension, so does surfactant, and its allowable to be sprayed in water, in pastures with animals etc....

Jeff
 
If its cheep in bult that might be the ticket. Would be smart to have a phone or email conference with FWC one on one about it. They may have some officers that don't know what that stuff is.

Scotty
 
NightRider said:
I would have already added one, but they are illegal if you run anywhere in the St. Johns .
Click to expand...

I got pulled over right in front of Lone Cabbage next to 520 hwy. The sprayer is illegal on the south side of 520 and not illegal on the north side. Also as for the sprayer it will not help you in black mud it will make it worse. But on vegetation and using a good mixture of soap like dawn dish washing liquid is environmentally friendly.


Geoff
 
Always have a 5 gal. bucket in your boat, and
a bottle of dawn dish soap under your seat.
if anyone ask its just for washing your hands
after fishing, but it will help you get back to
the water if your stuck. and it's not a spray
device.
 
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