Water Rescue Boat

[Anonymous]

I'm a member of a water rescue team in southern Ohio. We are looking into purchasing a boat for flood rescue for our area. We need a boat that will travel over land and water, pavement if an emergency, and be able to transport 6-8 people in swift moving water.
I don't know anything about airboats, but someone mentioned they may be our best option.
Does anyone have any info about airboats for water rescue?
Are there any opinions on whether or not this would be a safe option?
What size/cost are we looking at for a boat of this type?

Please feel free to post answers here or email them to codedirector@yahoo.com

Thanks is advance for any input.

Roman Brandau
FF/Rescue Diver
Wellston Division of Fire

 

[kb27_99]

An airboat could defiantly be a very useful tool in your line of work. Airboats are used all over the world for rescue because of the diversity between land, water, snow, and ice.

With the loads you intend to carry it would be best that you use a big block automotive boat with gear reduction. The Chevy 502 big block would have no trouble running across many different surfaces with 8 people aboard.


Safety could be an issue in rapid moving water if the driver doesn't have extensive experience in that situation, but with practice I am sure it could be accomplished.


Here are a couple of articles I found:

http://www.detnews.com/2000/macomb/0011 ... 142935.htm
http://www.pacpubserver.com/new/news/7- ... -side.html
http://www.huskyairboats.com/articles.html
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?news ... 6476&rfi=6
http://local.press-world.com/v/62798.html


If you feel the need to contact a builder, contact Mark's airboats. He can build specificly to your needs and may be able to give some training in the process.
http://marksairboats.com/

Just my 2cents, Kevin

 

[Anonymous]

You may want to check with silver dollar boats, their hulls are alot deeper than most and have aluminium engine stands, prop. cages. I have been happy wiyh my boat. He will build you any thing you like.

 

[rick]

Just wanted to make sure you had seen these pics that someone sent in last year. I can't remember who sent them, but they were from Ohio & training on an American Airboat.
Here's the links:
http://www.southernairboat.com/gallery/zz_captions_window.php?177
http://www.southernairboat.com/gallery/zz_captions_window.php?178

Also I remember this news release from Alumitech earlier this year:
Alumitech, Inc. Announces the Development of New Search and Rescue Boat

I think just about any of the major airboat manufacturers will custom build a boat that fits your needs. All the ones that I know of with websites are listed in the "Airboat Builders A-Z" section of AirboatDirectory.com

 

[Anonymous]

Roman,
We need to talk! ! !
Before I get to indepth, please allow me to refer you to my articles on airboat use for water rescue operations appearing in:
FIRE ENGINEERING - March, 2004
NATIONAL FIRE & RESCUE MAGAZINE - March/April, 2004
AIRBOAT WORLD MAGAZINE - August, 2004
CODE 3 MAGAZINE - June, 2004
SHOTGUN SPORTS MAGAZINE - June, 2004

If you want to talk and learn about rescue airboats, please feel free to contact me at: H2oAirRsq@aol.com

WaterLizard