What about my boat....?

[Bowhntr6pt]

I'm new to airboats and I have been wondering about my boat/engine combo.

I have an Airgator hull with a fresh 0470 GPU (less than 25 hours thus far) with poly on the bottom. Front single seat w/double rear. I realize now, after getting the boat, that there are many, many hull styles out there. A time or two my high sides have kept me from taking on water.

Prior to deciding to go with the 0470 GPU, as the rigging was already set up for such, I considered a V-6 or V-8 with a reduction but some folks said the hull was not big enough (wide that is) while others said it was....

I decided to stick with the recommendations from the previous hull owner and went with a "freshly re-built" 0470 GPU. New gas tank, rudders, battery, fuel pump, hoses, etc and I'm set for what I hope is a few years of trouble free boating.

Any comments reference this set up?

I've been very pleased with how the boat rides and performs, I'm just trying to decide if a Signature Series carbon prop will make a difference.

 

[SwampMatt]

Did you ever notice on a road in a corner they tilt the pavement a little. Say it's a left hand turn, and there is no tilt. Your car wants to roll over slightly to the right. So they bank the turn and that force is transferred into pressing the car down and giving you better traction. And keeps the car level.

Well, on the water, there ain't no banked turns. And when you are going slow and make a turn, that same roll will want to happen. Add to the force the torque from your spinning motor and prop. That can make it worse.

On my car motor boat, when standing behind the boat, the prop turns counter clockwise (left hand rotation). That means for the motor to push the prop to the left, it wants to push the hull to the right. Even more so when goosing the gas a little for some wind to steer with. When I make a left hand turn at idle, that force from the banked turn in the road is in play, AND the force of the torque wanting to push the right rear corner under the water. A little water flows over the side - the boat gets even heavier on that side. It adds up fast. And sinks just as fast.

Right hand turns are less of a issue. The torque of the spinning motor & prop tends to counteract the centrifugal force of the turn - Right turns are easier. It can still happen, but the two forces cancel each other to some degree.

Opposite is true if you run a gear drive or the motor turns the prop clockwise (right hand rotation) - Watch your right turns at idle or when in a slow plow.

You can dip the back corner of your hull under the surface and sink in a matter of seconds when turning at slow speed. Many of the best have done it, and many more will do it again. It's just that east to have happen - especially if the wind is just right further adding sideways push.

High sides or a deck-over, and a wide boat all help in this situation.

be careful! Have fun on plane!


matt.

 

[Ruagatr]

I have run airgators for 35years. What model is this? Year? Dimensions? I ran a direct and gear reduced Cadillac on a 7 x 15 Airgator Explorer--the one with the rounded hull, for 25 years.....I now run a gear reduced aluminum headed Roller cammed Cadillac on a 16 x 7.6 Alumitech AGI II hull. So give us some data, and we'll try and tell you the answers. But I can already tell you, from a safety standpoint, your boat is very safe since the engine doesnt weigh much at all and you must have a ton of freeboard. That boat will do spins in open water, although thats not recommended. Regards, Charles

 

[Bowhntr6pt]

I believe that the hull is a 1997, it has rounded edges at the bottom (no chimes) and a partial cover/deck on the front.

The boat measures 13'x7'.

 

[basketcase0302]

Mood,

Come on, you didn't say anything about torque roll on a counter-rotator

I thought you were a believer

Basketcase

 

[SwampMatt]

Basket - I've seen it in action - I've had a beer on it (at the microwave tower) but never ridden on it! Looks like you're just gonna have to take me and Laura out for a ride when you come up to my stomping grounds in a few weeks.

... and make a believer out of me.

matt.

 

[Ruagatr]

Well that is waaay too small to run a direct drive big block on. I would say you have a nice setup and that you will be very happy with its performance, especially if you put polymer or Frog spit on the bottom. Best, Charles Morehead

 

[Bowhntr6pt]

Well that is waaay too small to run a direct drive big block on.

I agree, now that I have had some time to look at other boat hulls/Combos.

Yea, so far, no complaints as far as performance is concerned.