What to buy for a first boat?

[Basslies]

Hi all.

I'd like to get a boat by spring and thought it may not be too premature to ask for opinions and advice on what to be looking for.

I live in the central FL. area, which means deep water ( if you call 10 ft. deep) and brush choked swampy areas surrounding it.

I don't necessarily want to focus on the aircraft vs auto motor issues, just want to know what kind of boat may be more forgiving, stable, and enjoyable for a first ride. Its also important to me that I find something that I can learn on, but will still be satisfactory after the Gee-Whiz stage passes.

I've watched this forum for a long time, and really would like someone to tell me if a direct drive (assuming a car motor set-up) has any thing going for it other than the cost factor.

The hull, things to avoid, and any other information you think may be helpful would sure be appreciated.

I think the budget issue will be in the $6500. range, and the wish list of features would also be that it would seat a driver and maybe two passengers.

I've looked on this sites classifieds, as well as the AB trader, but with so many choices, I wouldn't know where to start at this point.

I'll probably post a few more times in the coming few weeks to get more details, but have been wanting to ask this for some time, and thought I'd drop a line in to see what kind of thoughts you may have on it.

Thank You.
H

 

[JL242]

My fist boat was 11'9" (almost 12') Gileo with a 0360 Lycoming. It was a great starter boat, it was great on fuel and had enough power to run dry. Couple things to remember, it ran in deep water ok, but it didn't handle a wake very well. Holes get punched in fiberglass that don't have polymer. The other things you need to know besides water depth is how many people are going with you, or is it just you the dog, and a cooler....... For all around cost with learning I would lean toward a 4 cylinder boat with a small hull. Make sure you get the boat turn key, cause if it needs this and that it can cost you a small fortune. If I had to do it all over again I would go with an 11' 9" aluminum hull with medium sides and an angle valve 0360.

 

[Whitebear]

I've had glass boats and run a ton of metal boats. My first was a 10' Gore with a O-290 on it. Was a great lil learner. I put my boy in his first with a 10' PB hull and a 90 HP GPU. That boat would run dry bout same as water. It was a wizard for some reason. Course at 14 his gas weighed more than he did and he only had a 10 gallon tank.

I had a lot of DD BUICK 455 boats, they ran ok , were fairly fast and would run dry with a lot of folks on board. I ran a lot of metal Seismic work boats with BBC and Franklin CH3 redrives. They were awesome for big boats.

I am going back to a 12 foot boat with an O-360 or IO-360. Dont need the weight or all that push. I fish and frog and camp with a boat. Campsites are by the water ande the frogs are usually within giggin range.

So, about any 10-12' hull with an O-360 is more than enough to get yer feet wet on. Sadly the prices that are being asked for these motors put them out of the pricerange of most folks. You might consider a GPU if finances are tight. For a first boat I would stay away from big DD engines and the associated weight. These big engines are fine for folks who already have a bunch of stick time but not the best for a first timer. Lots of folks have gone there the first time, I'm just saying its not the best route.

Your first boat is a trainer so ya want something that ya have to learn with. Learn the water the manners of air pushing the boat, learn the handeling or lack of it when ya let off the gas. Learn learn learn, but ya don't want something that will make ya fight to stay afloat or sacre ya if ya make a mistake.

Hence I say light smaller boat and light smaller engines are the best learners.

Glass -vs- metal is just a choice they both have their plusses. Remember you wil have periodic repairs so if you dont have the tools yet you may want to look at the cost of tools to make repairs with before ya jump one way or the other. That is assuming you will maintain the boat yourself.

Anyway, hope this helps or adds food for thought.

Scotty

 

[Anezangl]

Whitebear I was reading your response to the first boat recomendations and you made mention of your son and his first boat at age 14. Made me wonder, what is the legal age if there is one, for a person to operate a airboat?

 

[UncleBubba]

My first boat boat was a 12ft Laser with a DD302 ford on it. I learn alot from this boat It wasn't that great in deep water but in skinny water it was a blast.



It was cheep to keep up. I could also run it on 87.


I know this ain't much but hope it helps.


AND DON"T BE SCARD TO ASK ??????????????????

 

[bravo1218]

I am still in the learning curve of this great hobby. Something that I would have concidered if I would have known is as has been sugested, stay light. I started with a barge and love it but in the learning curve there have been meny times I have not had my boat exactally where I wanted it.
I see these other guys with light little boats grab the bow and push them around and they are ready to go. I need three men and a boy to push my bow around.
Good luck with it.
Tim
Warning: this is more additive then drugs.

 

[Olf Art]

Smaller and lighter, like others have posted, is real good advice in my opiion.
Smaller, lighter boats usually cost less to operate (smaller engines) and they're just plain easier to get around with on land too. Less wear and tear on your towing vehicle, and better to handle when you're by yourself.

Don't get in a hurry ...... be patient and a good deal on one will come along. And keep asking questions.
Welcome to the forum.

olf

 

[Basslies]

My thanks to each of you for the replies.

Your recomendations of a light boat go along with my initial thoughts on this.

I saw a really interesting one seater over at the Sarno races. It was a well worn green boat with a round fuel tank, and was parked near the ticket tent. It wasn't for sale, but I was just admiring it. I pointed it out to my wife and she mentioned that it was a one seater, and wondered just where she would be riding on one like that.

I'll be lookng at the for sale listings for the next couple of months, and perhaps will be able to find the right one by spring.

One thing that I'd appreciate help with is to be able figure out when an AC engine boat runs off gas or when it requires Av-gas. Its the small things that make it difficult to wade through all the information on these things.

Anyway, thanks again to each of you.

H

 

[Whitebear]

Anezangl

Guess I didnt see tyour question before, sorry.

I believe the legal age is 15. Yeh I said he was 14 but it was about mid year his 13 year. In those days we actually had some common sense laws and there was no age limit. My big DD Buick boat was just too much for him to handle learning on. Did I mention his lil boat was a full deck as well. Had no electrical system, hence hand prop. Was the perfect trainer in my opinion.

Sorry I missed the question.

Scotty

 

[Anonymous]

The thing I always tell people who are thinking about buying their first airboat is, you need to climb in a bunch of different boats and just see what it feels like sitting in them and getting in and out.

You will learn quick what you like about how a boat is set up and things like front vs rear steer, high vs low rigging, single seat, double seat, steps etc etc etc.....

In short, I guess ergonomics and comfort are very important. Who cares if the boat can run the hill, if you are not comfortable sitting in it, or if you bust your a$$ getting in and out of the thing in a hurry

Red

 

[Hogheaven]

My first boat and still loving it. Needed seats, Got lots o friends, LOL. Get cup holders...LOL

 

[Whitebear]

Glad that boat has worked out for you. Thats "IN GENERAL" way too much boat for a first timer.

If course there are always exceptions to any rule but if things go badly for ya when underway, most newbies would have no clue how to recover that thing and get it back under control.

I stand by my statement that light moderate power is best to begin with. It just giives a MUCH greater margin for error and inexperience. I would never put anyone who has never run a boat into something I know they aren't ready for. I bet nobody here would put their kids in a Corvette or a Semi for their first car after getting the drivers license yesterday.

Just my opinions though and remember what we recommend here travels through and to a LOT of people who have never had one and likely never even had a ride in one yet. People of all ability levels and skill levels.

Scotty

 

[cntry141iq]

they have new laws about kids and boats in florida. They have to complete the boater education course and get a lisc. to operate more than a 10hp engine I don't know all the specifics but it is on the myfwc.com website

Anyone 21 years of age or younger, is required to either have successfully completed a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved boating education course or have passed a course equivalency or temporary certificate examination and have in their possession a boating education ID card and a photo identification card before operating a vessel with a motor of 10 HP or more in Florida. Identification cards for persons completing the course or the equivalency exam are good for a life time. Temporary Certificate exams are made available to the public through contractors. The temporary certificate is valid for a period of 12 months from the issue date.

The law does provide for some exemptions to the boating education requirements. The following are exempted from the requirements of boater education:


Persons licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard as a master of a vessel.

Persons operating on a private lake or pond.

Persons accompanied in a vessel by a person exempt.

Persons who are nonresident and have proof of completion of a NASBLA approved course from another state and are visiting the state for 60 days or less in an out-of-state boat.

 

[Whitebear]

Guess my GFC Boating Safety Instructor Certificate will suffice.

Due to the increasing crowding its probably not a bad idea. I hate to see regulation of anything but maybe the time has come.

I'm big on the CDL for drivers, even the General Knowledge portion of the license so this might have some positive effect.

If the overcrowding continues though it will be a moot point, cause there won't be anywhere left to run a boat. Just about likie ATVs and dirt bikes.

Scotty

 

[Hogheaven]

Understood Whitebear... I did fail to mention that i've been around blowboats for quite some time, so I had some basis before I bought.
THe mad bow dash to keep from swamping upon losing power in deep water is an needed lesson for all.

Good luck with what ever you decide.

 

[Anonymous]

....THe mad bow dash to keep from swamping upon losing power in deep water is an needed lesson for all....

For sure, I had to do it myself sunday. My pickup tube in my gas tank broke off and I lost power. Had to unscrew the fitting from the tank and drop it in through the filler neck to make it home. All part of airboating

 

[FloridaQuaker1027]

I am in the same boat as basslies is in....Airboat is more addictive than drugs...Every since I took my first ride with my buddy on his boat I have been dieing to get my own my budget is a little bit lower than his at the moment and I have some money to play with but dont want to get stuck buying something that is a piece of s*** someone is trying to dump or buying something just to get me out on the water and once i get it realize i dont like it

I have about 20 hours of stick time under my belt and most it was on my buddy's thurman with a 540 and 5 blade warp drive and my other buddy;s boat witch was a Big O with a 0470 and a powershift

I love the way my buddys thurman drives but at the same time I do like the way my other buddys boat drives and feel that might be a better boat for what I am looking to do witch with a boat witch is a lot of hunting

I thinking about doing a few different things.....I see alot of boats with automotive DD fiberglass hulls that are relatively cheap....I have no stick time with automotive boats and am not sure how differently the wieght factor plays into the way those boats ride....The second thing I have been looking at are boats with 220 GPU's witch I have heard a great deal of praise about but alot of people have told me that just dont have that power really behind them if you get stuck in the mudd or have to run cross country.....I was considering maybe a 150 or 180 4 cyl but they are pretty pricely and alot od people have told me they are good motors but u have to keep your foot down and eat alot of gas

I was thinking about buying my friends step moms (who use to be married to Tom Schmidtt) 13' cotten mouth hull that has a 0470 on there but hasnt run in year and after talking with Tom about he pretty much told me dont even bother with that motor but am now thinking about just taking the boat and stripping it down and re-doing the boat and getting it set up the way I want it and then maybe putting a motor on there but I am affaird it might cost me more in the long run than just keeping my eyes open and hiding a boat already complete.

I am just tired of sitting here talking about airboats and rather be out on the water with my own

 

[Whitebear]

That 13' boat with the O-470 could be a really good boat. It just slays me when folks say a motor is no good. I recommend ya make some calls to the folks who rebuild aircraft engines here and just ask for an idea what it might cost for a rebuild. Aircraft engines arent like car engines in that they are not cheep but they are easy to rebuild. Being easy means you can save money on labor etc. If your inclined you can order a book on it and do it yourself too. Especially if you have some aircraft mech contacts for some backup.

This could end up being a good combo for you if you spend some time instead of money checking out all the options. O-470s typically make from 230 HP on up tp close to or just under 300 HP in stock form depending on the model. The best stock GPU PE-150 they call a 220 actually produces around 170 HP in box stock form. The O-470 is a way better motor. Not bad mothing the old GPU just the 470 is a better motor.

Im sure folks who are into the 470s will post some better info for ya here and maybe some dollar ideas as well.

Check that hull closely it could be a winner or a loser. Spend your time instead of money checking it out.

Scotty

 

[FloridaQuaker1027]

I would love to re-do that boat but when I have to Tom Schmidt who built the motor tell me it aint worth rebuilding and he built it to just give to his wife and run lumber to his camp and not for running a long period of time I kinda want to pull in favor of what he is telling me then again who knows

 

[blackpowderscout]

My first boat was a 13' Cottonmouth with an O-470C. Rated at 265 HP but made about 255 HP or so (it was an IO but was converted to Carb,I don't know if you really lose any so I'm just being conservative).

It was great!!! I hunted the heck out of that boat as did the guy who had it before me and the one before him. It is still running strong on Kissimmee last time I heard. It was a hill runner (not a screamer but pretty solid nonetheless) and I think that is a great combo to learn on.

I'm with WB, check out how much it would cost to have it fixed.

Adam