12ft airboat in texas waters
12ft airboat in texas waters
Hey guys I'm new to airboating and live in Baytown I bought me a 12ft boat and put a ls1 motor on it runs great took it out one time Every body I talk to say I'm crazy that boat is two small what do y'all think it looks just like a Florida boat it has 18 in sides with the high seats .. Any tips I'm running trinty river and bay
- Birddog247
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- Location: Loxahatchee, FL
Re: 12ft airboat in texas waters
Deep water with 18 inch sides and a newbie at the rudder is a new artificial reef waiting to happen.
12ft Palm Beach
stock 350sbc
2.1 gear/80"NGR
"Save a tree; eat a beaver"!
stock 350sbc
2.1 gear/80"NGR
"Save a tree; eat a beaver"!
Re: 12ft airboat in texas waters
Any tips on driving it in deep water
- Birddog247
- Site Supporter - I
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- Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:12 pm
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12ft airboat in texas waters
Stay on plane and don't make any unessary maneuvers. You should try to avoid deep water at all cost. But if you do and happen to loose power while running get to the bow ASAP!
12ft Palm Beach
stock 350sbc
2.1 gear/80"NGR
"Save a tree; eat a beaver"!
stock 350sbc
2.1 gear/80"NGR
"Save a tree; eat a beaver"!
Re: 12ft airboat in texas waters
I was wondering if u are in deep water and on plane and say a bay boat comes hauling ass past u in the river what do u do slow down or just stay on plane and take the wake
- Birddog247
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- Location: Loxahatchee, FL
Re: 12ft airboat in texas waters
Slow down but stay on plane and take the wake. Keep the bow towards the wake and you will be fine unless it's a sport fish yacht.
12ft Palm Beach
stock 350sbc
2.1 gear/80"NGR
"Save a tree; eat a beaver"!
stock 350sbc
2.1 gear/80"NGR
"Save a tree; eat a beaver"!
Re: 12ft airboat in texas waters
Ok cool man thanks for the help just trying to get all the tips for a new guy
Re: 12ft airboat in texas waters
Yea I have to run some deep water to get to the marsh went out there and wind picked up and water was white cappin in river got kinda scary
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Re: 12ft airboat in texas waters
Airboat101
Rule#1: WHEN IN DOUBT POWER OUT !
Rule#1: WHEN IN DOUBT POWER OUT !
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- Location: red river below texoma
Re: 12ft airboat in texas waters
not if but when, expect it and be prepared, read up on cold water effects on human body, the best swimmer in the world wont last but a few moments
Re: 12ft airboat in texas waters
What brand of boat?
"The price of Freedom is high! And the sound of Freedom is loud!" (Jet fighter pilot)
Re: 12ft airboat in texas waters
I'm not to sure the title says homemade buy u can tell it's not. I know on the bottom of boat on each side it has a upside down V some guy told me that helps u turning
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Re: 12ft airboat in texas waters
Rule#2 - Turns should be made carefully at idle speed or on plane.
If not, in deep water you create a condition that will dip a corner sinking you in about 2.5 seconds
If not, in deep water you create a condition that will dip a corner sinking you in about 2.5 seconds

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Re: 12ft airboat in texas waters
If the locals are telling you no I would listen. Maybe trade for a larger boat or find a better place to ramp off without deep water.
GTO 14' Deckover
- swampsquatch09
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- Location: Mont Belvieu, TX
Re: 12ft airboat in texas waters
Stay outa the bay, you have to go across deep water sometimes to get to shallow in the marsh,
Wana run sometime I know a few places to get some time in the seat without sinkin your boat.
If that engine has enough ass you can keep that water out your boat. In Time. You might learn it well enough to put "Deathtrap" on the rudders. That'd be cool
Wana run sometime I know a few places to get some time in the seat without sinkin your boat.
If that engine has enough ass you can keep that water out your boat. In Time. You might learn it well enough to put "Deathtrap" on the rudders. That'd be cool
14ft Maxcraft, 70" WW Signature Series 320 lycoming


- coldairman
- Southern Airboat Member
- Posts: 61
- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 5:58 pm
- Location: Spring Texas
Re: 12ft airboat in texas waters
Hopefully the first time you sink it will be in the Bay so you can recover it. If you sink it in the Trinity river you'll probably end up with only photos of it. 12' boat with car motor and inexperienced operator equals disaster in the rough bay or river infested with big boat wakes. Not trying to rain on your parade but would rather you use discretion to prevent loss of life and/or boat. As advised, get some stick time in hallow water before you attempt to operate this boat in deep/cold water.
- swampsquatch09
- Site Supporter - III
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Re: 12ft airboat in texas waters
^agreed I don't even like riding the trinity unless I'm goin straight to a camp house and parkin in the bank pontoon boats are a mother.
14ft Maxcraft, 70" WW Signature Series 320 lycoming


- FlatsFisher
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- Location: Central Coast of Texas
Re: 12ft airboat in texas waters
Sell it...you won't regret getting a bigger boat.