Pro's and Con's of air-ride

[pipedog]

Air ride suspension has been around for a while now, and was wondering if there are any problems with it for the long run?? I know it is a nice ride and I'm thinking of putting it on my new boat. Thanks for any input.

[Birddog247]

Ive heard its so smooth that you can easily fall asleep at the rudder.

[RDH0540]

I have it on my boat and love it. I hunt my boat and never had a problem hitting anything to hard, in fact it allows the hull to move freely over obstacles especially rough water. Everyone that runs Kissimmee knows she can show her teeth and I can cross at any time with ease and still drink my beverage with no spills.

The system has been working fine with no problems and I have sent several boats out of the shop and the owners love them.

[SQD]

We have over 30 boats running out there with our suspension systems. The feed back we have received has all been positive. If you know some one that has damaged there hull because of the air ride please have them call Dave Simpson at 772-563-0435.
We are always open to suggestions to improve our products.

If you have the air ride on your boat and you are running over things that might damage your boat why wouldn't you slow down?
The driver still will know when to take it easy if needed?
I'm not sure I under stand the problem.

If you are running your boat and hit some thing you don't see, that can't be helped. This will happen with or without suspension. In this case you will have much more damage if you don't have suspension on your boat.

I'm not going to waste your time with any sales pitch, I'm not a salesman.
If you want to know the reality of the air ride call me at the above # and make an appointment to ride on it. Believe me, you will not be wasting your time.

Thanks for the comments and interest in our products.
Dave

PS: I forgot the con's. Once you had the Air Ride on a boat, you may never want a boat without it. It will definitely spoil you.

[One Eyed Gator]

I would seem that it would change the loading on parts of the hull.

SQD do you have a hull built differently for the air ride?

[keebo]

All I can say is the pros, the system will be on my new build and I've never ridden on it. All good word of mouth by anyone I've seen with it and asked, only people had anything negative to say about it did not have it. Each to their own but it will be on the new boat. Be seeing you soon Dave.

[Olf Art]

I'm 'old school'. My pickup doesn't have electric windows or cruise control because I like my mechanical stuff clean and
uncomplicated, basic, no hassels when it doesn't work, no extra cost. I also like flying an airplane or running a boat that's
just the same way. Whistles and balloons don't impress me ..... clean and uncomplicated does every time. JMO

[akblackdawg]

it allows the hull to move freely over obstacles especially rough water

Please explain to me how having a cushion under you butt helps the hull run free over obstacles and rough water. In addition, would you be able to send me a kit of some sort that I can put on my enclosed cab on my boat. Bud

[dblj006]

Please explain to me how having a cushion under you butt helps the hull run free over obstacles and rough water. In addition, would you be able to send me a kit of some sort that I can put on my enclosed cab on my boat. Bud

http://www.simpsonqd.com/index.html
http://www.simpsonqd.com/gallery.html
http://www.simpsonqd.com/gallery/video/Testimonial.wvx

[junglecat]

The ride is awesome , so smooth , even running rough water. Downside , you don't have that seat of the pants feel, have a tendency to hit a little too hard when running the hill. Watched my buddy demolish his hull in two years . He has a heavier Alumitech now and has learned to ease up some .

[JB550]

you know I've heard that argument to about how it beats up your boat. But if you pay attention to the laws of physics you have 200 pounds the average man no longer bouncing directly as part of the weight of the boat on anything that it Hits

[general1eye]

Does anyone have any pics of air ride on a bigger boat that seats 4 or 5?

[dblj006]

Does anyone have any pics of air ride on a bigger boat that seats 4 or 5?

http://www.southernairboat.com/photopost/showgallery.php/cat/1155

http://www.southernairboat.com/photopost/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/8270

[HuntingBigun]

Jolly Roger Smuggler did the rigging,

[SQD]

I'll try to answer all of your questions the best I can.

One Eyed Gator: The loading on the hull is somewhat different. The weight transferred to the hull is compared to: If you were to take a sledge hammer and drop it on your foot and then set it on your foot. The same weight of the hammer is transferred to the foot but dropping it will do more damage. Get the picture? The air ride has been installed on many different hulls.

Olf Art: I am also a believer in simple. The air ride is very simple. Would you take the springs and shocks off of you truck to make it less complicated? The air ride leaves more area open under your seat structure, having ease of access to equipment stowed in your boat. Less stress on your seat structure because its not bolted to the bottom of your hull causing stress cracks on many riggings.

Bud: Yes you can put the air ride on almost any air boat closed or open seat structure. The structure would need to be designed or engineered properly as the boat was built. It may be possible to retrofit the system, but I would have to see the rig in person.

Jungle Cat: are you talking about Mark Thomas's boat? I got the heads up on that story. I called him and he told me that hull was damaged before the air ride was installed and clamed that he thought it would not have lasted as long as it did if the suspension was not on the boat. Yes it is a different feeling as far as the seat of the pants. As I said earlier you can still see when and feel when you need to take it easy. Its just common sense.

General 1 Eye: We have the air ride on several boats with 4-5 seats. A few have double shocks installed on them. I will try to find some pics for you.

[BUSHHOG85]

my new hunt boat will have the air ride setup..I have 2 blown discs in my lower back and one night of hog hunting usually lays me up for a few days. Rode on a boat that had it a while back and it was sweet

[Birddog247]

Can it withstand a side to side load. For example let's say you slide into an inbankment and take a side impact. Just wondering if it would tweak the system and render it useless.

[junglecat]

Not Mark Thomas . Nothing was wrong with system , it was all pilot error . Owner never could get the feel for it . New boat is heavy built and no issues with same rigging.

[SQD]

The Suspension rigging is very strong even to a side hit with the boat. The key is in the X bracing, which is covered in the build instructions.
When the boat takes a hit from the side, the seat structure pivots down closer to the hull witch makes your center of gravity lower, making it less top heavy and a much safer ride. These are things we found out later, not something we planed, just another benefit to the system. The pivot points on the structure are mounted in urethane bushings which absorb some of the shock from such hits and vibration from the engine as well. This adds to the comfort of the ride.

[kwanjangnihm]

Dave I have a few questions on your system. (bottom photo setup)
1. Does the engine stand or rigging typically need to be modified or strengthened?
2. How much up and down travel?
3. Weight of system vs typical rigging?
4. Is it possible to modify a dogleg to work instead of cable?

[darrell]

I have had air ride on my boat now for 2 years and my buddy has had it for 4 years we both mainly use our boats for hunting we have had zero problems and I to have a bad back and it is night and day difference on your body between standard rigging and air ride will never have a boat without it
The instructions are easy to follow just measure twice cut once

[SQD]

KWANJANGNIHM:
1: THE ENGINE STAND NEEDS TO BE BUILT OR MODIFIED TO SUPPORT THE SEAT STRUCTURE AT THE PIVOT POINTS.
IN MOST CASES IT IS A SIMPLE MODIFICATION.

2: THE TRAVEL AT THE FRONT IS ABOUT 20" OR SO.

3: WIEGHT IS USUALY A FEW POUNDS LIGHTER THAN STANDARD RIGGING. THE COMPLETE SYSTEM IN THE BOX IS 19LBS. INCLUDING NUTS AND BOLTS.

4: STERING NEEDS TO BE CABLE OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT ARE IN THE KIT COVER MOST OF THESE QUESTIONS AND MORE.