My First Airboat! Not sure exactly what it is...

[fireblue]

Im in Australia, and ive been looking for 6 months for an airboat to come up for sale! THey are extremely rare here.

Anyway so i bought this one sight-unseen. I know its a 17' GTO Airboat, but i dont know what year or exact engine model.

It is all stainless steel, even the skin on the hull, so i believe is an older saltwater model?

[terrible ted]

The side rail are different- make me thing commercial keep your passengers on board?

did the guy run fishing charters?

[pipedog]

congratulations on getting your first airboat!! Find some skinny water and have at it, thats where they run best. I'm a chevy guy but I got to admit thats a damn nice ford you got the motor on your airboat is a chevy big block, if you get the numbers off the block you should be able to find out what size and year it is thru the internet. Looks like a nice boat, I wonder if you contact GTO if they would have a record on it ..Have fun and be safe

[josh_2562]

What does a gto cost over there? You sure the hull is not alum?

[dblj006]

Nice truck!

[mojoe]

X3. Damn nice truck!!!!

[Southern Style]

With them blades, looks like it puts out a good amount of arse !!!!!! Should not have an issue running dry if those blades turn up !!! Do you have someone who knows about airboats? Go for a ride, try not to over spin it in case the seller has it pitched to little.. Find out what gear box and motor and someone on here will help with the RPM range you wanna spin.. The whole key is NOT spinning the prop over 3K... Find your specs and go from there.. Good luck and keep us posted...

[frogninja1]

Look at the last two numbers in the VIN, that will tell you the year. It should be on the upper right corner of the transom.

[muffled500hp]

When I worked for GTO we built a couple airboat that the hulls were made of stainless for a mining company. That looks like a PatrolMaster series with a GM 454 big block with Century belt drive.

[John Fenner]

Nice truck x again!! Right hand drive?
Are you sure it is stainless and not aluminum?

[fireblue]

Hey thats great info, the guy I bought it off said this airboat was built for a mining company in western australia, it still has the company name and logos on the rudders!
Yes it is definitely stainless steel, so its one of only a few that were made with stainless then? Is it rare to have one made of stainless?
I feel a bit special now haha

Thanks for compliments of the f100 guys yes its a right hand drive, and runs on gasoline and lpg
I bought it for $1800 and it owes me about $26k now :/

[Alpal]

Hi Fireblue,... Whereabouts are you? I am in Stanthorpe in Southern QLD. with a 2 seat Subaru Powered Minnie Airboat that we built 2 years ago. Have to travel a bit to find water though! Look up my last post for a picture. Wish mine was SS as I enjoy the waterways around the NSW Northern Rivers...Mostly salt water.....Allan

[fireblue]

Im on the gold coast in benowa

[fireblue]

Looks like the engine is a 502 has 8.2 stamped on the block
and a ch3 2-1 reduction drive, which has a 400hp max stamped on it:/

wouldnt a stock 502 be more than 400hp anyway?