Circle H Airboat Build thread

[Aeon]

so about 6 months ago i got a wild idea to replace the hull on my current boat with a new one. The original idea was to just buy a new hull, stand and rigging and swap all the parts from the old boat into a new one. first problem was we are on the wrong coast! so i called pretty much everyone starting in Utah and heading east. For the most part everyone was pretty cool. answering my lame questions and helping me figure out what to build. Circle H won the build and away we go

here is the old boat...

The original idea started out to just buy a hull and rigging and transplant my motor into the new hull with my existing prop and reduction. A 17x8 hull with tall sides. The idea here is to build a Hunting boat that my old man can get in and drive with out climbing up like we have to do in the old boat. Full deck to the seat stand with side by side seating semi low to make it easy for my dad to get in his seat. We will be transporting the layout boats you see in the first pic on the deck to the hunting area.

Kenny deserves an award for customer service. Every stupid question i ask and every change i make he responds to. There have been quite a few changes too. Like now we are going to put a new OX Box and JX prop behind my LS. This bare bones build is no longer a bare bones build. This boat will be pretty slick when its all done...... more to come as it continues.

[Aeon]

the build continues... getting closer every day

[406 JAMIE]

sir thats a sweet looking boat.
I just love those pics of the kids involved in airboating its a great thing.good luck on ur build sir.
Plz besafe y all.

[SalterCreek]

Love my Circle H. Best of the four boats I've owned. Super guys


Sent from my iPad using Southern Airboat

[Aeon]

new prop got here today

[Sniper]

Beautiful Job so far, looks like its going to be a real nice boat

[Aeon]

its time to go pick her up...

[Sniper]

wow it really cam out nice you going to cammo it or just go with solid OD green can't wait to see how you paint it up
if you need any advice on painting it let me know

[Aeon]

right now going to powder coat the stand and cage a graphite gray, the rest of the boat will be painted gray with a black stripe. snowcamo hydro turf on the deck surface.........

[papajack]

Saw this build in the Circle H shop Saturday. Wow was my first impression. After closer inspection I must say that the attention to details and workmanship is some of the finest in the airboat industry. Beautiful project!!!

[Sniper]

I will look forward to seeing the boat when you get the powder coat and camo done

[Aeon]

been a while but getting the powder coat and paint took a bit longer than i wanted.

so the hull has been painted with a flat black paint. The cage and stand are powdercoated in a flat grey. We started the assembly process this weekend and so far no big problems.

[Aeon]

ok i have been dragging ass getting this finished but things are moving forward again. Got the http://hydroturf.com installed this weekend. Huge thanks to them for hooking me up! mounting lights in the console and got the wrap done on my rudders by a local guy here

[Aeon]

and the gauges and switches

[Whitebear]

There is a lot of really fine airboat builders out there these days. I really like seeing customer satisfaction reports where the customer and the builder have actually worked together to produce a fine product that both are proud of and reporting a positive experience.

[Aeon]

so real world testing this weekend with the JX

BIG over built 17x8 Circle H Hull, 570hp Stroked LS3 turnkey motor, 2.55 OX box and 82" 3 blade JX boat loaded with Full duck hunting gear. Two guys a lab layoutboats decoys beer blah blah

at 19 the motor would spin to 6k+, cruse at 25mph was up around 3800. Not amazing push off a dead start but top end was for sure there. I might even say the prop felt power band like as it got spinning it would hit and JAM.

on the trailer turned it to 23.5. RPM's dropped to 5k static. ok to far

down to 21 and 5500 static and around 5700 on the water at speed. Whole new world! boat jumps up and hauls ass. Ran dry over sticky mud for 300 yards happy! Cruse was down to 3200 at 26mph.

the change from 19 to 21 was a lot more than i expected. I might put a tick more pitch in and see where cruse and full power end up

[Capt steve]

Sweet. Great luck with her