Chuck. James Rackley
Chuck. James Rackley
It a very sad day for me
My friend Chuck has passed away today
He will be missed very much
May he rest in peace
AIRBOAT PROS
My friend Chuck has passed away today
He will be missed very much
May he rest in peace
AIRBOAT PROS
new rivermaster by marty bray,12 x 7.6, stainless rig with pancake cage,2011 chevy cruze 1.4L turbo LUJ,gm ecm controlled, cat converter with evap system, 2:1 drive by century drives,water walker 3 blade cypress 68 in,1/4" gpx polymer
-
- Southern Airboat Member
- Posts: 104
- Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:38 pm
- Location: sun city
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
Im sorry to hear that....I purchased my first boat thru Chuck.He always was willing to help out.
RIP Chuck
RIP Chuck
-
- Site Supporter - III
- Posts: 3056
- Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2013 11:38 am
- Location: Naturecoast, Florida
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
Prayers for Chuck a man always willing to offer his technical assistance, a sad day.
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
Gone, but not forgotten. An innovator and genuine good person. May he rest in peace.
He will indeed be missed.
He will indeed be missed.
-Russ
-----------------------------------
The only thing stopping you is FEAR
400+hp Ecotec, 12x7.6 DBDO, 80" 3B Maximus, 2.3 OX,85+mph, water = purely optional
Life begins at 2 BAR, Just a good ole boy
-----------------------------------
The only thing stopping you is FEAR
400+hp Ecotec, 12x7.6 DBDO, 80" 3B Maximus, 2.3 OX,85+mph, water = purely optional
Life begins at 2 BAR, Just a good ole boy
- skinnypockets
- Site Supporter - IV
- Posts: 1001
- Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:12 am
- Location: St Cloud, Fl
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
dak10, Do you know if there's anything the family needs?
I'VE DONE SO MUCH WITH SO LITTLE FOR SO LONG, I CAN DO ANYTHING WITH NOTHING!
13.6 Alumitec, 350 Chevy, Rotator Gearbox and 6 Blade Warp Drive
13.6 Alumitec, 350 Chevy, Rotator Gearbox and 6 Blade Warp Drive
- kwanjangnihm
- Site Supporter - IV
- Posts: 2169
- Joined: Sat Mar 30, 2013 8:23 pm
- Location: Bartow FL
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
RIP sir 

He'll cut your throat, baby, stick you in the back, drive off in your Cadillac.
He's more trouble than you think, he'll kill your sugar, leave you in the drink.
He's more trouble than you think, he'll kill your sugar, leave you in the drink.
-
- Site Supporter - II
- Posts: 331
- Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2011 2:18 pm
- Location: Jacksonville
- Contact:
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
RIP Chuck, you were a good man. Prayers to the family
Sent from my [device_name] using Southern Airboat mobile app powered by Tapatalk
Sent from my [device_name] using Southern Airboat mobile app powered by Tapatalk
What the mind of man can conceive and believe, the mind of man can achieve.
Live today like theirs no tommorrow.
New build on the way!!!!!! Stay tuned.
J. Powell
Live today like theirs no tommorrow.
New build on the way!!!!!! Stay tuned.
J. Powell
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
RIP Chuck. Folks, we just lost a good man and a real friend of mine.
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
The family need prayers for his son who is in ocala hospital with broken bones from the accident
Chucky is in a bad way fighting for is life to
Chucky is in a bad way fighting for is life to
new rivermaster by marty bray,12 x 7.6, stainless rig with pancake cage,2011 chevy cruze 1.4L turbo LUJ,gm ecm controlled, cat converter with evap system, 2:1 drive by century drives,water walker 3 blade cypress 68 in,1/4" gpx polymer
- skinnypockets
- Site Supporter - IV
- Posts: 1001
- Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:12 am
- Location: St Cloud, Fl
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
Prayers sent.dak10 wrote:The family need prayers for his son who is in ocala hospital with broken bones from the accident
Chucky is in a bad way fighting for is life to
I had assumed Chucks death was from natural causes but this sounds like it may have been from some kind of accident. Can you say what happened or give a link to a news report?



I'VE DONE SO MUCH WITH SO LITTLE FOR SO LONG, I CAN DO ANYTHING WITH NOTHING!
13.6 Alumitec, 350 Chevy, Rotator Gearbox and 6 Blade Warp Drive
13.6 Alumitec, 350 Chevy, Rotator Gearbox and 6 Blade Warp Drive
-
- Site Supporter - V
- Posts: 355
- Joined: Wed Jul 28, 2010 5:49 pm
- Location: Orlando & Hernando Florida
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
Sorry to hear about this. Prayers have been sent. Chuck changed Airboating, and was an innovator.... he was always willing to share his wisdom.... he will be missed by many.
See you on the other side...
AirHog
See you on the other side...
AirHog
Bad decisions make good stories!
Citrus County Airboat Alliance Member
Citrus County Airboat Alliance Member
-
- Site Supporter - IV
- Posts: 6864
- Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2005 9:20 pm
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
Do to a car accident he flipped 3 times and landed on the roof dont have any more information on itskinnypockets wrote:Prayers sent.dak10 wrote:The family need prayers for his son who is in ocala hospital with broken bones from the accident
Chucky is in a bad way fighting for is life to
I had assumed Chucks death was from natural causes but this sounds like it may have been from some kind of accident. Can you say what happened or give a link to a news report?
![]()
![]()
The cancer did not take him
The man Chuck holds a deep spot in my heart
Me and him came up with the eco tech engine
Was one of the best designs he ever had
new rivermaster by marty bray,12 x 7.6, stainless rig with pancake cage,2011 chevy cruze 1.4L turbo LUJ,gm ecm controlled, cat converter with evap system, 2:1 drive by century drives,water walker 3 blade cypress 68 in,1/4" gpx polymer
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
You will be missed RIP prayers to chucky
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
This is crazy. I was just emailing with him last week about picking up an ecotec adapter from him. He said his son was in the hospital so I told him focus on that and get back to me on the parts. I had no idea. Sorry to hear he passed. He seemed like a good man. Prayers to his family and that his son gets better soon.
Sent from my iPhone using Southern Airboat
Sent from my iPhone using Southern Airboat
-
- Site Supporter - IV
- Posts: 183
- Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 7:16 pm
- Location: East Orlando/Hatchineha Estates
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
So sorry to hear this. Chuck made a brave and gallant fight against cancer only to be brought down by a car wreck? He will certainly be missed, especially by his Grandchildren who had a very special place in his heart. He was an innovator in the airboat world, mentored by the late, great Dick Hoffman. If anyone has additional information please post. I have an old VHS tape somewhere when he was on the TV show "Junkyard Wars" building an airboat, will have to try to find it. Mark
IGSO 0540 (W/out IG) built by the late, great, Dick Hoffman, 13 ft. Alumitech. Member - CRA, KRVSA
- John Fenner
- Southern Airboat Member
- Posts: 2909
- Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2012 12:26 pm
- Location: Miami(Cuba) Fl.
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
I never finish anyth,,,.
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
Just saw this post. It was a pleasure to meet the man for sure.
12x7'6" American Airboat
1.4L GM Ecotec - BNR GTX250 Turbo
2:1 Century Ecotec Drive
2-bld Whisper Tip 72
"Nothin' as Fine as Hearing a Turbo Whine"
1.4L GM Ecotec - BNR GTX250 Turbo
2:1 Century Ecotec Drive
2-bld Whisper Tip 72
"Nothin' as Fine as Hearing a Turbo Whine"
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
Does anyone know how chuck's son is doing
-
- Site Supporter - III
- Posts: 3056
- Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2013 11:38 am
- Location: Naturecoast, Florida
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
A friend of mine spoke with the family last Thursday. They said it was actually his grandson and that he was still in hospital in a bad way. Prayers
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
Thank you for the information
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
Any plans for a benefit ride and farewell? I know one was done several years back when he semi-retired.
12x7'6" American Airboat
1.4L GM Ecotec - BNR GTX250 Turbo
2:1 Century Ecotec Drive
2-bld Whisper Tip 72
"Nothin' as Fine as Hearing a Turbo Whine"
1.4L GM Ecotec - BNR GTX250 Turbo
2:1 Century Ecotec Drive
2-bld Whisper Tip 72
"Nothin' as Fine as Hearing a Turbo Whine"
Re: Chuck. James Rackley
I just read this and what a sad day for me. Chuck was very helpful towards me in building the ecotec boat. He will be missed by those that knew him! RIP Chuck.
15' Alumitech deckover LSX TT Oxbox 84" JX 4-blade
Gas required Water optional
Built and Tuned by Me
14'X8' JW, Chevrolet 122CID LNF Turbo Engine, Ox box, 80" NGR 3 blade
Life is short, eat your dessert first!
Gas required Water optional

Built and Tuned by Me
14'X8' JW, Chevrolet 122CID LNF Turbo Engine, Ox box, 80" NGR 3 blade
Life is short, eat your dessert first!

Re: Chuck. James Rackley
My first post here, and very sad to see this. I purchased a LHU and wiring harness with Chuck's help several years ago, and he modified the harness for my application (car-related, I'm not an airboat owner). He was always SO helpful, and friendly...a super knowledgeable guy. I had lost his contact info and came here to find it again as I was going to reach out to him with some follow up questions about my application (he also was my point person for the Trifecta mods, so I have to find someone else who can help me). I knew he was battling cancer for years, and was shocked and saddened to read of his passing and the accident. You all lost a golden member, he was one of a kind. RIP Chuckitt.