Advice on airboats?

Steve Seibel

Steve Seibel

Member
Yeah, they're noisy and annoying ... I know. But here's what I'm facing:

Ever since we were on our way to the place in Manitoba and crossed the Platte River in Nebraska and she noticed airboats "flying" up and down the river, the Love of My Life sez she wants one of those things. She's dragged her feet for years now on my teaching her to fly, and now says that driving an airboat would be the next best thing -- kind of a combination of boating and aviation. So I'm thinking -- what better way to spend her retirement savings? It could mean some possibly really fun together time, and maybe an airboat might even get her in the duckblind with me.

If we follow through on acquiring, from what I've seen in the internet classifieds it most certainly would mean a road trip to Florida. I haven't run across too many here in Kansas ...

A mechanic friend of mine has a 3.8 liter Ford V6 with a reduction drive that didn't work out in his experimental airplane that I could probably pick up fairly reasonably, but I hesitate taking on another project. After more research, I've sort of settled on looking for a two-seat 12 footer or so, hopefully with a 100hp Continental O-200 aircraft engine, the same engine we have in our Cessna 150.

Any and all advice -- negative or otherwise -- would be appreciated.
 
Steve,

That sounds like a cool idea and lots of fun. Personally, I think I'd want some major instruction before venturing into the buying mode. A trip to airboat country and a week of experience with someone who really knows airboats would be on my To-Do List. I would think it's kind of like 4WD - one can really get stuck if you're not careful.
 
Might want to check the legality of running ariboats. In the State where absolutely nothing is allowed, airboats, at least on certain bodies of waters, have been outlawed. Something to consider.

Mark W
 
Probably the hardest part of becoming an airboater is when they drill the hole in the back of your head and suck your brains out
 
Probably the hardest part of becoming an airboater is when they drill the hole in the back of your head and suck your brains out
Click to expand...



Ron,
I thought the prop took care of that on your first high speed run. :>)
 
They are really popular here in Utah for hunting on the Great Salt Lake, especially after everything else has frozen and the birds are on the lake in the tens of thousands. They seem like a lot of fun but they are also prone to mechanical failure and are really expensive to run and maintain, but if you are a private pilot you are used to that! Could be a really fun tool to have.
 
Those that have & those that will!!!


310220_2735112375970_1285885959_n_zps159fe4d5.jpg

 
My opinion for what it's worth, go with an automotive engine, not aircraft. Easier to get parts (you may appreciate it when you need to run up to Napa or Autozone some sunday when the mechanic shops are closed) and parts are cheaper.

check out the classifieds at southernairboat.com

and hey, I saw them up in Churchill so you never know...might find something just around the corner from you...
 
Ok, lets get rid of some of the Aircraft vs. Car Motor myths!!!

First off, there are major advantages & disadvantages to both engine platforms.

The biggest is the horsepower generated between the (2) two, which in itself there are problems.

As far as cost, a completely overhauled/rebuilt aircraft (airboat) engine is actually cheaper than a brand new car motor with a reduction drive.

As far as reliability & service life, an aircraft engine will far out perform a car motor for an airboat application.

Those that call the new gen of car boats "Fix on Sunday" motors probably have never owned or serviced one, & here's why.

Other than the occasional starter, alternator or plugs it takes a trained tech with the computer know-how to actually work on these new generation engines.

Bottom line, everything runs by computers & when a computer breaks down on these engines in the marsh, you're getting towed in.

Unlike an aircraft motor that runs on dual magnetos, any shade tree mechanic with an extra set can change out a set of points in about (10) ten minutes & it will get you back to the ramp on (2) two pistons.


Here are some pros & cons of Aircraft vs. Automotive


AIRCRAFT PRO

Air cooled
Individual pistons & heads
Most accessories are gear driven
A (6) six cylinder motor can loose (4) four pistons & still get you back to the ramp
Weight
Magneto & Points (unless you opt for electric ignition)
No Reduction Unit
Reliability if properly maintained
Suck a valve, remove individual piston
Can run a smaller, lighter hull
Carburetor
(2500) Twenty-five hundred hours between MOH
Lycoming 0540 (260) two hundred & sixty HP rebuilt from crank up $9500.00 dollars


AIRCRAFT CONS

The higher HP engines like the 0540 angle valves & 0740's of (300) three hundred hp+ burn Av-Gas
The most reliable aircraft engines are between (160) one hundred & sixty & (290) two hundred & ninety hp
If you're not a proficient mechanic, most piston removals & valve jobs will require a mechanic
Need to run lighter, narrower hulls
Aviation oil is twice as much per quart as auto oil
Carburetor
AC mechanic & specialized tools to work on
Not good in colder, snowy climates


AUTOMOTIVE PROS

POWER-POWER-POWER with an average of (500+) five hundred plus HP
Automotive mechanic & tools
Unleaded 89 fuel
Greater load capacity
Larger/wider hulls
Cold climate suited

AUTOMOTIVE CONS

Weight
Larger/wider hull
Gear reduction unit-the motor turns @ 5000 rpm to spin prop @ 2500 RPM (varies with RU)
Liquid Cooling system
Prone to head gasket failure & warped heads due to high HP's
Electronic ignition & computers needing specialized equipment to service
Will leave you stranded if electric ignition, computer or cooling system goes out
(1200) twelve hundred hours & buy new engine
Chevy (8) eight cylinder, average (500) five hundred horse, gear box & cooling system $12,000 dollars


There are others but each has it pros & cons & each is suited for certain applications.

Obviously, if you're bow hunting or doing daily eco-tours with large number of tourist, an auto engine will be better suited.

If it's just you, your buddy & dog hunting backwater sloughs or marshes, an aircraft boat will better suit your needs.

If you're looking for POWER, moving a lot of weight or in colder climates, go auto.

Otherwise a properly maintain AC motor will suit a majority of waterfowler needs.

BTW, I currently run a Lycoming 0540 straight valve with (290) two hundred & ninety HP.

And pass on the Chevy V6, very unreliable in AB application.
 
I ran a 14' Alumitech with a 460 cubic inch ground power unit (aircraft) for ten years before I sold it in the spring of 2012. I ran mine on the upper Mississippi and Chippewa rivers. Excellent for freeze up, running ice and getting over beaver dams into back waters. Unfortunately the various DNR's hate em and some of the spots I hunted such as the Reno and Shingle creek are now closed to AB's. We deer hunted out of the boat as well using it to get into back water high ground areas.
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When duck hunting I carried a folding blind and after setting the spread would simply park the boat against some willows or button brush 50 to 60 yards away.
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Given the current AB climate I would not buy another boat for down here but I see you are in Manitoba which could be great. The guy who bought my boat took it to Canada and I have friend who runs one with his son in AK. Could open up a lot of areas for you. I was fortunate enough to be trained by an old trapper so I got trained to handle ice travel, beaver dam - log hopping and running dry ground etc.
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There are lots of power and hull options - note you should get an ice hull vs. a glades hull mine was 3/16 6160 T aluminum never had to worry about ice damage.
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View attachment IA Duckhunt Reduced.jpg
Folding blind with ducks in front an AB parked in the back. This was during freeze up outside Lansing IA several years ago.
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Feel free to send me a PM for my phone number I would be happy to share my experience
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Jeff, thanks for posting the pros and cons. I know that it's quite helpful.

If I were buying an airboat, I wouldn't be looking at buying an engine that was computer "driven". I'd be going for an older engine. There are definitely problems with a computer and water. So while I do agree with you on that with the totally computer driven motors, the idea about the fix them on sunday still stands with an older engine. Just as there are plenty of very reliable older vehicles now, there can be plenty of reliable older engines for airboats.

My dad has worked on aircraft airboats as well as automotive airboats (and I typically help him out on this kind of stuff). My dad is an aircraft mechanic by trade so he does have or has access to most of the specialized tools that are required for aircraft maintenance. He HATES working on automotive engines of all kinds, vastly prefers helicopters and fixed wing engines (experimental and not). But there is much grumbling and mumbling and muttering when he works on an aircraft airboat and he has to wait for parts because something turned up bad that he didn't know was bad until he got into the engine, or the new part was faulty, because he has to order them and sometimes find them. It takes the project longer to finish (he's the type who much prefers to start and finish a project quicker than draw it out a looooong time). Which in turn means the people he's helping out have to wait longer. The automotive airboats (and granted I've not seen him work on the strictly computer driven motors) take less time because he's been able to just run down the street to the auto store to get the stuff he needs. No waiting. Of course HE isn't paying for the parts so that part really doesn't bother him, but the speed at which something can be fixed is greatly affected when parts are more readily available.

So feel free to patooey what I say about the fix on sunday thing, but from my experience both in helping and watching my dad work on these things, it stands true. As I said to the original poster, you can take my opinion for what ever you think it's worth, but if I ever buy an airboat it will be an automotive airboat. Because I do have a reasonable degree of mechanic and motor knowledge and am pretty mechanically inclined, I'd be able to do some work on the airboat myself. As opposed to none on the aircraft airboat.
 
This 14 foot Alumitech hull powered by 200 HP Continental 6 cyl with composite prop provides 750 lbs of thrust vs. 1500 lb boat weight. Boat will carry 3 hunters 2 dogs, 4 doz decoys and will still jump a 4' beaver dam. In my opinion simple is good - you get stuck out here you are not walking home. Old school ignitions and motors weremy choice. This boat ran on a simple mag set up.
View attachment scan0002 (2) (400x281).jpg
Note friction will warm the hull when traversing ice and snow and cause the hull to freeze down when you stop. I often carried a chunk of 4x6 to drive the hull onto to keep it off the ice.
View attachment Scan0001 (2) (400x263).jpg
Profile of boat in warm weather.
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You can purchase a hull for the engine you mentioned. Auto powered b AB are normally at least 7.5' wide due to heavier engine on motor mount. Then have someone fabricate cage. seat stand etc.
........
Note there is a very active AB club on the Platte a simple internet search will give you there site. I used to exchange some emails with members some years ago.
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Good Luck
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We ran airboats for years, for what its worth with the new generation surface drives i'll never own an airboat. may not have the same "cool" factor but the ease and cost of ownership and operation, as well as reliability isn't even close to being in the same league. Other random airboat thoughts:
magnetos are cool. Just something about flipping the switch on an I/o Lycoming
deck over boats are a lot safer, but you give up tons of storage.
alum boats are strong work horses, but round chine fiberglass boats handle so much better.
Small boats like a rotax are probably the best choice if you don't have more than two people.
A big reduction boat that will creep across dry ground is something neat in itself, but that is a lot of cost, and a lot of horsepower for breaking things. Also, a bigger boat just won't be manuevarable in many of the small areas you are trying to access.
forget basically everything you know about boat handling. it all kinda goes out the window.
 
Paul wrote "I ran a 14' Alumitech with a 460 cubic inch ground power unit (aircraft) for ten years before I sold it in the spring of 2012. I ran mine on the upper Mississippi and Chippewa rivers. Excellent for freeze up, running ice and getting over beaver dams into back waters. Unfortunately the various DNR's hate em and some of the spots I hunted such as the Reno and Shingle creek are now closed to AB's. We deer hunted out of the boat as well using it to get into back water high ground areas. "

These are a couple of areas that they have closed to Airboats. Didn't they also close the whole Weaver Bottom, India Slough and north of Indian Slough? I thought that whole stretch of the Mississippi backwaters were now off limits. And this isn't theonly area.

Truly a shame. I remember hunting Indian Slough and watching all the airboats zip in and around the area. Always looked like it would be fun to run one of those. They sure did make a lot of noise. You could hear the AB long before you could see it.

Maybe it was you Paul that I saw many years ago running around in the airboat down that way.

Mark W
 
If I wasn't guiding, I would be in one of the mini airboats with a larger genny type engine on the back.

I had an opportunity several years back to T&E a mini AB with a 55 hp Kohler.

It was a (12) twelve footer & (6) six foot wide.

What a boat!!!

It handled (2) two hunters, (1) one dog & gear.

We did have to unload it when crossing the larger, unimproved (no ramps) levees but otherwise, the AB handled great, got great gas mileage & anyone knowing there way around a lawn mower engine could work on.

It's an option you should look into.

http://www.dragonflyairboats.com/
 
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