They can run on pavement...plus
They suck in rough water...minus
They use a LOT of fuel..minus
Best way to get away from the potlickers..big plus.
Not easy to load at the ramp.

I've had 'em, it was a pain to keep maintained, but it was really good for duck hunting, and finding places without empty beer cans. One of those been there and done it, just don't need to do it anymore.

 

If you don't mind everybody cussing you....go ahead and get one.....

 

tell me if im crazy or may be on to something

I vote crazy.

 

You can go around people that are wade fishing the cut/boat lanes into back lakes by running on dry land

 

is that how you use your 501 airboat?

 

Dangerous in rough water. Seems like every year we here of one capsizing and sinking in our bay systems. There is usually a fatality because of it. It's a neat toy or can be used as a tool if you're a guide.
My buddy bought one and kept it for a year and sold it. I got my fill of it riding with him. Loud and slow. Dangerous in rough water. My .02 cents.

 

It may be dangerous because of the high center of gravity by the fan apparatus.

Tight Lines

 

I think they could be built a lot better than they are. They are kinda like pontoon boats, whereas the manufacturers build them in the cheapest configuration possible, because the consumer doesn't seem to care.

As an example:

1) They could drop the engine down into the bottom of the boat and run the fan off of an extended belt - this would lower the center of gravity and make the boat safer (I have seen these things flip over easily when hitting a stump, even at slow speed).

2) High-thrust counter-rotating blades could be used for increased thrust at lower rpms. Most of the noise an airboat makes is from the blade tips breaking the sound barrier - if you can keep blade tips below Mach 1, they will be much quieter and mufflers would actually help on the engines then.

3) Add PTFE (sp?) to the hull bottom so less engine speed is required when running across grass, pavement, etc.

4) This is mostly wishful thinking, but a sprinkler bar could be added to the bow to wet the grass, and the boat would slide much easier over it...

 

I think they could be built a lot better than they are. They are kinda like pontoon boats, whereas the manufacturers build them in the cheapest configuration possible, because the consumer doesn't seem to care.

As an example:

1) They could drop the engine down into the bottom of the boat and run the fan off of an extended belt - this would lower the center of gravity and make the boat safer (I have seen these things flip over easily when hitting a stump, even at slow speed).

This has been available from Century Drive Units without much interest for many years. The unit weighs more than a typical belt unit, cost more, and usually doesn't hold up as well.

2) High-thrust counter-rotating blades could be used for increased thrust at lower rpms. Most of the noise an airboat makes is from the blade tips breaking the sound barrier - if you can keep blade tips below Mach 1, they will be much quieter and mufflers would actually help on the engines then.

Most blades in production today are a wide designed with both thrust and sound being the main objective. This added with increased reduction unit ratios up to 2.88:1 have made huge leaps in both performance and sound. Counter-rotating reduction units have also been around for many years but held back in popularity due to cost.

3) Add PTFE (sp?) to the hull bottom so less engine speed is required when running across grass, pavement, etc.

Quick-slick, Frog-spit, and others are used with reasonable success in Florida where grass is the worst surface. Even with grass, these coatings must be re-applied ever year or so. In Texas, most rivers are gravel, rock, or sand which would strip these surfaces within minutes of dry running. Oysters are even worse. 3/8" to 1/2" UHMP "poly" has been the product of choice for a reason. Silicon impregnated UMHP is also available depending on what you want to pay.


4) This is mostly wishful thinking, but a sprinkler bar could be added to the bow to wet the grass, and the boat would slide much easier over it...

A lot of boats run a simple soap sprayer when they lack the big power to run dry well.


These are good points but most manufacturers have either implemented them already or tried them to some extent. To say "they could be built a lot better" is a stretch. Unlike a pontoon boat, most airboats are one off custom built boats to the buyers specification. There are many manufacturing from Texas to Florida building commercial boats running thousands of hours each year with little down time or maintenance. There's been a lot of changes in the last few years and more to come with increase in use. It boils down to money. Cost of building a 18' aluminum hull with stainless rigging, marine grade big block or LS power plant is well over $50k. Add a counter-rotating reduction unit, twice the number of blades, along with a few more bells and whistles and you are easily over $70k.

 

Get a mudboat instead, no worry with shallow water.

Just remember its a mud motor, not a sand motor!!!

 

You won't sneak up on any fish. LOL

Pro - Won't burn any shoreline
Con - Will burn the marsh

 

They can be dangerous in rough water and they burn a ton of fuel. However, I would like to have one in the fall and winter. I've cussed them more than once but I've accessed places no else can on one.

 

Cost would be your biggest con in my opinion, in both fuel and the actual boat.

As far as noise, as was at the boat ramp last year and an airboat was pulling in, he was whisper quiet! I couldn't believe just how quiet he was and couldn't help but notice his large mufflers hanging out the back end!