Of four pages of comments on airboats, only a few people on here know what they are talking about. Most of the people that have seen one sink, or get stuck or whatever don't know the reason for that. You have to learn to drive an airboat totally different than a bay boat. Know when to give it the gas, how to read the colors of the vegetation in the water to know what you are running on, how deep it is, and if its the kind of bottom that's going to reach up and grab you. People get stuck because they shouldn't stop there. People sink because they should've never been running across the bay in 4 ft chop and making sharp turns. It's all an education of what not to do. By coming onto this web site for advise on an airboat you should be prepared to take a beating from the comments. That's exactly what you will get here. The majority here don't like them. I own one, and have owned alot of them, and can tell you from experience from fighting the "airboat" battle on here that it's not pleasant. On the other hand, I've never had someone in my airboat that wasn't all grins and loved every minute of it. Most here don't know the facts on an airboat, and have only heard about them.
It is an addiction, and will take you places other boats can't go. For that reason you will have haters that give you the universal finger no matter how far away you are from them. People that don't own them don't understand that you can run up into a back lake, get out and catch a redfish in an airboat. Just as one of the posts said, an outboard is louder than an airboat is under water. People hate them for the noise. The post about breaking the sound barrier is false. The noise does come 90% from the prop, but it's not from breaking the sound barrier. When you break the sound barrier with an airboat prop you are losing efficiency. You are also turning that prop at a speed that is above the manufacturers specifications and you can take the risk of the prop coming apart on you. So anyone that is breaking the sound barrier with an airboat doesn't know anything about an airboat. I would not want to be an an airboat that is doing that.
An airboat is a great tool for the duckhunter and fisherman when used respectfully. Some people no matter how far away you get from them, it's just not enough. Be courteous, idle past someone that is coming up that there is just no way to go way around them. Learn how to trailer one with out hammering on the throttle at the boat ramp. There are things that you learn to do that come with experience. There's no need to crash into the dock. Pull up to the dock against the wind or current and cut the key early so youre not crashing into the dock.
The post about airboat not made for saltwater is false as well. You need to make sure whatever airboat manufacturer you choose, that the rigging (metal work) is all stainless steel or aluminum. This is a pricey option, but it's one that will make a difference in how well the boat will hold up. Most boats that have stainless rigging are rigged with all stainless hardware as well, and will last. My opinion on an airboat with the engine mounted in the floor is that I wouldn't go that route if you are using the boat in saltwater. You are alot better off having the engine sitting up higher rather than having it low in the salt spray. You will be out there on windy days and that spray will be soaking the motor if it's in the floor.
You will enjoy an airboat if you spend the time to learn from someone that can take you out and show you these things first hand. Good luck with your purchase if you decide this is for you. I've never known an airboat owner to regret having an airboat.
