Timbo85
Senior Member
I’m trying to see if anybody has any experience running a air boat on the river , wanting to know how they handle in running water and what type hull is best for running in the river
They suck. No reverse, no space remaining, steering is limited and the sound is horrible. You would hate it. Despise it. And most require a special aviation fuel. All the weight is in the rear so they don't handle shallow water well unless on plane,. Loading on a trailer in cross current..... LOL, comical. Go with a jet prop. I run a 150 Yamaha on a 24ft SeaArk. I can drive, not on plane, through 5 inches of water, less on plane but that's Russian rulette. A Jet prop gives you waaay better boat handling that a prop will. . My boat 26ft total, I can do a U turn in 28 ft. Benefits... Although they use twice the fuel, they go half as fast with twice the noise, I can go almost anywhere.I’m trying to see if anybody has any experience running a air boat on the river , wanting to know how they handle in running water and what type hull is best for running in the river
They suck. No reverse, no space remaining, steering is limited and the sound is horrible. You would hate it. Despise it. And most require a special aviation fuel. All the weight is in the rear so they don't handle shallow water well unless on plane,. Loading on a trailer in cross current..... LOL, comical. Go with a jet prop. I run a 150 Yamaha on a 24ft SeaArk. I can drive, not on plane, through 5 inches of water, less on plane but that's Russian rulette. A Jet prop gives you waaay better boat handling that a prop will. . My boat 26ft total, I can do a U turn in 28 ft. Benefits... Although they use twice the fuel, they go half as fast with twice the noise, I can go almost anywhere.
In my area, we don't have much vegetation. However, there will be "trash floats" that we will see and steer around, yet I would not run a prop through it either. It will be all kinds of debris that floated out of the woods in the last flood. Funny how it all stays together like a flock of geese rather than scatter all over. Although it's not fun when you do suck something up and have to raise the motor and reach back there to swipe the grate. Most times I can get it moving, shut the motor, so there is no suction, and the current over the grate will remove the trash. Pebble rock from a shallow river is the worst because it wedges in the grate. But this is rare, and only because I'm in extreme shallow ankle deep water. I will say though that on a lake, it becomes obvious that a prop is more suited. I used to have the old CNC jackplate that would travel 8inches. Exactly what I needed to switch back in forth between a prop and jet. Now these 5 inch jack plates are not enough. I could switch mine out in about 20 minutes, not counting the water pump switch because I had one on each foot rather than switch them. He did say river, and current so I assume the driving force in asking about a air boat is shallow and hazards.Jet boats don`t run good on lakes with a lot of vegetation though.
However, do not buy a new river boat with pods, stupidest thing I ever heard of. Pods are great to get more flotation on an existing boat, but if you think you need pods then put that money towards a boat 2 feet longer.
No, However, if your paying for flotation, why not buy usable space. They make trim tabs if that's where your headed. But as I said, if you want more flotation from a boat that you currently have, then they are good.Have you ever owned a boat with pods?
I did not realize you already had one. Sorry, I did not mean to talk negative about your boat. I wrongly assumed you were pondering buying one, and for fishing.10 4 thanks for the advice