I've spent days now looking for plans on the net. Most plans are what I think we'd all call Ultra mini's! 'Cause they're all r/c modles! I just have to ask this. By no means am I bashing or putting down the company. But how good are the plans really? One one hand, I read on another forum that some of the measurements are off. Yet at the same time many folks have built these exact plans with great success. Could that one person's comment be a matter of user/reader error? I don't know. Could very well be.

I understand, these plans call for using 1/4" plywood. I'm not totally opposed to this. I once ordred plans for a Pirque that uses 1/4" plywood reinforced with fiberglass. I never got around to building that boat, and I still may do that yet. But right now I'm REALLY interested in an airboat.

No matter what is said here, I do intend on buying those plans, just so I can start formulating ideas on what I want and how to go about building it. Just looking at the specs for this boat, the size seems about right for my usage, I'm just wondering about the power requirements suggested in the plans. I'm a big guy, at 6' and 275lbs. Add to all that, all the fishing gear I wanna bring along. Is a 20hp motor large enough to get it up on plane and all? Before you answer, I wanna mention a few modifications that I'd like to do.

I read about someone that built the single seater. This mini owner said he raised the sides from 8" to 10". I'd like more room for a bait well and live well. I'm think going up to 12" tall for the sides. I know this will add weight, but as I said, I want room for storage.

I'd also like to get some feed back from other people whom fish, that have built their own boats. What improvements would you make if you built yours over again. Or what would you suggest?

Thanks,

Jax

Hey Jax, I'm Chuck from Airboat Pro's. Even tho I build and sell new manufactured Mini Airboats, I still injoy seeing a
craftsman build his projects. You are doing it right by asking many questions before you start your build. The first
consideration to a good performing boat is the hull. It is the most important part of a complete boat. When I was building
river barges, They were designed with the right bouyancy to carry the load the customer needed moved. Now considering
your weight, cargo, hull wt., Engine and frame, seats, fuel system, battery system, cage, and steering system, what size
hull would it take to support that weight and only set about 3 to 4 inches in the water. If it sets to deep in the water, it want get on plane with a mini motor. I would suggest a wider hull than the plywood plans. You might consider buying a
proven mini hull and building everthing else yourself. If you build your own hull, keep it light but make it big enough to
support the weight. If you need any help, Just ask. Chuck

lol i was the one that said the measurements were a lil off and yes that could be human error but it wasn't a big deal i was of like 1/4 inch on my inside 2 row's of bracing i just had to adjust my brace size it still went together easly i completeed the entire hull in one weekend granted i worked on it all day every day that weekend and i screwed mine together with Deck screw's instead of galvinized nails i think they weigh less and i fiber glassed the bottem and both sides and i changed all the engine stand/prop stand and all that stuff just coz i wanted to use stuff that i already had because its cheaper i think i have around 800$ in mine now and its almost complete i have a video on here under the video section on the forum i feel like it should be good for what i want i catfish on the pearl river in ms and we have alot of low spots i need to be able to get threw to get to the good fishing holes

Ah, right from both horses mouths! Can't get any better advice then that, eh? Okay, I really, REALLY wish I could go a head and buy a hull. I don't remember where I said this, but if I were to ask a boat dealer around here in chicago about getting me an airboat hull with trailer, they'd look at me like was looney.

Before I really get into this, I just wanna state, that I've been shore fishing for nearly 30 some odd years now, another season won't kill me. The way things are going, this looks like it may end up as a winter project...next year! But still, planning in advance and understanding all the varibles will make this a much better over all project.

I truely wish I could go with a larger hull. I've seen some You Tube's of the wider ones. And I am jealous. And as I started to sketch out how to build a hull, it dawned on me the size of my garage where the boat will be stored while not in use. From wall to over head door is just a tad larger then 13'. A 12' long boat on trailer wouldn't fit, unless of course I knocked a hole in the wall and let the tongue hang outside in the back yard! So now I'm thinking more on the lines of a 8-10' long boat that has a max width of 5'. Reason I'm thinkiing so small also had to do with size of tow vehicle. I have a 1988 Chevy S10 with a small 2.8l engine as a tow vehicle. It's a beater and I'm gonna fix it up and all, but even with a rebuilt engine, I still won't be able to haul a large trailer/boat with such a small engine.

I guess this means I'm gonna have to start sacraficing what are some "must have" options. E.G. Instead of having both a live well and bait well. I can just as easily toss my coleman cooler with some ice in it on the day I go fishing. Instead of a big trolling motor, go with a 12 volt. This elminates another battery and more wieght. Ah, and I could use a good diet program. Quit smoking February 1st with the intentions of dropping 100lbs. (I was 320lbs last year), now down to 275, with about 50-75lbs more to go yet. (Gonna need the extra wind power, besides fishing I wanna get into bow hunting whitetails) There's also my tackle, I don't have to take 10 rods and five boxes with me for EVERY trip. I would like to, but it's not really nessary.

To lower weight further, I'd really like to do this in aluminum. I took some welding courses and I have yet to build a nice project yet. (although, if ya seen all the rust on my chevy, that's gonna be one too! LOL) I seen that boat on another forum that's using .090 sheet aluminum, but as close as I looked I couldn't figure out the bracing! That sheet has to be welded to something, eh?

So for my example of either 8'x5' or 10'x5', either in wood or aluminium, what would my weight capacity be? And while am VERY far from being ready, what size engine should I be looking at? You just never know when you might come upon a good deal. Just last night I was checking out Craigslist, and found a brand new briggs/stratton 17.5hp ohc replacment lawnmower engine, new, in the box for $225 or obo. That's $100 less the the tsecumsha 12hp I seen on Tractor supply website!

Thanks

Jax

give me a little while and ill tell you how mine dose the hull is off the lake buggy plans and i have a 25 hp kawasaki today i pushed my four wheeler around in my shop with it at a slow rolling pace just give me a lil while to finish her up and get her in the water i dont have a facy gps or nething but ill be able to tell u if it comes up on plan and what kind of weight i carry with me when it dose/dosn't and my likes and dislikes once i get to ride it a little while ill be makeing updates as i go my thread is under the Show us your rig topic...

peace

well i got finished with mine ihave a few video's in my post under show us your right you can check it out and see what its running like and i need to do some more testing and moving weight around and see what happens