Hey guys,
I have been lurking and reading on here for a couple months. I, like Ryan, am a bowfisherman but already have a good bowfishing outboard boat for lakes and tournaments. What I am looking for and am researching is a small airboat for myself and one passenger to get up and down the river for bowfishing and into shallow backwaters for duck hunting. I have flip flopped back and forth between buying a used 13'-15' "real" airboat and building or buying a mini. I have a ton of hobbies and dont want to be responsible for nor foot the bill for maintenance on a 400-600 hp engine. I want a boat that is reliable and doesn't cost a fortune to repair.
In reading Papee's response to Ryan, I have a question. I can see myself more likely to overload a mini (two guys, decoys, dog) than needing to go fast. When bowfishing, it will be two guys, 2 bows, and a small ice chest with about a 4 mile one way run. I would be satisfied with 20mph with the bowfishing load. When duck hunting, speed isn't a factor: the main thing I am looking for, performance wise, is just being able to get on plane. 12-15 mph would be sufficient as the max distance would likely be a 1 mile run. So my question is this. Wouldn't a wider hull be better? Say a 12 x 7?
I know it all depends on the power plant. I am still researching but the setup I am looking at would be similar if not the same as a dragonfly. Roughly a 12x7 glass hull with a 40 kholer or equivalent with a belt reduction and modified carb.
I have emailed Chuck for some prices and I am sure he will get back to me. Right now I am trying to determine building my own vs retail.
I am open to suggestions and criticism. I haven't ever owned an airboat but have ridden on several and am familiar with displacement and weight to power factors.
I guess the bottom line is I am looking for a bada$$ two man boat that never breaks down and is real cheap LOL.
Joking aside, please give me your input. This is not just a maybe, I'm thinking about, would be cool kind of thing. I AM going to own an airboat in the not too distant future but dont want to wish I had asked more questions before I bit the bullet.
Thanks
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