New/Old Airboat Hull

[rick]

Well I finally gave up my old Diamondback to my grandson. In the process I acquired his old fiberglass gpu boat which I planned on fixing up a little and selling before moving on to something else.

First thing I needed was stringers. Didn't know who to call, but remembered the Suncoast II (Mims, FL) ad in the classifieds. Talked to Scott (321-593-2850) and before I knew it, I had a new 26 year old boat lol.

• New stringers and stiffeners in bottom & transom
• Exahaust holes in transom, bilge pump hole in side and all polymer screw holes filled in
• New drain plugs and support for bow eye added
• Non-slip added to bow
• New gel coat layer on inside w/gray webbing
• Really nice gray Awlgrip paint on outside
• Super Slick 2000 applied to bottom

Couldn't be happier at this point. I dropped the boat off & picked it up exactly 2 weeks later. It was actually done a few days before that, but I was out of town.

I know one thing...I ain't selling it and I ain't putting that old gpu back on it lol. Guess I'll be in the market for an aircraft engine & rigging before long.









Boat looked like this before:


Rick

[Slidin Gator]

I know one thing...I ain't selling it and I ain't putting that old gpu back on it lol. Guess I'll be in the market for an aircraft engine & rigging before long.

Rick

Sooo... Pretty much an angle valve 360 in your future????

[rick]

Could be an av 360, but that hull's just right for a 470, 520, or 540 too imo. I had a hull from the same mold with cad 500 in the mid 90's...only sunk it once

[Slidin Gator]

Could be an av 360, but that hull's just right for a 470, 520, or 540 too imo. I had a hull from the same mold with cad 500 in the mid 90's...only sunk it once

Don't let me hold you back, unless you are going Caddy again

[rick]

Nope, no carboat this time

Rick

[kwanjangnihm]

Nope, no carboat this time

looks brand new Rick! those guys did a great job

[Gary S]

Don't know what you paid, but it sure looks like you got your moneys worth. And in less than 2 weeks.

[rick]

Thanks, I didn't do it for the money, I just wanted that old hull. I ran one years ago and liked it and that one felt good with the gpu & old wore out polymer. Now I want to see how it does with a better power plant & slick bottom. If I had to guess, I'd say it was about a $1000 cheaper than a new one.

Rick

[Gary S]

You didn't get hurt. Awl grip paint will look good years after gel coat has faded out.

[Prototype]

Rick,
Very nice job on it.
Did I read something about a 520 somewhere in this and steel?
I have some yard art, greased up 520 rigging won't work with that 3 stringer boat as is,
But Your welcomed to it.
Thought about pressure washing the aeroshell off it for mater trellis but found some field fencing?

LMAO sorry I couldn't resist but do have a 520 steel rigging for a alumitech retro to a glass boat @36 inch stingers

[rick]

Thanks Prototype, I'll keep that in mind. Not sure what the power plant's gonna be yet. I've had boats I liked with Lycoming and Continental, so could be either. I can't even narrow it down to 4 cyl. or 6 cyl. right now lol.

Gotta get the trailer in good shape right now...or get a new one.

Rick

[timmmyy]

0540av and 10 to 1 pistons

[rick]

No doubt that would do it.

Rick

[Prototype]

Thanks Prototype, I'll keep that in mind. Not sure what the power plant's gonna be yet. I've had boats I liked with Lycoming and Continental, so could be either. I can't even narrow it down to 4 cyl. or 6 cyl. right now lol.

Gotta get the trailer in good shape right now...or get a new one.

Rick

Well, Cliff/B&S does high end work and Chris/Smuggler does extreme high end value on the trailer end.
I highly doubt you'll bend the tongue on either showing off something in the 750 range on a ramlin tube tongue example.

[rick]

Yep, I called Smuggler a few days ago and ordered one.

Rick

[Dying_breed]

Would you sell the retired gpu? I'd be interested

[CJM]

Are you going with the old rigging or doing stainless? Hull looks great.

[rick]

Would you sell the retired gpu? I'd be interested

Appreciate the offer, but I'm thinking of using that for a different project with the grandkids. I'll let you know if anything changes with those plans.

Are you going with the old rigging or doing stainless? Hull looks great.

Gonna be new rigging. Probably stainless.

Rick

[rick]

Sonofagun...got me a straight valve 540 with "H" pistons for that old hull.



After all these years of being a Continental cheerleader, guess I'll have to change my ways...hopefully

Rick

[Prototype]

Well I do admire the hot pink and lime green straps? LOL JK
It could be worse with M&Ms labels on them?
Now this is a die hard build with fuel as it is and LS's approaching the norm on pump junk.
The good thing is it's being built with vast knowledge of what it's being used for!

[rick]

Thanks Proto. Ain't gonna be a race boat, but definitely gonna be an avgas motor IMO.

I'm thinking stainless rigging w/single front & single back. I'm no racer, but I want it as lite as possible.

On another note...does anybody know how much beer it takes for an airboat build like this ? I ain't even manually building it myself, but I go out to the boathouse every night and just walk back & forth & around thinking with beer in hand. If I had to guess, probably several thousand laps so far and I got a long way to go lol.

Is that normal?

Rick

[Gary S]

Good choice on power. Amount of beer depends on time thinking.

[Slidin Gator]

Generally speaking, it's about a year of weekend nights less Christmas and Thanksgiving, just so the missus can't complain. You have to make up the weekends during the week when hunting season is on. So 50 12 packs minimum I'd guess.

And don't forget about the drunks you gotta call over to help, that's another 50 12 packs too.

[rick]

Sounds about right to me. Got a buddy coming over this evening to discuss airboat stuff so I really stocked up the outside fridge today

Rick

[rick]

Picked up my new trailer from Smuggler and Witchy (AirboatStuff.com) yesterday.

All aluminum, including the tongue, all stainless hardware, aluminum wheels, spare tire with a spare hub, straps mounted to back of trailer, and some really nice rollers on the back. Excellent workmanship. Nicest trailer I've ever owned by far.







Gotta think riggin now.

Rick