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[klz]

The last couple of weeks the lake as been full of weed so I got myself an hobbyking swamp boat, I have to say its been a lot of fun I am now planning on building a bigger one.

http://vid1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg621/KLZ26/Boats/Swamp%20Boat.mp4%20done_zpsagfiauh2.mp4

[Jerry Hill]

Airboats are great and simple fun. Here's some of ours:


10cc three point hydro;




10cc 'Flatty';




5cc Five point hydro;




The beauty of them is the mechanical simplicity, using aero engines and motors there's none of the usual cooling and drive train issues, we love them, with more on the way

[klz]

Hi Jerry, it was seeing your boats in another thread that made me look on Hobbyking. I would like one like the red one in your photos when I finish the police launch I have on the bench I think something like that will have to be my next project, also at the speed I build it will be ready for next years weed.

[Jerry Hill]

A lot of hydro airboats have water rudders, as the red one has, but air rudders work well so your weedy waters will be no problem. That one was scratch built,  with a bit of a story behind it. I wanted to learn how to use the glass over foam method for building, so I took some offcuts and made a shape that would encompass details I'd come across on the intended boat (the twin I'm making),  so it's shape was dictated by the pieces of foam I had to play with and the need to deal with this or that corner or other shape oddity. Once I'd got to the stage where I'd sussed the process I figured I'd might as well stick an engine on it and see if it ran: https://youtu.be/OSfoFvv_gkk

[Martin (Admin)]

Is it me or do airboats always seem faster than equivalently powered water screw boats?!?

[Jerry Hill]

Its generally considered that airboats are not as efficient as water props. Airboats exist in the real world because of the needs of shallow, weedy or even muddy waters where only a smooth bottom can go, but apart from hovercraft airscrews don't get the best out of power available. I can vouch for that myself, my son has a Cat with the marinised version of the same engine as my red airboat, it would leave the airboat standing. However, specialised airscrew hydros can be fast cc for cc, riggers in particular where they are in the 70 mph+ bracket. My Yellow SI3 above has a sports 10cc engine and does about 40, the same boat with race engines nearly 60. Keeping the boat on the water at these speeds can become a challenge though 

[dave king]

we are lucky and no weed problem at our club.but am going to have a hard think in doing a air boat this winter.i have seen them on the lakes I have visited and looks fun.

[nemesis]

Please check the local councils byelaws. Air screw hydros are banned on our lake. Nemesis

[ballastanksian]

We are just fighting our weed problem but we have an active selection of airboats of varying styles, mainly based on the Skimmer plan provided in Model Boats a while back.

The models you have shown look great! I would build one but I am saving my money for finishing a few ships first.

[SailorGreg]

Yes, we are struggling with weed as well, compounded by a significant drop in water level.  Anything with a keel or propeller is a complete waste of time.  Several members have bought Swamp Dawgs and there are a couple of other airboats as well.  Great fun, if a little exciting when more than two are running at once.  Precise steering isn't their strong point!   

On the topic of weed - is there any reliable solution?  Barley straw and vegetable dye haven't worked.  And the density of vegetation is now such that we have decided to wait for autumn.  Fire up the Swamp Dawg!

Greg

[nemesis]

We had a problem with weed as well, for years. We badgered the council about an ultrasonic system for quite a while, told them about another local councils installation and its success. Guess what, we got one and up to now (fingers crossed) it seems to be working. At least we are sailing, yachts as well. Nemesis

[ballastanksian]

We were told that the best time to remove weed is in the spring before new growth begins and the old stuffs roots are weak. Then follow with dye.

We have though had a load removed recently just so we can sail all types of boats. A couple of members were sailing yachts on Sunday but the blanket weed is already starting to grow new filaments and I worry that delaying the addition of dye will just let the pondweed back again.

We will get there!!

[dave king]

we own our lake so all weed treatment is up to the club to sort out.i wont be back to the lake till satday and will find out what we use.has long has I have been a member of the club I have not seen eny one cutting the weeds back and that id in 12 yrs.it is not a small lake so might be of intrest to some