Airboat/Fan boat equipment suppliers
lee foote
Chris Barnes wrote:
>I haven't been able to find anyone that makes airboats commercially
>(or even on the side). . .
Even 300+ horsepower airboats have trouble pushing their way through
some types of vegetation and hyacinth beds so I suspect that the fan
boats you are taking about are best used for open water as in over
flooded sand bars where a propeller would not have sufficient
clearance. At least the fans you are talking about will cause less
disturbance than an unmuffled V-8.
Per my original post, my opinion as a hunter, wildlife biologist, and
an occasional work-related airboat user, is that I discourage the use
of airboats in areas used by wintering waterfowl. For work, fishing,
or rescue operations they make more sense [to me]. Having said that,
here are some airboat builders and equipment suppliers I lifted from
the appendix of our airboat manual:
Aerostick Manufacturing
7011, 10th St.
Saint Petersburg, FL 33702.
(More economical propellers)
Airboat Engineering Inc.
2715 South St.
W. Palm Beach, FL 33407
(407) 833-9520
(Specialties include smaller boats)
Airboat Headquarters
4158 NW 132 St.
Opalocka, FL 33054
(305) 685-2933
Classic Airboats
306 Shearer Blvd.
Cocoa, Fl. 32922
(407) 633-4026
(A fairly extensive line of accessories and a catalog)
Kline Airboats
Antique Arms
3191 E. Road
Loxahatchie, FL 33470
(407) 793-3672
Panther Airboats
300 Wilson Ave.
Cocoa, Fl. 32922
(407) 632-1722
(One of the most widely known makers. Produce metal and fiberglass
hulls and various engine configurations, affiliated with Classic
airboats above)
Marks Welding and Airboat Connection
1401 Norman Bauer Dr.
Franklin, LA 70538
(318)828-0404
(Specializes in heavy duty welded aluminum airboats with automotive
engines, the style favored by the oil companies in Louisiana)
Sensenich Propeller Co.
P.O. Box 5100
Lancaster, PA 17601-0100
(Premier wooden propellers in the $750 range)
There are several other airboat makers in south Florida and in south
Louisiana (e.g.)Air Logistic and Air-Gator for whom I don't have
addresses.
Best Regards,
Lee Foote