They are made to go on snow, ice, and water. New ones have 550 HP and go 70 MPH on water and 100 on ice.

https://www.1000islandairboats.com/

I thought this would be a video of one thousand air boats meeting somewhere in 'the islands.' Was sort of disappointed.

THEN, I saw the video and realized just how much my life is incomplete without one of those magnificent beasts. I really need one. . .

Mine is a lot less fancy. Looks like this:

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:
Mine is a lot less fancy. Looks like this:

Yours isn't enclosed with a heater.

Here is an example of what you can do with a 1000 Island Airboat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETiBQuxwRPE

quote:

Originally posted by Hound Dog:
I thought this would be a video of one thousand air boats meeting somewhere in 'the islands.' Was sort of disappointed.

THEN, I saw the video and realized just how much my life is incomplete without one of those magnificent beasts. I really need one. . .

Suddenly my "need" for a helicopter is somewhat diminished.

quote:

Yours isn't enclosed

Dang right! When I was a kid one of my car dealing neighbors sold these. His kids were always running them around the neighborhood, and every time I would even look as if I would want one my father told me no.

So about a year ago I run across this an an auction. Bit difficult to tell from those pics but it was a very clean, low hour machine, and I bought it. Figured I could fulfil one of my childhood dreams.

Come to find out an open hovercraft blows everything beneath it out, and then sucks it back in towards you. So far have had it out one time and got so much grass in my face it wasn't very fun. May take it out again this winter in the snow and see if it's any more enjoyable.

A heated cab sure would be nice.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:

Come to find out an open hovercraft blows everything beneath it out, and then sucks it back in towards you. So far have had it out one time and got so much grass in my face it wasn't very fun. May take it out again this winter in the snow and see if it's any more enjoyable.

A heated cab sure would be nice.

I understand your frustration with everything on the outside coming back at you. I learned how to operate a hovercraft when my company purchased an Air Commander AC-6. It had 2 Rotax engines, 1 for lift and 1 for thrust.

Learning how to manage the lift engine was the key to keeping the inside clean. I learned how to operate it on the aircraft parking ramp and then on the grass area between 2 taxiways on the airport our office was located on. I haven't operated anything that was that much fun.

It got lots of attention when we'd unload the trailer in the parking lot of the boat ramp and then float it down the ramp.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:
[QUOTE]Yours isn't enclosed

a1abdj: Come to find out an open hovercraft blows everything beneath it out, and then sucks it back in towards you. So far have had it out one time and got so much grass in my face it wasn't very fun.

Karen: Wear a mask!

That would be nice. Only ones I see here look like the usual air boats from down south. They use them to get people on and off the island here when the ferry can’t run.