2manytoyz

Thanks to Terry (ptr34), I picked up two hulls from him on Saturday. A couple of his custom built step hulls. One large one for my CY27 gasser, the other as a direct replacement for my Alligator Tours Airboat. The stock A T is a fun boat, when it's right side up. Doesn't take much to flip it, and I spend as much time retrieving it as I do running it. Eventually got to be frustrating!

Terry made a wider version, about the same length as the stock hull.









I pulled all the hardware from the stock hull, and started transferring it to the new hull. I used stainless steel hardware. Last step to do is to position the radio box, and cut the hull to recess the box. Hopefully finish it tomorrow morning, then give it a test run.

Terry did a nice job building both hulls, painting them with "Ford Blue" automotive paint, and spraying the bottom of the hulls with quick slick (teflon paint). Really looking forward to running both boats... SOON!

When everything is finalized, I'll be posting onboard videos.

2manytoyz

Pics from Terry during the construction:

res3567

How can we get em?

ptr34

u can pm me for a hull. want to see how it runs with the AT metal works. I now how they run with my setup

2manytoyz

Finished up the swap this morning. Transferred the last of the hardware over to the new hull. I decided to leave the radio box on top of the deck, at least for now. This did complicate the swap as the pushrods for the radio gear didn't line up with the notches in the fuel tank pedestal. No biggie, used new Sullivan push rods, and drilled new holes.

Don't have time to haul it to the lake today, so I took it for a quick spin in the yard...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek2criM21ZM[/youtube]

This is with the stock .34 motor.

rcairboater

Whats the width of the new hull?

2manytoyz

Stock hull was 11.5" wide, new hull is about 18" wide. The underside of the hull has a slight arch to it, so it should slide nicely, as does Terry's much larger hull he's been running.

Here's a video of his larger boat in action:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmk8IYUyEnM[/youtube]

Should have some onboard videos of the new boat next weekend...

ptr34

its not quick slick. my buddy makes it. its like frog spit but better. Man that thing is running the hill good. Thats what i like to see looks great need to paint the rudders . u putting the seats on it also? For some reason i cant reply from my phone here. sucks but i can watch

2manytoyz

Ah, what to do with the stock hull...

Add an electric outboard, a scrap box for a couple of batteries, and now have a recovery boat for stalled airboats.





So not a complete waste. Can't wait to test out the new step hull tomorrow. Pics and videos to follow!

2manytoyz

Took some onboard video from Terry's step hull (replacement Alligator Tours hull)

First video looking backwards. The second video looking forward.

Runs great, no hint of flipping! Thanks Terry, nice product!

NO AFFILIATION, just a happy customer.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO3NgoFZEkU[/youtube]

2manytoyz

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ6_XKN7iAc[/youtube]

Five full tanks of fuel, no flips. Ran it full throttle most of the time. I can't remember the last time the stock hull didn't flip.

2manytoyz

Met with Dennis yesterday at the Lowes pond in Titusville. Both of us had motor problems. By the second run, mine started dying. He bought a used motor, and the o-rings are probably shot.

At least I got to try out the new recovery barge made from the old Alligator Tours hull. Sure beats swimming with the gators!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kde0_uISs8I[/youtube]

res3567

Can we get vids of the AT recovery hull shown from the "normal" view?

2manytoyz

Do you mean take video from onboard the recovery boat looking towards the stranded boat? If so, I do plan to do this.

No doubt I'll have another opportunity to push another boat back to shore before long. I ran out of mounts for the GoPRO video camera, but have ordered a bag of them (Ebay). I had to remove the mount from the old A-T hull to mount it to the new step hull.

I also have a new recovery boat in the works. Not my design, and never got a response from the original builder, but here's his video:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3F3Vh-lYlg[/youtube]

Already got all the parts. Will start assembling the hull this week. If you watched the end of my video, you can see all the crud growing in the water that tended to clog the electric outboard on my recovery boat.

I'll post pics & details of this build when complete. In the meantime, the A-T recovery barge will have to do.

res3567

Iment from the view of the shore....asthe video you posted of the other recovery barge with the twin motors. Now that one is more suited to airboats since like you said all of the debris from the swamp type water would not clog a the air props. Nice vid! You outta build them into production.....I'm sureyou would have people wiling to buy them to recover stranded airbots. The ATrecovery boat with the out board motor would appealto guys who run the prop in the water boatsas well and would probably be cheaper to make. Ad some pcv pipe to the hulllike the onein the vidand you have a real winner there!

There is a lot of ingenuity amoung you airboat guys and I admire how you all share this knowledge.

stumpjumper1280

Hey guys its Cory from Sarasota I have been so busy lately but I'm trying to get back into the swing of things I'm still waitin on Dennis to get the AT hull done and was wondering how that hull was coming along. If he has given up on the idea than I would like to order one of tthe step hulls. Is it a direct swap or would I have to drill the holes and what not myself? I forget your first name (2manytoyz) and I also lost MR Burch's phone number but I have a brand new os35 sitting in a box just itching to be fired up for the first time so get back with me and let me know if I should go with the step hull or if the one dennis is working on will be finished soon. Cause I will be ready to build a new boat in the near future. 

 Thanks
Cory Harber

ptr34

let me know if u want to get a step hull.

stumpjumper1280

I will I would rather have one of the hulls that dennis is working on but I dont know whats going on with that. How much is your hull and is it bolt on ready?

bushwacker0540

Does any one know hot to get a hold of Terry im looking to buy one of his hulls or does any one make somthing similar?? thank you

71dartswinger

havent seen him on any of the airboat forums i will try to call him this weekend