Can I put this in a boat?

[Jimmybigfish]

Hi guys I've got a 10 year old md40 aircraft engine which hasn't been run since. I think it will run again. Anyway I was wondering if it would be suitable to put in a big boat that I will be making? Would I need some sort of gearbox to slow the prop down?
What are your thoughts on this idea?
Jim

 

[Greywolf74]

Boat engines are typcially watercooled by a special head since they are usually enclosed so my guess would be no, its not suitable. Then again I'm not really a plane or a baot guy so its possible I'm wrong.

 

[Snook Man]

Probably be best to use that engine with an air boat setup, turning the prop in front to keep it cool.

 

[hamz9561]

+1 Snook Man. Almost all marine nitro engines that I know of are water-cooled. An air boat would be ideal for the old aircraft engine.

 

[Jimmybigfish]

Hey guys, what is an air boat?

 

[hamz9561]

An air boat is a boat hull with an aircraft engine/prop mounted above it usually inside of a cage for safety.

 

[Rolex]

Also known as a swamp boat.

 

[Jimmybigfish]

Cool, this looks rather fun. Ill have to do some research

 

[Snook Man]

I spent about 6 months off and on years ago building an RC air boat…

Did you know that you shouldn’t try and jump an air boat with a floating ramp!!!

Had to put on the scuba gear to retrieve that one. In South Florida with gators known to be in the lake!!!

 

[Rolex]

They will also run on wet grass.

 

[Jimmybigfish]

Cool, I keep that in mind. I think it would be good use of an old engine. Might aswell use it.

 

[Childresshunt]

that gator is just as scared of you as you were of him lol.
yea i would think an air boat would be pretty uncontrolable in the air lol but whats bad ass about an air boat build is you dont have to have water to run it you could run it on grass or put a plastic skid on it to run on concrete not to mention being able to take it out right after a good rain

 

[Snook Man]

yea i would think an air boat would be pretty uncontrolable in the air lol

They actually jump pretty well...If you hit the ramp correctly and do not barrel roll it. They sink quickly too without some floatation! (Hint – Hint)

 

[Rolex]

Watch Swamp People on the History channel.

 

[hamz9561]

My first real RC was an amphibious air boat called a Puddle Jumper. It also had wheels for running on land.

 

[frickenjoey]

I have a Dumas Big Swamp air boat. I used a ringed .61. Since it's it kinda a hybrid being a tunnel hull it moves pretty good. I get around 50 on calm water.

 

[Andy456]

An airboat, also known as a fanboat, is a flat-bottomed vessel (jon boat) propelled in a forward direction by an aircraft-type propeller and powered by either an aircraft or automotive engine.

Regards.
Andy.

 

[Ctnitro]

If you do go with a airboat or something else that you make to fit the motor we would love to see what you end up doing keep us updated.