AIRBOAT is a mixture of airplane and boat with the thrills of both. It's a boat powered by an airplane-type propeller with above-the-water rudders that is capable of skimming over a few inches of water and vegetation. If you need to go through shallow water to get to the best fishing, or if you simply want the excitement of exploring new and usually inaccessible waterways, then airboating is for you.
Our AIRBOAT is simple to build; no complicated building form, difficult curves, or compound bends. This flat bottom boat is made from inexpensive, lightweight plywood using standard 4'x8' sheets. Patterns are given for all framing members to make building easier and eliminate possible errors. Complete material listing and step-by-step instructions take you through building the hull and explain in detail all of the engine components from motor stand, to guard, through steering and controls. Readily obtainable materials are used throughout the construction; materials should be available at your local lumber and hardware store, with the exception of the motor. Plenty of VW air cooled "Beetle" engines are available and they make an ideal, simply modified, power plant for the AIRBOAT.
To further simplify building, Fastening Kits containing all the screws and nails required to build the boat in solid silicon-bronze. Fiberglass Covering Kits, contain all resin and cloth to cover the outside of the hull, plus brushes, squeegee, and rollers.
Plans include 5 scale plans sheets, 1 full-size pattern sheet, building instructions, our Build it Yourself booklet, and a How-to Use Patterns instruction sheet.
"I must admit the fun of building, running and successfully selling the Glen-L Airboat is for me thrilling. I sold the boat the first day listed in the "Airboat Trader" web page. There are many helpful hints which would assist in the lofting and building the Glen-L Airboat. The entire process is the gratification of running the boat at speed in shallow water and on mud, very fast. The boat made a great fishing platform and was used by my grandson and myself for two summers, the granddaughter loved it also."—Charles A. Bailhache
- Length overall:
- 12'-9"
- Beam:
- 7'-0"
- Hull depth:
- 14"
- Hull weight (approx.):
- 265 lbs.
- Average passengers:
- 1-2
- Hull type:
- Flat bottom scow, developed for sheet plywood planking.
- Power:
- VW Beetle air cooled engine, driving an airplane-type propeller.
- Can the hull be extended or shortened?:
- Yes. Up to 10% by re-spacing the frames from the aft end of the stem to the transom a proportional amount. We do not recommend increasing the beam.
- Trailer:
- Designed for use with Glen-L Series 650 boat trailer plans.
