Thursday, October 29, 2009

Airboat at rest


Airboats, which are flat craft powered by an aircraft engine in the rear, are used throughout Florida, especially in the Everglades in the south, but also in swampy areas and places like the flats of Cedar Key. They ride high and skim across water and grass without getting hung up as would a regular boat.

They are very loud! This one looks relatively new and was located in the yard of one of our neighbors.
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35 comments:

  1. KcalpeshOctober 30, 2009 at 12:06 AM

    Have only seen those in movies so far! I'm sure people who love tremendous speeds would be really enjoying a ride on that one.....

    - Pixellicious Photos

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  2. Lee SpanglerOctober 30, 2009 at 12:44 AM

    I took a tour once on a lakes in Fla. saw such wonderful wildlife at Mayaka State Pk near Sarasota. You are really lucky to be able have such beauty nearby, especially to ride on an airboat.

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  3. magiceyeOctober 30, 2009 at 1:13 AM

    wow! would love to ride it!

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  4. Small City ScenesOctober 30, 2009 at 1:14 AM

    I think it is cool looking. I would like to try it. zoom zoom--not a Mazda, huh. MB

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  5. Unseen RajasthanOctober 30, 2009 at 4:10 AM

    Beautiful and lovely shot !!Nice post !!

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  6. VPOctober 30, 2009 at 4:41 AM

    That's great, I've seen them only in the movies. Gators can't touch them!

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  7. PaulaOctober 30, 2009 at 5:44 AM

    I think I never saw something like that.

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  8. PatOctober 30, 2009 at 6:00 AM

    Nice looking craft, but I really dislike noisy boats, leaf blowers, lawn mowers,......

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  9. brattcatOctober 30, 2009 at 7:15 AM

    They must be loud to scare away the crocodiles.

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  10. Jim KlenkeOctober 30, 2009 at 7:41 AM

    I always think of them as search and rescue. People use them for fun?

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  11. Irredento UrbanitaOctober 30, 2009 at 8:45 AM

    I have friends that loved to go on those airboats. They said it was an unforgettable experience !!

    Regards

    Valery

    Barcelona Daily Photo


    Trujillo Daily Photo

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  12. Leif HagenOctober 30, 2009 at 8:47 AM

    Wow - cool boat! I want to see a photo of the Jacob Meister riding on one in the water! I dropped my word verification 'a grace de toi. Later gator! Happy Halloween! Don't scare any kids with your "costume."

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  13. CarrizoOctober 30, 2009 at 8:47 AM

    Wow. I have once this kind of machine. That's great.

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  14. LowellOctober 30, 2009 at 9:00 AM

    @ Safe Leif - I don't need a costume and I don't need to scare kids. I send my Golden Retriever to do the scaring. Trouble is all she does is lick their faces and beg for candy, from them!

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  15. HalcyonOctober 30, 2009 at 9:11 AM

    Even airboats need a rest, I guess!

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  16. IlseOctober 30, 2009 at 9:50 AM

    This airboat--all red--must really stand out in the lush vegetation of the Everglades!

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  17. EG CameraGirlOctober 30, 2009 at 12:02 PM

    There appears to be a LOT of engine there so I'm not surprised they are loud!

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  18. ProsperoOctober 30, 2009 at 12:18 PM

    I don't have a swamp. Does this mean I can't have one of these?

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  19. DarylOctober 30, 2009 at 12:26 PM

    Are you sure its resting or is it having a time out ... you know how those airboats like to stir things up

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  20. Don and KriseOctober 30, 2009 at 12:39 PM

    Boy, now there's a fancy one. I've seen these on TV ever since I was a kid, but never have ridden in one. Maybe they're going to take you water skiing. Ya ready??

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  21. LoisOctober 30, 2009 at 1:28 PM

    They are loud, but I do like to watch them!

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  22. LowellOctober 30, 2009 at 1:52 PM

    @ Don and Krise - I've never seen one used for water skiing, but I suppose that's possible...mostly they're used for fishing in less accessible waters...or gator hunting.

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  23. LowellOctober 30, 2009 at 1:55 PM

    @ Prospero - No, you can have as many as you want. Don't get swamped with them, though! ;-)

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  24. Memphis MOJOOctober 30, 2009 at 2:11 PM

    I rode on one last January -- quite fun. On my vacation, my brothers and sisters and I visited the Everglades and took a ride -- the only way to see certain areas.

    You're right, they are loud -- they gave us ear plugs to wear.

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  25. LowellOctober 30, 2009 at 2:36 PM

    @ Memphis Mojo - Did you rent from one of the Indian places along 41?

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  26. Buenos Aires PhotoblogOctober 30, 2009 at 3:28 PM

    Wow, I bet this ride is a blast.

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  27. Carlos LorenzoOctober 30, 2009 at 3:46 PM

    Always wanted to try one of these. I'll keep waiting. Nice weekend!

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  28. Mary Stebbins TaittOctober 30, 2009 at 4:50 PM

    Very interesting--never seen one of those.

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  29. Mary Stebbins TaittOctober 30, 2009 at 4:50 PM

    Colorful and complicated

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  30. juliaOctober 30, 2009 at 5:27 PM

    A nice 'little' runabout! Good set of wheels as well. Often see boat and trailer and owners on the side of the road pondering a flat tyre or a collapsed whatnot and wondering when will all the fun begin.

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  31. cieldequimperOctober 30, 2009 at 7:45 PM

    Looks like something from outta space! Sorry I haven't had time to visit all your blogs today, now it's nearing 1:00 AM and I need my pillow! Have a great weekend!

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  32. tapirgalOctober 30, 2009 at 10:43 PM

    You do get some strange-looking things over your way! It would probably be fun to be out on the water on this, though!

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  33. Cezar and LéiaOctober 31, 2009 at 3:21 AM

    What an interesting "vehicle"! It must be fun to ride!
    God bless you!
    Cezar

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  34. PJOctober 31, 2009 at 6:42 PM

    So, your neighbor is a good ole boy? Does he cut the sleeves off his shirts? I don't know if I've ever seen a red one before, pretty cool.

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  35. LowellOctober 31, 2009 at 7:21 PM

    @ Paula - I dunno. He/she lives in a huge house with a turret and a 4-car garage on at last 3 acres...for a long time he/she had a huge horse trailer sitting in his side yard with a "For Sale" sign, so I'm thinking he/she may raise horses somewhere in the country.

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