Watercraft: Air Boats

Air boats, sometimes known as "swamp boats," are generally aluminum, flat bottom boats most widely used as sightseeing and fishing boats in the Everglades of Florida. They are also suitable for running on frozen lake beds for ice fishing, or search and rescue operations.

Air Boat Features

• Shallow draft The measure of distance that a boat sinks in the water (the amount of displaced water required to float the boat). .

• Propelled by air using high horsepower automotive engines and a caged propeller

• Above-the-water rudders for steering.

• 18 to 26 ft. long.

Eligibility

Airboats are only acceptable with a Named Operator Endorsement.  Airboats with the following risk characteristics are not eligible:

• Maximum speed greater than 80 MPH.

• Units more than 20 years old.

• Aircraft engines or propellers.

• Makes or models not identified in modernLINK. Use of “make not listed” or “model not listed” is not permitted.

• Owners with less than two years of operating comparable airboats.

• If the horsepower of the Airboat is greater than 400 AND:

• Any owners or operator under 25 years old.

• Owners with less than two years of boat ownership experience.

• Units older than 10 years old.

• MVR results requiring a surcharge.