I don't have a very broad spectrum of experience but lets here from guys out there who've flown stuff off the water. What are some of the best light aircraft float performers, i don't want a 180/185 but i want to be able to take me and my kids (2) out fishing and don't want to be into the set up for more than 60g's....so without fuel figure 500lbs.

powderburner wrote:I don't have a very broad spectrum of experience but lets here from guys out there who've flown stuff off the water. What are some of the best light aircraft float performers, i don't want a 180/185 but i want to be able to take me and my kids (2) out fishing and don't want to be into the set up for more than 60g's....so without fuel figure 500lbs.

Pacer.

clippwagon wrote:

powderburner wrote:I don't have a very broad spectrum of experience but lets here from guys out there who've flown stuff off the water. What are some of the best light aircraft float performers, i don't want a 180/185 but i want to be able to take me and my kids (2) out fishing and don't want to be into the set up for more than 60g's....so without fuel figure 500lbs.

Pacer.

Needs more wing.

Stinson, Aeronca Sedan,
Taylorcraft, one kid at a time.
Dave

PA-12?

robw56 wrote:PA-12?

A PA-12 with flaps and the upgross kit perhaps. But it would be hard to stay under 60k.

C170B or Stinson? (I had a ride in a 108-3 with the Franklin 220 and it handled nice from what I could tell).

Zzz wrote:

clippwagon wrote:

powderburner wrote:I don't have a very broad spectrum of experience but lets here from guys out there who've flown stuff off the water. What are some of the best light aircraft float performers, i don't want a 180/185 but i want to be able to take me and my kids (2) out fishing and don't want to be into the set up for more than 60g's....so without fuel figure 500lbs.

Pacer.

Needs more wing.

Doesn't Don Lee use a pacer with longer wings for float training up in AK?

Never mind.

lol@one kid at a time! i live in alaska, pretty sure i'm not going to drop one kid off in the wilderness and tell they stay here i'll be back in 2 hours, unless the wind changes, something breaks, fog rolls in, i crash...ect. no we'll all be staying together! The Pa-12 has been a thought, but as mentioned the cost...
the pacer has been a thought, but i've seen a few of those and the locals on the lake tell me stories about how the wingless bird almost don't make it....
the 170B with a 180hp in it was my earlier thought, but i'm getting the impression on floats its gonna be over 60g's.
If i had coin laying around i'd just get a Pa-18 with the 3rd seat in it and be done.
I'll look into the stinson...

mountainmatt wrote:Doesn't Don Lee use a pacer with longer wings for float training up in AK?

I think so, but I bet if you asked him if it's ideal, he'd probably admit that it needs more wing.

Probably a Stinson for the money, a 470 in it would be nice. I like the PA12, but unless your kids are dwarfs, they won't comfortably fit in it for long and if you need to take along an outboard, forget it. The Super Cub would probably be even higher priced than the PA12, with less room.

Steve

How about a 150hp C150? I know they make a child seat for the back of them. The seats are pricey and hard to find but they're out there.

200hp Lake Amphibian.....

I went down your road 5 years ago when I was in the market. Your looking for 500 lbs plus fuel, so something that will get say 750 lbs off the water. If you want to be legal, you'll have trouble finding anything with three seats with that kind of load for that price. The Stinson 108-3 with the 0-470 or the Franklin 220 in it will be in that range. You may find something with a smaller engine, but if your loaded, it will take much longer to get off the water.

I ended up with a Maule M5-235 that was $85k but my criteria was to not only have my kids, but my wife as well.
Garth

Small, light and super STOL.

My Kitfox weighs 650# (on wheels). That gives 670# of load to the LSA MTOW.

Sorry, I'm real limited on float experience. But I have seen a few 172's on floats and it might fit the bill. Probably not the best performer but I'm sure if the load is kept on the light side one would do alright.

There is one on the Anchorage craigslist. It doesn't have floats but it does have the factory float kit and the 160 HP Lycoming. The price is $45K, which would leave some room to purchase a set of floats. I'm sure someone here has flown a 172 on floats and could chime in.

Maybe not, "the best small bird on floats", but the price is right.

Zzz wrote:

mountainmatt wrote:Doesn't Don Lee use a pacer with longer wings for float training up in AK?

I think so, but I bet if you asked him if it's ideal, he'd probably admit that it needs more wing.

If you've squared the wings and added say a sullivan tip on a PA-22 you are at 33'+ ( a super cub has 35'). Some PA-22's or 22/20's have a 180 conversion (there is an stc). That package for the cost would be pretty good.

that avid flyer magnum is a intersting read...anyone been around one of those? i don't build stuff, i'd have to find one prebuilt...

AV8or3400

Was that you in the Avid video?