Years ago we installed a Hartzell “Buccaneer” 8068 propeller on our Pponk powered 180. We were very happy with it on wheels, but when we put the floats on it had an unsolvable vibration.

Steve Knopp had heard of this with other floatplanes, specifically flat sided ones(Aqua, Wip vs EDO, CAP) He sent us a Mac 401 to try, which solved the problem. Great customer service!

This 401 is now 12 years old, and we’re considering O/H vs. a new Voyager. The 401 is smooth and pulls hard. However, all Voyager reports seem to be positive. Might even pickup a few MPH.

My question, does anyone have experience with a Pponk 180(or any Skywagon really) with flat sided floats, and the Voyager? Are you experiencing any vibration?

Thanks!

Maybe shouldn't be answering but I flew Adventure Seaplanes 185 for my biennial flight review and it is very smooth. Aerocet amphib's,550,Voyager, and Seaplanes West mount. The time I flew it before it still had a tired 520 and 2 blade Mac. It wasn't as smooth as the updated but still not bad.

The MT composite has so far solved 100% of all vibration issues we have tried it on. McFarlane sells the MT Prop STC from Flight Resource that is valid for all 180/182/185 aircraft with ANY version of -470, -520 or -550. They also back the claims with an exclusive "buy it, fly it, love it or return it" guarantee... It also has the new Nickel leading edges, so there will never be any erosion or blade reduction.
John

I doubt the vibration you felt was from the sides of the floats, but maybe.

We once acquired several sets of brand new never used EDO 3430 floats from military. Problem was they all had rigging for the C 195. Spreader bars were longer than 185 rigging, but no problem. But rear vertical struts were much longer than those for a 185.

So, figure out the ideal length for aft struts, cut to that length, and off you go.

At one point, I was in need of a replacement 185. Our Aircraft folks said they’d have one on floats by the time I got there. So, next morning I jumped a jet to ANC, and walked to our maint. base on Lake Hood.

Out front sat my new ride, on a set of those surplus floats. It sure looked nose high sitting there, but I assumed that was because the plane was tied in to the slip.

Plane needed a maint test flight after annual and float install. So off I went.

Lift off from Hood and OMG, what the hey is that vibration? Power to idle and plop back in water. Taxi to maint. Short conversation with Management, who concluded Weenie Pilot type don’t know shit, so one of THEIR Super Pilots will now conduct a proper post maintenance flight.

Like a dumb shit, I plop down in right seat to observe.

Super Pilot gets airborne and sits there, as this thing shakes like a dog shitting peach pits……and I am speechless. He turns to me and says “Seems okay to me.”

I asked him what our airspeed was. “Holy shit, I can’t read ANY instruments!” Vibrating that bad. We are now over Cook Inlet, and he’s thinking about landing there.

“I have the controls!” Call LHD Tower and tell them we’re returning.

Turns out the new guys in our maint shop had cut the aft struts off something like 2 inches too much. They got out the “old guy’s notes” and cut a new set of struts.

Problem solved. We figured those vibrations were from prop pulses hitting the aft decks of the flat top floats.

Turned out to be a great rig once they got the aft struts right…..they actually were a couple inches shorter than standard 185 struts. That thing ripped out of the water.

MTV

Always enjoy these background stories MTV! Always a good read.

In this case, the strut lengths are in the right place. Super smooth with the Mac C66, and the subsequent Mac 401.

I love MTV's stories.

Anyhow, I have a friend that has a 180, 550 and the voyager on CAPs, I have flown it myself. turbine smooth airplane.

It seems like an appropriate time for this thought; it's easier to learn from other's experiences than have them all yourself.

Voyager is the must have prop in the seattle floatplane scene. At least a dozen 180/185 with that prop based at kenmore. Kenmore’s own 2 180K with the “Kenmore 520” are running 84” voyagers. Excellent combination of pull and relatively low noise.

Any knowledge out there with the O-470?