Looking for a little input from those who have used both the CAP 3000 and EDO 2960. My own experience has been only with the EDO 2960, I hear they are not a great float but I've never had any issue with them, of course I don't know anything else. I know you have to wait for the plane to fly off, no pulling it off.

What's happened is when I took the plane in for annual we found corrosion between the skin and doubler at the front strut attach point, it's not really that bad but it will take quite a few shop hours to fix. There is also a leak in one compartment at the step which will take some more shop hours. These floats are very repairable but they have reached the point where it is now a wash moneywise to either fix them, or sell them as is and buy a freshly refurbished set of CAP 3000 floats that are here locally. Both sets of floats have hatches. My plane has the Sportsman STOL and Wing-X if that matters.

With all that in mind what say the experienced float guys here? Would you go the EDO or the CAP? Would you look for something else entirely? For myself I'd like to stick with the older aluminum floats at this point. I believe going with the EDO 2870 would nullify the upgross afforded by the Wing-X but correct me if I'm wrong.

MTV where are you, there's a question for you to answer

Fraser Farmer wrote:Looking for a little input from those who have used both the CAP 3000 and EDO 2960. My own experience has been only with the EDO 2960, I hear they are not a great float but I've never had any issue with them, of course I don't know anything else. I know you have to wait for the plane to fly off, no pulling it off.

What's happened is when I took the plane in for annual we found corrosion between the skin and doubler at the front strut attach point, it's not really that bad but it will take quite a few shop hours to fix. There is also a leak in one compartment at the step which will take some more shop hours. These floats are very repairable but they have reached the point where it is now a wash moneywise to either fix them, or sell them as is and buy a freshly refurbished set of CAP 3000 floats that are here locally. Both sets of floats have hatches. My plane has the Sportsman STOL and Wing-X if that matters.

With all that in mind what say the experienced float guys here? Would you go the EDO or the CAP? Would you look for something else entirely? For myself I'd like to stick with the older aluminum floats at this point. I believe going with the EDO 2870 would nullify the upgross afforded by the Wing-X but correct me if I'm wrong.

Yes, I believe the 2870s would negate or limit the upgross. They would be my first choice for most early 180s. What year is your airplane?

I never found anything I didn't like about the CAP floats. They are stout, they get off the water very nicely, and they are some of the fastest floats through the air. They are just a bit underfloated on a 185 and kind of overfloated on a stock 180, but.... might be just the ticket for your plane.

I've only flown one 180 on the CAP 3000s, but it had a more powerful engine than stock. I've flown a few 185s on them.

Perhaps the biggest advantage over the 2960s is that the CAPs are a LOT easier to takeoff, particularly when loaded. They have relatively steep and short after bodies, so you can pitch to go, unlike the 2960s.

Both are round top floats. The CAPs tend to pound less in rough water, which may help if you land much in big water.

The CAPs are short, and the 2960s are some of the longest floats around.

Based on what you described, I'd jump on the CAPs and move on. Great floats in my opinion.

MTV

The knowledge that exists with the BCP community never ceases to impress

mtv wrote:

Fraser Farmer wrote:Looking for a little input from those who have used both the CAP 3000 and EDO 2960. My own experience has been only with the EDO 2960, I hear they are not a great float but I've never had any issue with them, of course I don't know anything else. I know you have to wait for the plane to fly off, no pulling it off.

What's happened is when I took the plane in for annual we found corrosion between the skin and doubler at the front strut attach point, it's not really that bad but it will take quite a few shop hours to fix. There is also a leak in one compartment at the step which will take some more shop hours. These floats are very repairable but they have reached the point where it is now a wash moneywise to either fix them, or sell them as is and buy a freshly refurbished set of CAP 3000 floats that are here locally. Both sets of floats have hatches. My plane has the Sportsman STOL and Wing-X if that matters.

With all that in mind what say the experienced float guys here? Would you go the EDO or the CAP? Would you look for something else entirely? For myself I'd like to stick with the older aluminum floats at this point. I believe going with the EDO 2870 would nullify the upgross afforded by the Wing-X but correct me if I'm wrong.

Yes, I believe the 2870s would negate or limit the upgross. They would be my first choice for most early 180s. What year is your airplane?

I never found anything I didn't like about the CAP floats. They are stout, they get off the water very nicely, and they are some of the fastest floats through the air. They are just a bit underfloated on a 185 and kind of overfloated on a stock 180, but.... might be just the ticket for your plane.

I've only flown one 180 on the CAP 3000s, but it had a more powerful engine than stock. I've flown a few 185s on them.

Perhaps the biggest advantage over the 2960s is that the CAPs are a LOT easier to takeoff, particularly when loaded. They have relatively steep and short after bodies, so you can pitch to go, unlike the 2960s.

Both are round top floats. The CAPs tend to pound less in rough water, which may help if you land much in big water.

The CAPs are short, and the 2960s are some of the longest floats around.

Based on what you described, I'd jump on the CAPs and move on. Great floats in my opinion.

MTV

I sure appreciate the knowledgeable input Mike, very useful to hear from someone who has flown both. My 180 is a 1959 with stock engine.

Mapleflt wrote:The knowledge that exists with the BCP community never ceases to impress

It is pretty awesome and a heck of a resource.

I learned to fly in a 185 on 2960’s and on wheels as a kid, thats the airplane my dad owned at the time so thats what I learned in. I never had a problem with the 2960’s since for a long time that was the only float I flew. My dad taught me all the techniques that made the 2960’s work well, I like the floats, a lot!

That being said, when I bought my 1974 185 it came with CAP 3000E floats, wow, I loved those floats! Fast in the air, tough, good performing in the water and much better in rough water than the 2960. The only float I like better than the CAP 3000’s for a 180/185 is the Aerocet and that includes the EDO 3430. I ave not flown a set of PK 3000’s so I can not comment on those. The CAP’s are different and will take a bit of time to get used to so give it some time to get your technique perfected, you will like them!

Like MTV said, buy the CAP’s and press on!

Kurt

G44 wrote:I learned to fly in a 185 on 2960’s and on wheels as a kid, thats the airplane my dad owned at the time so thats what I learned in. I never had a problem with the 2960’s since for a long time that was the only float I flew. My dad taught me all the techniques that made the 2960’s work well, I like the floats, a lot!

That being said, when I bought my 1974 185 it came with CAP 3000E floats, wow, I loved those floats! Fast in the air, tough, good performing in the water and much better in rough water than the 2960. The only float I like better than the CAP 3000’s for a 180/185 is the Aerocet and that includes the EDO 3430. I ave not flown a set of PK 3000’s so I can not comment on those. The CAP’s are different and will take a bit of time to get used to so give it some time to get your technique perfected, you will like them!

Like MTV said, buy the CAP’s and press on!

Kurt

Thanks for sharing your experience Kurt. Like your early experience, at this point the 2960s are all I know and they've been fine for me and I've had a lot of fun with my plane on them, I'm definitely not a 2960 hater. I have always heard there are better options though. I'm not ready to shell out for Aerocets.

FF,

Like I said above, give the CAP’s some time to get used to them. You will like them!


Kurt

I flew two summers with CAPs on my 185. I like them enough that I’ve decided to keep them stashed away even though I have Aerocet Amphibs now.

Even with only two years, everything Mike pointed out was evident in my experience. What I’m sure Mike knows, but forgot to add is that the CAPs with their deep V take a bit more power to get onto the step. It becomes more of an issue at higher altitudes where you can’t get full manifold pressure for take offs. Never a problem for me. Highest lake I’ve been on is 3600’ ASL.

Thinking about your 180, a bit less power, and less gross weight. Being a bit over-floated with the 3000s on the 180 might mitigate that negative. The 185 would be both under-floated and underpowered on CAPs at higher altitudes.

I say go for the CAPs, but keep your EDOs around for now. You can always sell the CAPs and go back if you’re not happy. Make sure you do a thorough parts inventory before you commit to the CAPs. You don’t want to be missing anything. There are used parts around, but there’s no manufacturer parts support that I know of. Contact me if you need something. I have a source of used.

At one point, like fifteen years ago, a fellow had purchased the CAP TCs and equipment and spares. He was in process of gearing up to put them back in production in Watson Lake. Obviously that didn’t work out, but there may be some “stuff” out there. Can’t recall the guys name. As I recall, he was intending primarily to get the Twin Otter floats back in production.

Anyway, with few exceptions, most parts can be fabricated. Eddy Peck or Doug Ronan can likely provide any parts you might need.

Yes, the CAPs are a bit slower out of the hole. They have a deep v hull shape. Which is why they don’t pound as bad on rough water.

But frankly, either EDO 2960s or CAP 3000s are great floats. Both are a bit big for a stock 180, but both makes sense on an up gross 180, I reckon.

In my experience, as Kurt noted, ANY new float type is going to require a bit of practice to become familiar with their unique characteristics. That’s part of the fun of float flying.

MTV

Thanks all for the thoughts and taking time to share. Sounds like I ought to give the CAPs a try.

What can you loose they are Canadian by birth

I ran the 180 on wheels for a few months and this week we put on the CAP 3000 floats. They are great, I'm very glad I made the switch and I thank you guys for steering me right on this. The ability to rotate and lift off as opposed to waiting to fly with the EDOs was immediately evident and shortened up the takeoffs considerably. I've also gained 4 or 5 knots of cruise speed so that's pretty awesome. They flew nicely and landed at much the same attitude as the old EDOs. There is a noticably wider sweet spot to work with. I'm very pleased.

Does anyone need a pair of EDO 2960s?

Glad you like them, and thanks for the follow up report. I think the more time you get on them the more you’ll like them.

This time of year, I do get to missing float flying....

MTV

Fraser Farmer wrote:I ran the 180 on wheels for a few months and this week we put on the CAP 3000 floats. They are great, I'm very glad I made the switch and I thank you guys for steering me right on this. The ability to rotate and lift off as opposed to waiting to fly with the EDOs was immediately evident and shortened up the takeoffs considerably. I've also gained 4 or 5 knots of cruise speed so that's pretty awesome. They flew nicely and landed at much the same attitude as the old EDOs. There is a noticably wider sweet spot to work with. I'm very pleased.

Does anyone need a pair of EDO 2960s?

Oh fantastic! Great to hear.

Kurt

After an excellent PIREP like that, let me just say I have a used set of CAP 3000 with skywagon rigging I’d sell pretty cheap.

Reason for selling: probably never going back to straight floats from amphibs no matter how much I like the CAPs.

Pinecone, I’m weighing my options here, do you still have the CAP 3000s?

Yes. I replied to your private message a couple days ago. Look for the red notification dot in the upper right of your screen.

Pinecone wrote:Yes. I replied to your private message a couple days ago. Look for the red notification dot in the upper right of your screen.

Also, and this is to no one in particular, do not reply to the notification emails. It will go into a black hole. You must click the link in the email to read the PM on the website and reply here.