Ok, I know this is crazy but....
I NEED, Ok actually just want a 4 place floatplane. Obvious answer C180. But they are a bit expensive and a bit hard to find. So one idea has been to get a 182 and do a Seaplanes West Sealane float kit mod to it. But that means taking a relatively expensive plane and pulling it apart, which is expensive.
The other day I see this ad https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cessna-182-Pro ... SwH8ta2TtL on ebay. It is a 1859 182C project. It is already taken apart, just waiting for a Seaplanes West kit.

Other than the obvious issues of buying off ebay, why else is this a terrible idea?

I hate to be the first one to "Pee in your Cheerios" but ......

If you are looking for a cheap way to get into a float plane this probably is't it.

If you have a bunch of parts laying around that could help but if you need to buy everything you could easily be into the project over $100k even if you got the plane for 10k.

And it would take many years out of your life in labor plus if you are not an A&P it will cost many many more thousands to get going.

On the other hand if you have an engine, prop, tail feathers, and a stack of avionics and instruments laying around with nothing to go in and a place to work, then it could get closer to making sense financially.

Most times it makes more sense to buy a flying plane then gradually make it your own while flying it.

PNW Flyer wrote:Ok, I know this is crazy but....
I NEED, Ok actually just want a 4 place floatplane. Obvious answer C180. But they are a bit expensive and a bit hard to find. So one idea has been to get a 182 and do a Seaplanes West Sealane float kit mod to it. But that means taking a relatively expensive plane and pulling it apart, which is expensive.
The other day I see this ad https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cessna-182-Pro ... SwH8ta2TtL on ebay. It is a 1859 182C project. It is already taken apart, just waiting for a Seaplanes West kit.

Other than the obvious issues of buying off ebay, why else is this a terrible idea?

Never do your first airplane of type as a pre-dissasembled project.

There's a reason it's sitting there at $6500 with no bids and an hour left. With no surprises you'll be into that plane for more than it's worth just to get it airborne again, and the tail damage is probably not just superficial - quite possibly structural issues at the stabilizer bracing. That's a several thousand dollar repair just by itself.

Maybe a good parts queen for a few grand. Judging by how rough that plane looks, I get the impression that if they could have cheaply made it fly again it would be.

About 20 years ago I bought an project what it cost me to repair it to get it flying again was many amu's more than the plane was worth. A 180 in flying condition was would have cost far less. Do not do it.
Ron

Thanks for the advice. And no, I didn't do it.
But I do think I am looking for either 180, or possibly a 182 that has been converted to floats.
And yes, if you know of one somewhere, please post.

I know, everyone on here is looking for a deal on such an airplane.