As one who is quite enamored with float flying, but hasn't actually spent much time shopping or outfitting aircraft with floats, I often see words like Edo, Wipline, PK, Aerocet, et al tossed around without much actual reconciliation with reality.

Then there are those numbers... 2400, 2800, 2860! 3000!! Holy smokes, what does it all mean?

We have several float gurus here. I think drafting a guide to float brands, construction, sizing, aircraft type applicability, etc would be a huge resource for this site.

One magician can take it all on, or just tackle one brand, I dunno. Throw your hat in the ring, float gurus!

Thanks.
Z

Zane,

A huge task to be even vaguely useful. EDO alone built dozens of different float models, that were approved on hundreds of aircraft types.

MTV

mtv wrote:Zane,

A huge task to be even vaguely useful. EDO alone built dozens of different float models, that were approved on hundreds of aircraft types.

MTV

I think it can still be useful with just a moderate effort. One insight that you and many others can provide is: why one brand/design over another? Sometimes you only have one choice for floats, but for someone new to the game, perhaps we can gear the information toward distinguishing the float brands themselves. Creating the ultimate applicability chart isn't nearly as important as outlining the distinguishing characteristics between the brands.

Your ski equipment writeup has been immensely useful for many people.

Also, stuff like basic rigging info...not a complete how-to, more of a "here's what has to happen to convert to floats."

Guys like me who will be flying an experimental type that's seen hardly any time on floats (bearhawk) have some learning to do with how to construct the rigging, make special/custom fittings, set the spread, relative angles to fuselage, etc. Where does one even start?

Edit: To clarify, my goal is to draft a knowledge base article, not have my rhetorical questions answered in this thread. For those knowledgable float people interested in helping create a resource here, please PM me.

Thanks!

Zzz wrote: ...Also, stuff like basic rigging info...not a complete how-to, more of a "here's what has to happen to convert to floats."
Guys like me who will be flying an experimental type that's seen hardly any time on floats (bearhawk) have some learning to do with how to construct the rigging, make special/custom fittings, set the spread, relative angles to fuselage, etc. Where does one even start?

I would think reverse-engineering the float installation on something as similar as possible--
in the case of a BH, a Maule or Pacer.
From what I understand the TriPacer was a fairly popular floatplane.
Seen pics of a lot of them--
in fact, the second photo in my old Edo "How To Fly Floats" booklet is a TriPacer.
Also photo(s) in my 1966 "Flying With Floats" by Alan Hoffsommer.
An old guy at my airport (now passed away) used to fly one for a commercial operation in AK.

I'll look and see if I still have an old EDO brochure that listed all the various models of EDO floats ever produced. Haven't seen that brochure for years, but I may still have it. If not, maybe our member here who works at EDO can find one.

The world of floats is kind of in two cases: First, there are those who can afford new floats.....bring a big wallet. There, you kind of have a few choices.

But most of us are going to be looking for used floats, usually very old used floats. In which case, there aren't many choices, since prior to the mid sixties EDO was almost the only game in that world. So, if you're looking for used floats, you take what you can find, assuming it's approved on your model airplane.

As to Tri Pacers, with a Borer prop and wing extensions, they do okay. With a stock prop and wings.....not so much.

MTV

I'll get things started by drafting an outline of what I think will be a helpful resource and report back.

There is an old brochure that is still available from EDO showing most every model ever made and what aircraft they were installed on.

There’s also this list: http://www.kenmoreairharbor.com/models.html which is a pretty comprehensive list of all the “usual” EDO float installations done these days.

I

Here's some float rigging theory from my bookmarks:

http://www.stoneylake.org/pipcom/floatgeo.htm (Note the included links for more info)
http://www.supercub.org/forum/showthrea ... 71e030b43d

Here's some float pilots worth viewing:

https://vimeo.com/79908357

I have some early and current EDO float model info in a couple of brochures like others mentioned.

Gary

As far as the ELSA segment, you might contact Ken Smith of Harbor Sport Aviation in Wisconsin to get his permission to reproduce his "white papers" on float brands, models, and rigging considerations.

http://www.harborsportaviation.com

I once bought a Kitfox on Full Lotus floats from Ken and his builder partner Tom Bauer. Good guys with a ton of knowledge and experience in the ELSA float world.

Pierre

I'm putting this here for now but I wish they had included the displacement rating of each float.

Definitions would help: Does "installed float weight" mean the same as exchange weight?

Dragonfly Aero's List of Installed float Weights per Model of Aircraft:

Aerocet 2200 on a PA-18 = 265 pounds
Aerocet 2200s on a C-172 or 170 = 265 pounds.
Aerocet 3500L on C-182= 445 pounds
Aerocet 3500L on C-180 / 185 = 448 pounds.
Aerocet 3500L on C-206 = 473 pounds

Aqua- 1900 on PA-18 = 270 pounds
Aqua-2200 on PA-18 = 305 pounds
Aqua-2400 on C-172 = ??
Aqua-3190 on C-185 = @432 pounds

Baumann 2100s on a PA-18 = 247 pounds

C.A.P.-3000 on C-180 = 422 pounds

Clamar 2180 Electric drive Amphibs= 356 pounds on Experimental PA-18
Clamar 2500 straight floats = @ 280 pounds installed on Sportsman 2+2
Clamar 2500 Amphib Floats = @ 400 pounds installed Sportsman 2+2
Clamar 3500 Amphib Floats = @ 640 pounds installed. Murphy Moose

EDO 2000s on a PA-18 = 255 to 265 pounds
EDO 2700 Electric Amphibs on old C-180 =
EDO 2705 Hydraulic Amphibs on old C-180 =
EDO 2870s on C-180 = 378 pounds
EDO 2790 Amphibs on a C180 =
The complete 597-2790 installation including hydraulic fluid for the electric hydraulic pump installation is: 626 pounds @39.6" aft of the datum (front face of the firewall). If the installation has the engine driven hydraulic pump then: 631 pounds @ 39.2"
EDO-2960 straight floats on C-180 = 425 pounds
EDO 3430s on C-185= 460 pounds

PK-1750 Experimental PA-18 = 235 pounds

PK-2050 on cert PA-18 = Installed Weight: 275lbs Free weight w/o struts: 228lbs Exchange weight: ?
PA-18-150: Max Gross Weight: 2278lbs
Displacement of one float completely submerged: 2051lbs
Free weight of 2 complete floats, less Struts: 228lbs
Hull Length, width, depth: 193.8”, 27.5”, 24.8”
Keel to Keel: 84.7”
Overall Width: 112.5”
Installed Weight: 275lbs
Baggage Compartment: Optional, 50lbs max
Number of Watertight compartments: 7

PK 2250 amphibs 413 lbs free, Aviat Husky, 409 installed, 295 exchange.
Displacement of one float completely submerged: 2550lbs
Hull Length, width, depth: 213.5”, 28.2” 27.06”
Keel to Keel: 88”
Overall Width: 116”
Installed Weight: 409lbs
Baggage Compartment: Standard, 50lbs max
Number of Watertight compartments: 6

PK-2300 (B)s on C-172 = 305 lbs free weight Exchange weight: 204 lbs.
Cessna 172, Cessna 170B, Bellanca 8GCBC Scout, Maule M5
Max Gross Weight: 2550lbs
Displacement of one float completely submerged: 2295lbs
Hull Length, width, depth: 213.5”, 27.5”, 24.8”
Keel to Keel: 88”
Overall Width: 116”
Installed Weight: 305lbs
Baggage Compartment: Standard, 50lbs max
Number of Watertight compartments: 7
(Free weight similar to Edo 2425 but with less buoyancy)


PK-3000: 442 lbs free, Cessna 180, Cessna 185: Installed weight, 424lbs. Exchange weight 312lbs
Displacement of one float completely submerged: 3017lbs
Hull Length, width, depth: 229.9”, 31.4”, 27.3”
Keel to Keel: 100.5”
Overall Width: 132”
Installed weight, 424lbs
Baggage Compartment: Standard, 100lbs max
Number of Watertight compartments: 7

PK-3050 amphibs on C-185 = 579 pounds
PK-3500Cs on C-185 = 442 pounds


Wipline 2100s on PA-18 = 280 pounds
Wipline Amhibs on PA-18 = 427 pounds
Wipeine 2350s on C-172N= 305 pounds.
Wipline 3000s on C-182 = 429 pounds
Wipline 3000s on C-180 = 432 pounds
Wipline 3000 Amphibs on a C-180 = 633 pounds
Wipline 3450 Floats on C-206 = 491 pounds
Wipline 3450 Amphibs on C206= 694 pounds

More info dump from my "research":

Wipline - The industry leader. Certified. Straight 2100 weight = 249 Amphib 2100A weight =379

Aerocett - Straight floats only for Supercubs. Certified straight 2200 model weight = 265

EDO - Certified, Long history of excellent performance. Certified straight model 2000 weight = 251

PK - Straight and amphib, Certified? Straight 2050 weight = 275 Amphib 2250 weight = 409

Aqua - kit or built. Certified I think. Straight weight = 305

CAP2000 -

Baumann - out of business, straight 2100 weight = 247 Amphib 2150 weight = ? (I think Joe said they made about 10 or 12 sets. No idea how many are still out there or in what countries)

Clamar - experimental, composite. straight weight = 282 amphib weight 425

Montana - experimental, kit or prebuilt

Zenair (czech) - Kit, experimental

Tufffloats - Composite, unknown,

Float weight for 2425 is 303 lbs I think its in the other equipment list in the Type Certificate Data Sheet. If I remember correctly the empty weight goes up 200# after subtracting the land gear.