I'm looking at a set of refurbed PK3500C's for a 185 without the porkchops for $6K. I'm also laughing at the notion of a set of Edo 3430's including everything for a 185, and all covered in tree sap and sitting in the elements in someone's backyard for the last 10 or 15 years, for the dirt-cheap price of $15k. The obvious choice is the PK's, but this will be a working 135 bird, short-lake performance at gross weight is important. Rough-water performance isn't as much a requirement, we're a conservative bunch on salary. Besides the initial investment, which would do us better?

For much of my float flying experience, I always assumed that the EDO 3430 floats were THE ideal float for a working Cessna 185. In 1986, I was assigned a brand new (1985) Cessna 185 on PK 3500 C floats.....and I groaned. I groaned because I had previous experience flying a 185 on PK 3500A and B floats (straight and amphibious versions of the earlier PK floats), and those floats were water loving mothers, to say the least.

But, I wasn't buying the airplanes, I was being paid to fly them, so....for the next ten years, I flew that airplane and during the summers, I flew it on those PK 3500 C floats. I adapted. And it turned out the C and D model PKs are VERY different floats than their predecessors. After ten years, the engine in that airplane suffered a broken crankshaft in flight, and I parked the plane on a mountainside. It wasn't pretty.

So, my employer found a "loaner" 185 for me to fly till they could replace the airplane. The "loaner" was equipped with EDO 3430 floats....WAHOO!! (I thought).

My first few takeoffs at max weight were pretty disappointing as it turned out. The airplane just didn't perform as I'd remembered the EDO equipped airplanes. So, I went out with the plane and "relearned" what those floats want from the pilot to get them to perform.

At the end of the day, I found that the EDO equipped airplane would get airborne at almost exactly the same point (takeoff distance) as the PK equipped (3500C) airplane at max Gross Weight. I operated out of the Fairbanks, AK float pond, which is a narrow 5400 foot long water lane, with airplanes parked along it's entire length. So, it was easy to judge takeoff distance, based on "I got airborne right next to the blue and white Citabria" etc.

There are some even better floats out there nowadays, but either of these floats will work hard for you. That said, the PKs are going to demand more precise performance from the pilot. The secret to the PKs is they have a really narrow "sweet spot", and it takes some practice to hit that spot quickly so that the airplane accelerates well. The EDOs have a much larger sweet spot, and thus are if anything a little easier to fly well.

Both have very large lockers and flat tops. Both are good rough water floats, though the EDOs will pound more in wave action, due to their fluted bottoms. Repairs on the PKs are much easier, since everything on them is flat metal, whereas the EDOs have fluted bottoms. Parts are readily available for both, I believe. Aerocet offers PMA'd EDO rigging, as does, of course, EDO (now owned by Kenmore Air Harbor). PK is now PeeKay Floats, based in Maine, and owned by Alton Buchard, who is supportive and very knowledgeable.

I'd find out what a set of pork chops for those PKs are going to cost.

Otherwise, I'd look carefully for corrosion, and check for leaks, particularly on a set of floats that have been sitting outdoors for a long time, probably without anyone checking on their welfare. Easy to let water get in through the tops, then freeze and open up seams, etc. Do a leak check with a vacuum cleaner exhaust and soapy water before you get too far down the road to purchase.

I wouldn't be afraid of either set. They will both do a great job. As noted, the PK's will make you work a little harder at it, but their performance CAN equal that of the EDOs or at least so close you can't really tell the difference.

Finally, there are now arguably better floats out there for the C 185, but the price is going to be a lot higher, since these are newer floats. Both these floats you're talking about are HEAVY and LARGE floats, which impacts your legal useful load.

MTV

Back in 2005 I was looking for floats for my 185 and had several e-mail chats with MTV. I ended up going to Kenmore Air and looking at several sets of floats, one set left by Mr. Bouchard and another set of floats that Kenmore/Edo had totally rebuilt. I ended up buying the Edo 3430 with all new attachment hardware and have flown them in the summers with no regrets. I have loaded my poor plane with more gear than is required for an African safari and the floats/plane always performed great.

I am now living in Washington and will not be flying floats down here. The floats are located at Springhouse Airpark, near Williams Lake, BC and are for sale= $13,500. No damange less than 300 hrs since totally rebuilt and, again, all attachment hardware for a 185.

I loved my old 3500A. My aerocets are better but those PK's were solid and i got them out of a couple of small lakes. I still own a set and I'll give 'em up with the chops and the paperwork for $1500. They are at surfside in Minnesota.

Brad

MTV is right on with PK and Edo, i own and operate all 3 of the floats above on 180 & 185's and use to own Brad's A model 3500's, that is a great buy at $1500. My choice in order for a 185 is Aerocet 3500, Edo 3430, PK 3500C. I even had Wip 3000's on my 185 for one season, performed well but sits too low on the water with too much prop spray for my use.

Thanks guys, I was hoping to hear some good comparisons. I think I saw 185 porkchops for around $300 or $600 somewhere lately, and I think the PKs are priced right. I've flown Aerocets 3500s on a 185, and those are hands-down the best floats I've ever flown. However I don't think pricing them at $35k is the way to sell a lot of floats...

PK3500C are better...A & B models the only thing that would get u airborne is the curvature of the earth Listen to MTV...a cheaper float does no good if u stack up the plane on a short lake with a heavy load.........EDOS 3430 are the way to go. Most commercial operators run EDOS for a reason...think about it If I were u i would be beating a path to Floatflyer with a hand full of $$................make him throw in a week in Baja, Mex