How to Handle an Airboat on Bad Ice

When spring thaw brings honeycombed ice, airboats behave differently, and operators need to know and understand certain principles of airboat operation. Learn some tips for handling this to avoid railroading, and other situations of rotten spring ice.

[@gunsmithgary9589]

I'm a hack but I'm just trying to fish and not drown in the process. For that railroading problem, I added a piece of plywood 4" wider than the back mostly to prevent "wedging". But breaking a slightly wider path with the front allows me to make a slow wide turn and retreat back to safe ice.

[@doncummings3915]

Nothing beats a Georgian Bay Scoot, for over eighty years, no problem a SCOOT IS A HOOT

[@peterrogers6244]

these guy are lucky to be alive railroading is real the only ice boat that is safe is a 1000 island airboat

[@canadianairboatslimited3105]

I humbly disagree with your comment. Canadian Airboat ice hulls are engineered with marine grade aluminum and have reinforcing down the sides, transom, and gunnels, inside and outside specifically to deal with extreme sidewall pressure of "Railroading". Our hulls will withstand more pressure than a fiberglass airboat hull while at same time being light weight in comparison to a fiberglass hull of a comparable strength rating. We have not had a sidewall failure as a result of railroading conditions on our TP1332 ice airboats in the history of our company. Canadian Airboats and their many oil industry clients take advantage of the power to weight and strength advantage of aluminum and in fact have done extensive testing in northern Canada specific to the severest of railroading conditions in spring, winter and fall, for decades. Our airboats have been field tested and passed with excellent success. By the way, the term "Railroading" was introduced to the airboat industry originally by Canadian Airboats in our C.A.S.S. Ice Airboat Safety Training Program and on our website. Stay safe and if you are ever in Vernon BC, come see us. You are welcome any time.