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“I’m a retired carpenter by trade and spent most of my working life as a construction superintendent. Now retired, my hobbies are woodworking projects and classic cars.”
Airboats (known as “Scoots”) were flat-bottomed, propeller-driven watercraft hand-built by residents living around Georgian Bay, Ontario and its many islands since the 1930s.
Alexander Graham Bell is credited as the inventor of the first airboat; his “Ugly Duckling” was used to test aircraft propellers in Nova Scotia back in 1905. But the emergence of airboats in the Georgian Bay area could be traced to nearby French River, Ontario resident Reg McIntosh (1903–1985), who developed a toboggan-shaped sled, equipped with a motorcycle engine and a homemade propeller. Airboats were more visible and popular in the 1930s, just before the arrival of snowmobiles. For the next two decades, they were highly regarded as the best way for Georgian Bay residents to get around during the frigid winters. Scoot races became a popular event during winter carnivals.
Bill’s carpentry and mechanical skills were put to good use in this project. From the initial rough sketch to the finished vehicle, this airboat has captured some of that nostalgia quite well.
Great project, Bill. Thanks for sharing it with us!
See it in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zL93vvmJUw
Q: What is it?
A: It’s an airboat. It is designed to travel on snow, ice or water. They were used a lot in northern Ontario in the 40s and 50s before snowmobiles were popular. They are extremely useful on poor ice conditions as they travel as good on water as on ice. I added a photo of a winter carnival in 1958, which shows the extensive use of the airboat at the time.
A: As a lad growing up in the Georgian Bay Area of Muskoka, Ontario, there were quite a few scoots around. People used them for ice travel in the winter, as they were safe on poor ice. If they broke through or hit open water, it made no difference. Of course, like any other vehicle, if there is more than one around you have to race. They kind of died out in the late 50s and early 60s with the coming of the snowmobile craze. I just missed that era as I was born in 1948, but I always wanted to build one. I live in Alberta, but on a trip to Ontario I ran into a few scoot people and they had an engine for sale so I saw my chance and went for it.
Q: What is the main power source for your project? (e.g. electric motor, gas engine etc.)
A: Gas-powered, 6-cylinder 0470 Continental airplane engine, with about 230 HP. Fitted with a 72-inch push propeller.
Q: How do you control your project? (e.g. hydraulic control valve(s), electric switches etc.)
A: Electric starter, cable controlled rudders operated by a steering wheel and an accelerator pedal.
Q: What design/build challenges were overcome?
A: Learning to weld. As far as construction goes, there were no major problems. I didn’t have any plans or blueprints, just the sketch of what I thought it should look like so there were some redesigning along the way. I used about every tool in my arsenal to do this including saws, planers, sanders, spray painters, wire welders, grinders… and I will say that the majority of equipment came from Princess Auto.
Q: If you had to build it again, what would you do differently?
A: I don’t think I would do anything differently. If I did another, I would make the frame work a little lighter and use aluminium for the cage, thereby cutting the weight down some, but I am definitely happy with the way it turned out.
A: It took almost two years to complete, I had it out in the snow last winter, and it cruises through the fields very nicely. As of yet I don’t have any video of its performance, just a few photos of the float test before installing the engine and cage. If you look up a YouTube flick called Ontario Snow Scooting it will give you an idea of the performance.
Q: Which Princess Auto location do you visit most?
A: West Edmonton, AB