Airboats aren’t like other boats. They are able to glide through shallow waters and they work particularly well in marshy areas like the Florida Everglades and Louisiana Bayous. Why? Well, they have a flat-bottom design combined with an above-water aircraft propeller.
Originally, airboats served as a primary mode of transportation throughout the Everglades, and now they’re commonly used for recreational activities like hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing.
In 1942, Barrel Head House built one of the first commercial airboats. Since then, Everglades visitors enjoyed skimming above the water’s surface. Tourists and locals enjoy airboat tours for the chance to sight alligators, birds, turtles and other popular Everglades wildlife.
Over the years, airboat rides and tours quickly became a staple in Everglades ecotourism, and to this day they are of the most popular attractions in South Florida.
Parts of an Airboat
An airboat is intricate. Below, we have listed some parts of an airboat.
- Engine: airboats call for an aircraft or automotive V8 engine ranging from 500 to 600+ horsepower.
- Propeller: an aircraft propeller operates out-of-water to power an Everglades airboat.
- Propeller cage: the propeller sits inside a metal cage, which protects the boat and its inhabitants from injury.
- Rudder panels: steering airboats relies heavily on rudder panels, which help direct air.
- Rudder stick: located on the airboat driver’s left side, the rudder stick directs the boat through the swamp.
- Accelerator: the captain uses the accelerator to gain speed during airboat rides.
Book an Airboat Tour in the Everglades
Did you know Captain Mitch’s Everglades Airboat Tours in Everglades City, is the oldest airboat tour provider in the Everglades? For generations, Captain Mitch and company have delivered safe, fun and family-friendly excursions throughout South Florida wilderness.
To schedule your private Everglades ride, contact Captain Mitch’s Everglades Airboat Tours at 239-695-3377 or click Everglades airboat tour page.
Captain Mitch’s Everglades Private Airboat Tours is open 7 days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If paying by cash, adults cost $40 (plus tax) and children 12 and under cost $20 (plus tax. If paying by credit card, adults cost $45 (plus tax) and children cost $25 (plus tax).
Airboats are one of the most exciting, up-close-and-personal ways to get around the Everglades. They give visitors a chance to see the wetland’s vastness, along with its flora and fauna. Airboats are a safe way to glide through the waterways, but like anything there are risks. Airboat injuries and accidents have occurred, so it is important as a passenger you follow all safety precautions and rules.
