Seaplanes to Sailboats; Starting the Cruising Lifestyle

[185WB]

It is a c185 on edo 2790 amphibs...I upgraded the floats to edo 3500 amphibs to give it more flotation and stability, plus I had to add a larger 88", Alaskan mod, seaplane prop to pull it out of the water faster....and yes, that prop made a lot of noise on takeoff.... a great bucket list item: go get a seaplane rating for fun...best flying you can have with the doors open, shorts and flip flops....especially around FL

[185WB]

my friends use to call it the Bikini magnet

[a64pilot]

I got mine in Winterhaven, at Jack Brown's seaplane base, they have a Maule which temped me as I had a Maule, but I flew the Cubs instead. It was fun, but I'll never have a Cub after that, the heaviest elevator force of any aircraft I have ever flown, I'm sure lots of it had to do with them being over floated, but still my C-140 is a much better flying aircraft, for likely less than half the money

[185WB]

c140 is a great plane and best value for the money.... the Maule is a good seaplane performer....and very easy to fly on floats.... the 185 is like flying a dumptruck

[laika]

Just hung up the boat temporarily for a sportsman with amphibs.. Ideally you want both, right??

You're sure to enjoy the cruising life.

[185WB]

that is a great combo....haven't flown one yet but I've watched the development for many years via Sun-n-Fun as i was a field director for Seaplane Pilots Assn here in TN/KY.... I've spent a lot of time float flying in MN and canoeing in the BWCA.... hopefully, Ill get a smaller floatplane and have the sailboat to cruse in the winter

[a64pilot]

A friend built a Sportsman on floats for a customer in the Bahamas who had been flying a Maule, theory is it will suffer less from corrosion, I think they have a two weeks to taxi thing or used to anyway