Ideas for Flat Bottom Boats
Flat bottomed boats are specialized vessels designed to be used in shallow waters. Over the years, hundreds of designs have been developed, many of which are still in use in 2011. Designing a flat bottomed boat is not difficult, but keep in mind everything is a tradeoff. Flat bottomed boats are not designed to be fast racing boats. What you obtain in terms of shallow water capabilities, you lose in speed.
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Airboat Propeller Idea
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For airboats, a good idea is to use a propeller designed specifically for airboats. The main concern is excessive sound coming out of a propeller spinning too fast. Professor Dr. Oren Masory at the Florida Atlantic University has studied this extensively. The conclusion reached was that propeller noise becomes significant over 1,800 rpm. If you are using an airplane propeller it's adequate, but you may have to spin it at high rpms. Airboat propellers are completely different than airplane propellers, since the requirement is different. Airboat propellers are engineered to produce maximum thrust at low rpms, thus reducing the noise level.
Anti-Sink Idea
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If you hit a rock or log, the hull can rupture, allowing water in. To make the boat less sinkable, its a good idea to fill the hull with spray foam. This foam comes out of the can as a liquid, but expands out to look like Styrofoam. Once cured, it is impervious to water. If the hull gets a hole, the foam will prevent water seepage allowing you to reach shore. It is available at any home improvement store, since builders commonly use it to seal cracks in a home. Bear in mind no boat is unsinkable, but this will add in an extra measure of safety.
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Hull Coating Idea
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To add durability to the hull, spray on truck-bed liner coating can be applied the exterior of the hull. This is a thick plastic, and when fully cured, forms a layer about a quarter inch thick. The hull must be free of dirt and grease to assure good adhesion. This liner should last for years, and is good protection in case you hit a boulder or log.
Jet Drive Idea
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The overall goal of a flat bottom boat is not to have an underwater propeller, which can hit bottom or snag weeds. A jet drive is a good idea to install. This is not a propeller, but has an inlet and an outlet tube. Water is sucked into the inlet at the front of the boat, and jetted out at a high speed at the back of the boat. An engine drives internal turbines to push the water out. The Marine Science Institute at the University of Texas installed a jet drive on a boat, stating the boat can operate in shallow waters (see reference 3, under "Skimmer").
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