Aqua 1500 straight floats

[WWhunter]

Has anyone had experience with these floats? Found a set for a fair price ($7500) that have been on a J-3 and a Kitfox. Have a friend that was thinking of putting them on a Champ, but need to check to see if they are approved for the 7AC.

 

[cubdriver2]

Side by side with EDO 1320 and 1400 on Cubs they are on the water a little longer. Nice floats, I wish I had their lockers

Glenn

 

[mvivion]

They are great floats, especially if you need a bit more buoyancy than 1320s.

The company is still in business, though hard to get in touch with sometimes.

MTV

 

[skywagon8a]

http://aquafloat.com/?page_id=26
[h=1]Contact Us[/h][FONT=&quot]Contact Terry or Helen Claggett at the following addresses:
aquafloat@aquafloat.com
(320)219-1375
37100 Geiger Road
Zephyrhills, FL 33542
[/FONT]

 

[BC12D-4-85]

Don't see factory approval for Champs. Might need another plus struts and fittings.

Gary

 

[Dan Gervae]

They are the stoutest darn things around and perform well…they are something over 250lbs installed. I doubt you’ll get them approved on a Champ…but field approvals have been done in some places.

 

[Cubus Maximus]

Time in two different PA-18-95's on Aqua 1500's (got the SES rating in one). Good float, easy off the water. As Dan says above, STOUT.

This is the L-18 I got the rating in. 1 fuel tank, no electric. Really enjoyed flying it!

 

[jk]

The only thing is the tails will sink if you walk towards the D window, get your feet wet. Don’t matter if your in waiters. They do real good In rougher water.
jk

 

[WWhunter]

Thanks all!! I'm going to go look at them next week. Not sure what these normally sell for and whether or not the rigging would still be usable since they were mounted on a Kitfox.

 

[cubdriver2]

Thanks all!! I'm going to go look at them next week. Not sure what these normally sell for and whether or not the rigging would still be usable since they were mounted on a Kitfox.

Give Kris a call



Glenn

 

[john schwamm]

Side track, but what do you think is best way to haul a set of Baumann 2550A amphibs on a trailer to Anchorage, 2500 mile trip.
Load with short spreader bars and ride on amphib wheels, or turn upside down with padding wrapped around floats and ride on trailer?
6.5' x 14' aluminum trailer, torsion axle, so pretty stiff ride.
Thanks for any tips.
John

 

[Bill Rusk]

I have usually used stubbies (short spreader bars) and left them on their wheels.

They can over hang the front of the trailer a little (watch turn radius and hitting the tow vehicle) and also can overhang a little in the rear. Check each state driver regulations as to amount of legal overhang, and the need for a flag.

Hope this helps

Bill

 

[JWE]

Also check the SIZE of the required flag.

 

[TurboBeaver]

Great movie of 100 HP Cub just posted today of Aqua 1500's in action. Facebook under Brian Dunn. Experienced
Floatplane pilot. Give you a good idea what to expect?

 

[cubdriver2]

You have a link Earle?

Glenn

 

[WWhunter]

Glen, Took me a little while to find it. I've only got around 300 hours on floats. SO I'm no expert by any means but the seem to perform decently.

www.facebook.com/100010303145637/videos/pcb.1708613566158732/1266843727471565

 

[skywagon8a]

Glen, Took me a little while to find it. I've only got around 300 hours on floats. SO I'm no expert by any means but the seem to perform decently.

www.facebook.com/100010303145637/videos/pcb.1708613566158732/1266843727471565

Just one small comment. Barring any wind considerations, when lifting one float out of the water before the other one to help shorten the takeoff run, the torque effect of the prop helps when lifting the right float first. Also when taking off with a right crosswind contrary to what is done in a land pane, lift the right float first.

One of my students did this during his SES check ride. The DPE questioned him on it, so he demonstrated the other (normal) procedure. The DPE went home mumbling to himself as he had learned something that day.

 

[TurboBeaver]

Glen,
I had a set of 1900's a few years ago, Keith Strange told me that ALOT of performance gets left on the table with Aquas because they really don't have a hydro booster on the bottoms, more just a piece of angle aluminum material????
I asked him how much difference it would make if one was to install a real booster like on the PK floats and he said "ALOT"......... It looked to me like their booster might fit right over their "right angle booster" and if it wouldn't; a minute to grind it down till it would...... For any of us that can remember how doggie Edo 1400's were on 95 Cubs until the boosters were installed (day/nite) I would expect
the same if the Aquas; had real boosters , of course most noticable if your heavy, its hot, high humidity,or flat calm; but that's just an opinion.
E
P.S. As you can hear in video that 0200 is getting after it, the pilot has been flying floats, since he was weaned off breast milk.

 

[BC12D-4-85]

Aquas tend to be flat bottomed for a considerable length of their pre-step portion. They can hold onto water like the early PK's - sticky in calm winds and when landing can pitch down. Boosters might help vs their typical single right angle piece.

Gary

 

[TurboBeaver]

Gary,
That photo says it all....... Those are certainly a far cry from a true booster. But with that said, they are what Jack Brown's have used for decades training SES ratings.
Other than the booster issue they are good looking floats!

 

[BC12D-4-85]

They are flat topped so easy to walk on. They are tough and heavy so withstand rough conditions. They might be improved with bottom boosters and angles added to the chines.

Gary

 

[cubdriver2]

C90 J3/1400 about 2100' msl

https://youtu.be/XmEnOqqIzR8

Same at 1000' msl

https://youtube.com/shorts/ho3Zb2fPw4w?feature=share

Glenn

 

[skywagon8a]

C90 J3/1400 about 2100' msl

https://youtu.be/XmEnOqqIzR8

Same at 1000' msl

https://youtube.com/shorts/ho3Zb2fPw4w?feature=share

Glenn

Seemed to do better at 2100'.

 

[BC12D-4-85]

Keep those bows up some to minimize forward wetted area. Jack Brown's J-3 and Aquas> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-H4nGaQJk4 Hint: skip ads.

Gary

 

[skywagon8a]

Seemed to do better at 2100'.

I take this back. I was able to run them side by side. It did better at 1000'.

 

[kg]

Aquas tend to be flat bottomed for a considerable length of their pre-step portion. They can hold onto water like the early PK's - sticky in calm winds and when landing can pitch down. Boosters might help vs their typical single right angle piece.

Gary

Gary,
That photo says it all....... Those are certainly a far cry from a true booster. But with that said, they are what Jack Brown's have used for decades training SES ratings.
Other than the booster issue they are good looking floats!

They are flat topped so easy to walk on. They are tough and heavy so withstand rough conditions. They might be improved with bottom boosters and angles added to the chines.

Gary

Does anyone have a picture of float bottoms with boosters to compare to pictures above? Fairly new to float flying... wondering what boosters look like.

 

[cubdriver2]

Does anyone have a picture of float bottoms with boosters to compare to pictures above? Fairly new to float flying... wondering what boosters look like.

https://images.app.goo.gl/i2ib7jFnUdJPPGwC7

Glenn

 

[TurboBeaver]

Here is what hydro boosters look like:

Or an attempt to get a flat surface, to perform like a true fluted bottom........

 

[kg]

https://images.app.goo.gl/i2ib7jFnUdJPPGwC7

Glenn

Thanks!

 

[kg]

Here is what hydro boosters look like:
View attachment 62411
Or an attempt to get a flat surface, to perform like a true fluted bottom........

Thanks!