Aqua Marina Aircat 335 + Hidea 5HP

[warder54]

Hi nice buy and a great price.
Friendly word of advice: NEVER start your outboard without water - it's not just for cooling, the water pump (impeller) has synthetic rubber vanes that push water round and out of the pump housing, water is the only lubricant, when started dry this will heat up in SECONDS due to the high friction forces, should be ok for a while now but early failure is a possibility. If it was my motor, I would be fitting a new impeller at it's 1st service - cheaper than a damaged outboard broken down at sea!
Just serviced my Tohatsu 20 efi, easy job, check YouTube for how to vids if not sure.
Enjoy the new toy, the bug will bite, this is just the start!

[kennyMAC]

Hi guys my 1st post. I also have the same 335. But I have a question. It regards the floor.
My drop stitch floor does not seem to touch the front tubes.. Not sure how to post a picture.

[zonked miscuits]

Where did you get that deal for 560 EUR from? Could you post a link? Are you happy with the Air Cat a year on?

It’s a very tempting alternative to the Takacat, which I’ve been ogling for some time now!

Newbe here. After browsing this and other forums for a while, I decided on above combination for fun and fishing on the sea on calm days. This is my first boat and I decided to go cheap as I'm not sure if the interest will linger. I may also decide to experiment with some hydrofoils (real ones, not on the outboard) later on.

Ordered yesterday at 560 EUR, the Aircat arrived today and this first post wil be unboxing and initial impression (for what it's worth coming from an absolute newbie)

[mike_o]

Where did you get that deal for 560 EUR from? Could you post a link? Are you happy with the Air Cat a year on?

It’s a very tempting alternative to the Takacat, which I’ve been ogling for some time now!
...

Sorry for the late answer, but tbh the Aircat didn't spend much time in the water. I can say that it survived a year of suspension under the garage ceiling without any need for re-inflation. The 560 EUR was a local internet shop deal. Shipping + VAT/customs to the UK would surely be prohibitively expensive.

Anyway, the link is here https://www.surfline.dk/aqua-marina-air ... stich-dork, and I can see that the price hiked quite a lot to 860 EUR. Ignore the 33% discount, most of the time they run pricing like that, I doubt anybody ever paid in full.

We took her out today, though, and had an hour of fun and fishing and I spend a litte time on the beach observing how the boat behaved. Despite the trim being in the innermost position, there was too much nose up when only piloted by Simon at 73kg. With both of us (another 100kg) there is little chance of going on the plane, but I bought with the outboard a set of hydrofoil fins (not mounted yet), that may do the trick with a single person on board.

The boat it self seems to be ok. Had her in the water 2 or 3 times last year and that included a lot of questionable transportation/dragging, but there are no signs of damage or wear.

Given how little time I've had to take it out on the water, I'm very pleased with not getting anything more expensive.

[mike_o]

Looking good there Mike.

Might be worth a try sitting on the starboard (right) sponson and using left hand for throttle/steering. Throttle should feel more natural and tiller further away from body. Added bonus, weight on starboard tube will counter rotational force of prop and help level out the ride.

Thanks, I went into hibernation last year, but tried your advice on the first outing this year. Works like a charm

[mike_o]

Hi guys my 1st post. I also have the same 335. But I have a question. It regards the floor.
My drop stitch floor does not seem to touch the front tubes.. Not sure how to post a picture.

I think I know what you mean: The front of the pontoons are pointed (decreasing diameter) and the thickness of the stitch floor is not neglegible, so I assume that the designers subtracted som 3-4 cm in each side from the seam width to make it fit. In the front, the diameter is much smaller, so there is no need for the same subtraction, but that never ocurred to the designers. Hence, the floor doesn't fill the gap entirely at the first 20-30cm of the front.

However, the floor is so stiff, that it's impossible to pry up, so not really a concern for me.

[Tris10]

Hi guys my 1st post. I also have the same 335. But I have a question. It regards the floor.
My drop stitch floor does not seem to touch the front tubes.. Not sure how to post a picture.

I think I know what you mean: The front of the pontoons are pointed (decreasing diameter) and the thickness of the stitch floor is not neglegible, so I assume that the designers subtracted som 3-4 cm in each side from the seam width to make it fit. In the front, the diameter is much smaller, so there is no need for the same subtraction, but that never ocurred to the designers. Hence, the floor doesn't fill the gap entirely at the first 20-30cm of the front.

stitchfloorgap.gif

However, the floor is so stiff, that it's impossible to pry up, so not really a concern for me.

I have exactly the same on mine, as you say it doesn't affect it at all. The floor is so stiff nothing flexes in use.