Hey Drew,

Can you speak to the Lake Vs Seawind and just for comparison purposes a 182 on Amphibs. You seem very knowledgeable on the Lake and I'm wondering if you know much about the Seawind. I'm contemplating a purchase of one of the above and right now I'm leaning 182 but I don't have any Lake experience and the Seawind is very interesting but I've done a lot of reading on its safety record or pilot's inability to fly it without consequences. I'm wondering if you can speak to any of the three or whatever knowledge or information you can pass on. Open to all of course on passing on good relevant info! Thanks!

Hi Bob,

I've never flown a Seawind myself but have heard of their reputation. Their VFR equipped certified airplane starts at 458K. That's 4 seats, about 1000lbs useful load and they claim 147KTAS on 13GPH (IO-550). Plus, it's a brand new airplane.

To compare, my 4 seater has 880lbs useful load, and will do 110TAS on 10GPH or 130KTAS on 15GPH (IO-360). You can get an LA-4-200EP like mine for about 90K-100K.

The Renegade (LA-250) has a higher useful load, a bit faster and a corresponding higher fuel flow. They go for about 150-180K depending on avionics etc. Lake also made a Turbo 270HP variant of the Rengade.

You would want to talk to Marc Bourdon or someone else that owns a Cessna single on Amphib floats. I have nothing against the C-185, it was just out of my price range and it won't fit in a standard T-Hangar.

Have you sat in or flown the Seawind? If you want to fly my Lake, send me a PM. I'm in Central FL at Bartow (towered airport with 5000ft runways).

I suppose the most important question is: What is your mission? What do you need your amphibious seaplane to do?

Cheers!

Drew

Wait, there is a certified Seawind? I thought certification program was aborted after an accident and they are basically out of business...

So true... Same goes for MU-2's and Aerostars I have noticed.

I own both a LA4-200 and a C185 w/Aerocet floats. They are different airplanes for different missions. While the little Lake is more of a 2-seat toy, the C185 will do most anything you ask. This is a bit of an unfair comparison because I have a few hundred hours in the Lake and a few thousand in float equipped Cessnas and Cubs. Still, the Lake is one of my favorite airplanes, pick up the nose and walk it out of the hanger and spend the day splashing around and when you are done walk if back in the hanger and go home. It doesn't get any better than that.

The 185 is an awesome plane, you can tie boats, drums, dead animals, 4'x8' sheets of plywood, or most anything else you can think of that won't fit inside to the floats and fly away. Try that with a Lake. The float equipped Cessnas are also better in rough water in my opinion, but this may well be more a reflection of my lack of experience in the Lake compared to the Cessna.

As far a money is concerned, the Lake is a bargain. Buy a Widgeon for the price of a lake? I wish. Before I bought the 185 I went Widgeon shopping, there wasn't anything under $225K worth buying. My Lake has all the goodies: EP engine, Garmin 430, HSI, 3 axis AP, heater, bat wings, etc, and is worth about 75K... One of the reasons I have one, when I figured out I could own a nice Lake for the price of a pair of amphib Aerocets for the 185, the choice was made.

Whenever I hear some trash-talk any type of plane my first question is always: "Oh, do you have a lot of time in one??" So far the answer has always been, 'Uhhh, no..." Nuff said.

Cheers,
Jeff

Here is a picture of this years Marion Lake fly-in. Too much fun. My bird is the Lake on the ramp.

So... what about a SeaBee?

Robert

Charlie Hillard, rest his soul, was in the business of converting Widgeons to turbine power in his hangar at FTW years ago. I know little about the Sea Bee except that owners were trying Corvette engines for additional power. The Twin Bee is basically a modified Sea Bee.

Local guy here has a Bee. I don't know a lot about it, but it sure looks nice. And the videos on the water are stunning. (Can't seem to get him to take me fishing - but he does have to work, etc.) He is here on BT, but usually lusting over parts from T-Bone engines (no hate'n now).

If you are serious, I'll send a PM to contact you directly.

This is a kit, but WOW! I'd love to have one!

http://www.gweduck.com/

Man that's cool!!

Wait, there is a certified Seawind? I thought certification program was aborted after an accident and they are basically out of business...

That's fantastic. Price?

There is one at my home field here in the UK - this video is 2011 and it hasn't moved since either! very sad to see- it is Canadian reg and was once very nice. The owner still pays parking I think! There are a few of these flying in Ireland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcElaQLLC60

The current issue of Aviation Consumer (September 2017) features the Lake amphibian in its used aircraft guide.