Are Air Boats Considered Farm Implements?

[Golfgar4]

Well, after mowing the lawn today, I decided that I didn't want to sweat anymore. The only really safe way to do that is to vacate the premises! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif So I decided to jump into the truck and go visit a Century/Branson dealer I'd heard about in Pecatonica, Il. Did a quick check on the computer to get driving directions, and find that it will take about an hour to get there. That's O.k., 'cause I've always said I'd consider anyplace that was within an hour's drive.

On my way over, I saw some of the damage caused by some pretty strong storms that blew through Rockford, Il. this a.m. didn't hear about any deaths, just a lot of power outages and downed trees. A LOT of downed trees! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Couldn't take any pictures as I was on interstate going about 70 mph!!

Got to the dealer, N.I.T.E. Equipment (don't know what all the initials stand for, didn't see any signs with the full name) in just about one hour just like advertsied. It was about 2:30 p.m. when I arrived, and I read the sign attached to the gate. See the attachment. Hmmmm.. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif sign say open 'til 4 p.m. on Saturdays through October. Let's see....Yes, July does fall between March and October, soooooo....... AHA! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif They must closed for the holiday! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Only took me 10 minutes to figure that out! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

It's kind of nice that they leave the walk through gate open so you can go in and stroll around. So I did!

 

[Golfgar4]

So I start walking around with the idea of taking a look at some Centuries and Bransons. As I start walking down toward where I think the tractors should be, I spy something over against a fence.

An Air Boat? Hmmmm.... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Maybe they're going to try to figure out how to use it as a rotary cutter in really muddy areas! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

NOTE: I'm having trouble getting the pics to post. I'll keep trying. Sorry! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Golfgar4]

O.K. Let's see if we can see the air boat!

 

[Golfgar4]

Alrighty Then!! We got it working! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

After seeing the air boat, I thought what might I find around the corner?

A whole lot of trailers!! /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

I don't think I've seen that many trailers in one spot - ever!

 

[Golfgar4]

Finally, at the far end of trailer row, I spot some <font color="red"> red </font> tractors. AHA! Must be the Centuries, because I've seen pictures of Centuries, and they're <font color="red"> RED </font>! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Oops! They're not Centuries!

 

[Golfgar4]

They're Zetors! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Oh, I've heard about them, but I wasn't really looking to find any!

So I head back in the general direction from which I came, and lo and behold - a Century 2035 is sitting in fron of one of the shop doors! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Golfgar4]

So, like any one else, I figure I'll climb up on it and see how it "fits". I grab a hand hold, and my whole hand has some kind of sticky, gooey STUFF all over it! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif As I look at what it is, I see the stuff is on all of the various levers and knobs. Must be something they put on 'em to keep people off 'em! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Well, it worked for me! I stayed off! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

As I was walking back to my truck, I saw one of the dealers service vehicles sitting out back. I'd say that it's a pretty substantial boom pole mounted on a Farmall 560!

 

[Golfgar4]

Here's a shot of the back of the Farmall. There are 6 weights on each side of the ballast box, which is made out of concrete and covered with what appeared to be asphalt on all sides! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I can't quite figure why they'd want to cover the concrete, but they did. I couldn't see how much each weight weighed, so don't have any idea of the total. But it's a lot!

By the time I got home, I'd been gone just about 3 hours. Which was just long enough for someone else to lose interest in any more projects for the day! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

All in all, I'd have to say the mission was a success. Oh yeah. Spotted another JD dealer along the way that I can visit at some point to possibly as a negotiation tool! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Not a bad day at all! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[MossRoad]

Hey, great pics. Thanks.

That air boat is pretty cool. Looks like two motors. More like a hover craft than air boat. One for hover and one for push maybe?

That tricycle with a boom pole looks scary even with all the weight! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

That sticky stuff might be to keep folks like you off /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif, but could also be a protectant from salt air corrosion. Was it all over everything metal? I use to drive postal vehicles for shipment from AM General and the ones for Hawaii got coated in goo before they left.

 

[Golfgar4]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( More like a hover craft than air boat )</font>

Aaaaggghhhhh!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I knew air boat was not what I was thinking the thing was, but I couldn't for the life of me think of the right term! I guess I was having one of those senior moment thingy's! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Was it all over everything metal? )</font>

No, I didn't see it on any metal parts. It just seemed to be on the plastic parts where a person would naturally place one of their hands. I think it was put on there for the very reason you mentioned and ultimately kept me off it. So no one would climb on the machine unless they were willing to get REALLY sticky! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif If I would have thought of it, I should've taken a closer look at the other new machines that were sitting around to see if they had it too. But this was at the end of my "tour", I was starting to sweat pretty good again, and I could see my truck with my thermos of iced tea about 50 yards away! /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif