Development of low-cost airboats for family farming

The principal means of transportation for the riverside populations of the Amazon are the rivers. In that area, one big problem is the available type of transportation: if the boats are modern, they are costly; if they are more rustic, they are unsafe and inefficient. The aim of this study was to propose an airboat of low-cost acquisition and maintenance, and which can be built and operated safely by the riverside populations themselves. Design spiral methodology was used in the ship design. As a result, a conceptual design for the airboat and possible load simulations were obtained, together with completion of the technical feasibility of the vessel and low manufacturing costs.