Better value? Buy a 182, 185 or 206 and add floats or just buy an existing seaplane?

Deputy Minister,

This a tough question. If you're buying one cheaper get the seaplane. If you want to konw what you got then you buy the plane and floats.

I would buy either a 185 or 206 already on floats. 185s seem like better bang for buck

Since you asked about "better value"... It's almost always less expensive to buy the plane someone else upgraded, than to do it yourself. Applies to avionics, new engines, and (yes) floats as well. Find one that is equipped the way you want it, get a good pre-buy, and go for it!

Just don't buy one out of Canada. Once you start adding STC's, the U.S. registration hassle can be enormous.

Good advice. Wondered about that. Canada has a lot for sale.

That's an uneducated comment. I've imported and exported planes to / from USA/Canada. Its a lot harder importing into Canada, because Transport Canada does not recognize field approvals. But if its an STC with the proper paperwork, no problem.

A plane from Canada should have no field modifications, maybe a LSTC (once off STC) and STC installations. For the most part they will be USA STC's, or Canadian STC's that are recognized in the USA.

Do your homework and due diligence, and importing from Canada is not a problem.

Don

That's an uneducated comment.

They are all US STC I dont see a problem. Unless your missing paperwork but thats another problem in itself.

As for buying an amphib, get a good C185 with IO-550/ wingX on amphibs with all performance mods, cheaper than buying an aircraft then installing floats and mods. A 185 will be lighter than the newer C182 and T206 with more power and performs better.
If you dont like taildraggers and dont want to operate on skis, get a T206.

If you really want a C182, check the IO-580 conversion from Wipaire.

That may be an important distinction. An airplane that was registered in Canada before getting floats might be very different from one that got floats here and then moved north.

This does not mather Stuart, Canada has a reciprocal airworthiness agreements with the United States that allow an FAA issued STC to be accepted by TC airworthiness authorities without further showing.
The US as the same reciprocal with Canada also.
I have never had any problem with instaling a US STC or importing an aircraft with US STCs as long as all STC paperwork are included.







That may be an important distinction. An airplane that was registered in Canada before getting floats might be very different from one that got floats here and then moved north.

Coming back to amphib floats, there is really 4 float types you want to look at for the C182, 185 or T206.

Wipline 3000, 3450, 3730 or Aerocet 3400.

Any other amphibs floats are either too small, too old or too heavy.

All I know is that I was involved (admittedly, peripherally) in the import of a C-172 on amphibs and it was a 10-month ordeal costing many AMU's. Based on my n=1, I say it can be more difficult than it's worth. My advice remains, FWIW, to avoid the hassle.

Preference Wipline vs Aerocet?

When importing an aircraft either into the US or into Canada it's all about paperwork. If you don't have it all expect to pay and wait. On my C182 an STOL kit was installed in 1973 under a STC and the logbook entry named provided the STC number and mentioned that a 337 was submitted. When I went to the FAA for the records it didn't show up in their records. I had to find the old fellow in Utah who held the STC and for $250 he issued me another STC certificate. That took 6 months.

My Musketeer had had the engine rebuild twice by an unapproved shop the last time in 1980. Had the cylinder certs but not the crankshaft cert. I'm now running the engine on condition with 6600 hrs SMOH.

EDO floats are on the heavy side.....
Doug