Concept Design of Airboat for Water Hyacinth Vegetation Area Transportation

Abstract

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is an invasive aquatic plant that disrupts ecosystems and obstructs navigation in shallow waters. Conventional vessels with submerged propellers are ineffective in such environments, highlighting the need for specialized designs. This study proposes a conceptual design of an airboat to operate efficiently in areas covered by water hyacinths.The design adopts the Sister Ship Design method combined with engineering judgment to ensure efficiency in cost, time, and performance reliability. A flat-bottomed hull with hard chines was selected to enhance maneuverability in shallow and vegetation-dense waters, while hydrodynamic analysis emphasized the planing hull principle to minimize drag at higher speeds. Preliminary stability analysis confirmed compliance with international safety standards, indicating that the design is both operable and safe. Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of airboats as sustainable solutions for shallow-water operations and aquatic vegetation control.