Edo 2960 floats

[Siddley Hawker]

Can someone please tell me the difference in length between the Edo 2870 and 2960 floats. I seem to recal the 2960 is 22 inches longer than the 2870, the difference consisting of an 11-inch extension at the heel and an 11-inch plug immediately forward of the step. Is this correct? Additionally how many pumpout wells and circular hatch covers on the 2960?

[spafloats]

The difference in the hull between a 2870 and a 2960 is the 2960 has one additional compartment at the aft end of the float. Kenmore has an STC available that allows the addition of the extra compartment that turns a 2870 into a 2960 which is required for the 3190 lb. upgross kit on a C-180. The additional compartment usually has a screwed on rectangular inspection cover in the deck, but I have seen 2870 floats that have been converted to 2960 floats with a round cover but these are more prone to leakage (when taxing at full gross with an aft C of G at 3190 lbs. this compartment is basically a submarine!).

Spafloats

[Siddley Hawker]

Thanks spafloats, that's what I was looking for. Re the rear cover. I've flown the 185 on 2870's with the internal water rudder cables. There was a supposedly leakproof membrane in the float transom where the cables passed through. Leakproof, my aching ass!

We had the very first set of 2960's - they were 2960 sn 001 - on CF-SSX, a 1966 185E. I liked them.

[1000 HP]

Yeah, those round caps suck. I had a pilot sink a C-180 on 2870's taxiing around on the lake. I later found out the locals convinced him to haul all five of them and their gear to the trapline in one load ( 2 x Kids). They told him "the other pilot always does it"...

But the short ones are nice for takeoff.