Airboat Sizes Explained: 16 ft to 22 ft
Updated September 30, 2026. Patriot Airboat Corp., Vidor, Texas.
Patriot builds four standard airboat sizes: 16×8, 18×8, 20×8 and 22×8. The first number is length in feet, the second is beam. Every standard hull is 8 feet wide.
The 20×8 is the size that shows up most on the lot.
PA-SIZE 01 / Standard sizes
Four hulls. One beam.
Patriot builds to four standard lengths, all on an 8 ft beam. Pick the length by the job and the crew.
Hunting, fishing and pleasure. One or two people and light gear.
Hunting, fishing, pleasure and light work. Lot boats seat three to five.
Hunting, bowfishing, law enforcement, work and rescue. Seats three to ten.
The largest standard hull. Bigger crews, heavier loads, work and military.
96 in Every standard hull is 8 ft wide, under the 102 in Texas no-permit width.
Which airboat size do you need?
Set the job, the crew and the load. You get a starting size to bring to the shop.
For a small crew. The 18x8s on the lot seat three to five.
A starting point, not a quote.
The picker needs JavaScript. Patriot’s standard sizes are 16×8, 18×8, 20×8 and 22×8.
16×8 and 18×8: small crews, tight water
The 16×8 and 18×8 suit one to five people and light gear. The 18x8s on Patriot’s lot seated three to five, most with a bench up front and singles behind.
Used 18x8s on the lot were listed from $38,000 to $110,000 in September 2026. The airboat price guide lists them boat by boat.
20×8: the most common size
The 20×8 shows up more than any other size on Patriot’s lot. Eight of the 17 airboats listed or sold in September 2026 were 20x8s.
Seating runs from three singles to two quad benches plus two singles, so one hull covers two hunters or a crew of ten. Patriot built a 20×8 law enforcement edition for Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Patriot 20x8s from 2023 to 2025 were listed at $100,000 to $125,000. A new Patriot build runs about $80,000 to $160,000 or more. See used airboats for sale.
The patriot airboat team lead by Faron truly knocked it out of the park on my new 20×8 airboat build.
Chris Nobles, Google review
The 20×8 law enforcement edition Patriot built for Texas Parks and Wildlife.
22×8: the largest standard size
The 22×8 is Patriot’s largest standard hull. It is the pick for bigger crews and heavier loads, and it fits the size range Patriot publishes for work, rescue and military boats.
Work boats are quoted to a written spec because payload changes the rigging. Start with industrial airboats.
Towing and Texas registration
Every standard Patriot hull is 8 feet wide, which is 96 inches. Texas lets a trailer and its load run 102 inches wide without a permit, measured at the widest point. Check rub rails and fenders before you tow.
The 18x8s on the lot rode on 20- to 21-foot Coastline tandem trailers and the 20x8s on 22- to 23-foot tandems. Coastline builds each trailer to fit a new Patriot hull. See airboat trailers.
All four sizes register in Texas as Class 1: $53, good for two years.
Airboat size FAQ
What sizes does Patriot build?
Patriot sticks to four standard airboat sizes: 16×8, 18×8, 20×8 and 22×8. The first number is the length in feet and the second is the beam, so every standard hull is 8 feet wide. Standard sizes keep builds moving through the shop. Tell Patriot the job and the crew, and it picks the size.
What is the most common airboat size?
The 20×8 is the most common airboat size on Patriot’s lot. It is 20 feet long with an 8-foot beam, and 8 of the 17 airboats Patriot listed or sold in September 2026 were 20x8s. It carries two hunters or a crew of ten, depending on the seating.
How much does a 20×8 airboat cost?
Patriot-built 20×8 airboats from the 2023 to 2025 model years were listed at $100,000 to $125,000 in September 2026, with engine hours making most of the difference. A new Patriot build runs about $80,000 to $160,000 or more, depending on the engine package and how the boat is rigged.
What size airboat do I need for duck hunting?
Two hunters with decoys and a dog fit a 16×8 or 18×8. The 18x8s on Patriot’s lot seated three to five. For a bigger party or a guide operation, start at the 20×8. Tell the shop your crew and the marsh you run, and it matches the hull to that.
What kind of hull is best for an airboat?
An aluminum hull with a polymer bottom is the standard for marsh and mud. The polymer lets the boat slide over grass and shell without wearing through the aluminum. Patriot’s example builds list a 1/4-inch bottom under 1/2-inch polymer, and thickness is picked for the terrain you run.
Tell Patriot the job. The shop picks the size.
Patriot has built airboats in Vidor, Texas since 1997.