What an airboat costs, with real prices from the Patriot lot
Updated September 28, 2026. Prices from the Patriot lot in Vidor, Texas.
A new custom airboat from Patriot runs about $80,000 to $160,000 and up, depending on hull length, engine package and how the boat is rigged for its job. Used airboats cost less and vary more: in September 2026 the boats on Patriot’s lot were listed from $38,000 for a 2007 Silver Dollar 18×8 to $125,000 for a 2025 Patriot 20×8.
Sales tax, registration, fuel and insurance sit on top of that airboat price. The calculator below adds them up for Texas and Louisiana buyers.
Airboat prices at a glance
An airboat, a fan boat and a swamp boat are the same boat, so the airboat price ranges below cover all three names. The used rows come from 17 boats listed on Patriot’s lot and sold board in September 2026, not from national averages.
| What you are buying | Price range | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|---|
| New custom Patriot build, 16 to 26 ft | $80,000 to $160,000+ | Patriot, September 2026 |
| Used, 2023 to 2025 model years (6 boats, all Patriots) | $100,000 to $125,000 | Patriot lot listings |
| Used, 2014 to 2019 model years (6 boats) | $59,999 to $89,999 | Patriot lot listings |
| Used, 2008 and older, including a 1992 custom (5 boats) | $38,000 to $79,999 | Patriot lot listings |
| Private classified ads, 2023 to 2026 | $22,500 to $72,500 | Airboat classified ads, asking prices |
| Tired project boats | from about $5,000 | Dealer used listing, September 2026 |
Listed prices are asking prices for the boat only. Tax, title, registration and delivery are extra, and trailer inclusion is stated on each Patriot listing.
What will the airboat cost you in year one?
Put in the boat price, where you will register it and how you run it. The airboat cost calculator adds state sales tax, registration and a season of fuel, then shows the monthly payment if you finance.
$106,330
Texas: 6.25% boat sales tax, capped at $18,750 per boat. Registration is TPWD’s two-year fee plus the $27 title fee.
The calculator needs JavaScript. The rules it uses: Texas taxes boats at 6.25% of the price minus any trade-in, up to $18,750; Louisiana charges a 5% state rate plus parish tax, with no state tax on a private sale; fuel is hours times gallons per hour times your pump price.
Estimates only. Confirm tax on your purchase with the Texas Comptroller, the Louisiana Department of Revenue or your own state, and get delivery priced by ZIP.
How much does a new custom airboat cost?
A new custom airboat built by Patriot costs about $80,000 to $160,000 or more as of September 2026. Hull length, the engine package and the equipment the job calls for decide where a build lands in that range. For comparison, two brand-new builds listed by another builder that month asked $70,000 and $84,000.
Patriot has built airboats in Vidor, Texas since 1997, on hulls from 16 to 26 feet, and quotes every build to the job the boat will do. Start a build quote with your water, your load and your crew size, and the shop prices the boat from there.
What moves a new airboat price
- Engine package. Patriot installs four: the LT4 Marine 6.2L, the Levitator LSX MS 70, the Duramax L5P diesel and the AirPac 6.2L. The airboat engines page compares them, and the diesel vs gas guide covers which one pays off for your hours.
- Hull length and layout. A 26-foot hull needs more aluminum, more power and a bigger trailer than a 16-footer. The 20×8 is the most common hull on Patriot’s lot.
- Drive. A gear reduction box or belt drive sits between engine and prop. A new Stinger Superwide gearbox was listed at $4,000 in September 2026.
- Propeller. Complete carbon-fiber airboat props from Sensenich were listed at $2,350 to $3,840 in September 2026.
- Poly bottom. UHMW polymer comes in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch sheets. Grass, mud, oyster shell and ice call for different thickness.
- Options and trailer. Grass rake, seating, rod holders, sound, nav and rake lights, dual batteries and GPS each add to the quote, and so does the trailer. Patriot pairs its boats with Coastline aluminum trailers.
Hunting airboat price vs commercial airboat price
Patriot has built more than 100 hunting and fishing boats. On those, the layout drives the price: a bowfishing deck, a light rail and seating for a hunting party each add to the quote. Hunting and fishing airboats shows the layouts.
Commercial and agency boats are quoted to a written spec because payload and equipment change the hull, the engine and the rigging. Patriot has built more than 75 industrial boats, more than 25 for law enforcement and more than 20 for search and rescue. Texas cities, counties, state agencies and volunteer fire departments buy boats free of Texas boat sales tax. See industrial airboats for the work builds.
What does a used airboat cost?
Used airboats on Patriot’s lot were listed from $38,000 to $125,000 in September 2026. Most 17- to 20-foot boats with a modern engine were listed at roughly $60,000 to $100,000. Model year matters less than the engine: a 2008 Diamondback with an engine new in 2023 was listed at $79,999, while a 2002 Diamondback 20×8 was listed at $44,000.
Patriot carries the largest used airboat inventory in the USA and sold 20 used boats in August 2026. Every one is inspected and water tested before it lists, and a $5,000 deposit holds a boat and comes off the price.
| Boat | Hull | Engine | Hours | Listed price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Patriot | 20×8 | LT4 Marine | 30 | $125,000 | Available |
| 2024 Patriot | 20×8 | LT4 Marine | 30 | $120,000 | Sold |
| 2023 Patriot | 18×8 | LT4 Marine | Not listed | $110,000 | Available |
| 2025 Patriot | 20×8 | LT4 Marine | 250 | $100,000 | Sold |
| 2024 Patriot | 20×8 | LT4 Marine | 450 | $100,000 | Available |
| 2023 Patriot | 20×8 | LT4 Marine | About 20 | $100,000 | Sold |
| 2018 AirRanger | 20×9 | LT4 Marine | 185 | $89,999 | Sold |
| 2019 AirRanger | 20×8 | LT4 Marine | 340 | $84,000 | Sold |
| 2017 Diamondback | 17×8 | LT4 Marine | 35 | $79,995 | Available |
| 2008 Diamondback | 18×8 | LS EFI 454, new in 2023 | 100 | $79,999 | Sold |
| 2014 Rock ‘N Croc | 20×8 | Not listed | 100 | $75,000 | Available |
| 2018 AirRanger | 18×8 | Marine Performance | Low | $75,000 | Sold |
| 2019 Diamondback | 18×8 | Not listed | 50 | $59,999 | Sold |
| 2002 Diamondback | 20×8 | Marine Power | Unknown | $44,000 | Sold |
| 1992 Custom | 18×8 | Big block, new engine | Low | $39,999 | Available |
| 2005 Panther | 18×8 | Gen 4 Chevrolet | 90 since rebuild | $39,999 | Available |
| 2007 Silver Dollar | 18×8 | Big block, rebuilt | 100 | $38,000 | Available |
Listed prices from Patriot’s used inventory and sold board, September 2026. Sold boats show the listing price, not the final sale price. Current boats are on the used airboats for sale page.
What moves a used airboat price
- Engine hours and history. Two 2024 Patriot 20x8s with the same engine package were listed $20,000 apart: 30 hours at $120,000, 450 hours at $100,000.
- Engine type. A modern fuel-injected marine V8 lists well above an older carbureted big block on the same size hull.
- Hull and poly condition. Welds, bottom wear and loose rivets show up in the price and in the inspection.
- Trailer. Whether a trailer goes with the boat is stated on each listing, and it changes what you pay out the door.
Selling one to fund the next? Trade in or consign your airboat with Patriot and put the value toward the boat you want.
How much is a small airboat, and what does a 20×8 cost?
Patriot’s smallest hull is 16 feet, and 17- to 18-foot used airboats on its lot were listed from $38,000 to $110,000 in September 2026. Mini airboats under 16 feet are a different class of boat that Patriot does not build, which is why their prices do not appear in this guide.
The 20×8 is the size most buyers land on. On Patriot’s lot, 20×8 airboats were listed from $44,000 for a 2002 Diamondback to $125,000 for a 2025 Patriot. Patriot-built 20x8s from 2023 to 2025 were listed at $100,000 to $125,000, with engine hours making most of the difference.
What does an airboat cost to run?
Fuel is the biggest running cost: about $31 to $39 for every hour on the water at September 2026 Gulf Coast gas prices. That figure uses a builder’s published burn of 8 to 10 gallons an hour for a 16×8 cruising at 25 to 30 mph, times the EIA Gulf Coast regular average of $3.85 a gallon. Insurance, service and registration come after fuel.
| Cost | Typical figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | 8 to 10 gal per hour | Builder benchmark, 16×8 at 3,200 to 3,500 RPM |
| Insurance | $58 to $379 per month | National boat marketplace estimate, undated |
| Texas registration | $53 per 2 years | TPWD, 16 to under 26 ft |
| Louisiana registration | $57 per 3 years | LDWF, 16 ft to 25 ft 11 in |
| Service | Quoted per boat | Scheduled service, belts and gearbox checks, oil |
How much fuel does an airboat use?
A 16×8 airboat with a 550 HP engine burns about 8 to 10 gallons an hour at cruise, based on one builder’s published figure. Bigger hulls, heavier loads and wide-open running burn more. Diesel changes the math, which the diesel vs gas guide works through by annual hours.
Do you pay sales tax on an airboat?
Yes. Texas and Louisiana tax an airboat as a boat, so sales tax is due when you title and register it. In Texas that is 6.25% of the price, capped at $18,750. In Louisiana it is a 5% state rate plus parish tax on a dealer sale, with no state tax on a private sale between individuals.
| Rule | Texas | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Sales tax rate | 6.25% on the boat and motor | 5% state rate (since Jan. 1, 2025) plus parish tax |
| Cap | $18,750 per boat | $20,000 total when paid within 90 days (since July 1, 2025) |
| Trade-in | Tax is figured on the price minus the trade-in allowance | Not covered here; ask the seller and LDR |
| Private sale | Buyer pays at title and registration if the seller did not collect it | No state sales tax on a casual sale; check your parish |
| Deadline | 45 working days | Tax clearance before LDWF will register the boat |
| Trailer | Taxed as a motor vehicle, so price it separately on the invoice | Not covered here |
| Registration | 2 years: $32 under 16 ft, $53 for 16 to under 26 ft, $110 for 26 to under 40 ft; $27 title | 3 years: $36 up to 15 ft 11 in, $57 for 16 ft to 25 ft 11 in, $78 for 26 ft to 39 ft 11 in |
Buying in Vidor and running the boat in Louisiana? Texas exempts a boat that leaves the state within 10 days of purchase, so a Louisiana buyer pays Louisiana tax, not both. Every Patriot price is for the boat only, so budget the tax on top.
Sources: Texas Comptroller boat tax page and 34 Tex. Admin. Code 3.741; TPWD tax, bill of sale and fee pages; Louisiana Department of Revenue watercraft and sales tax pages; LDWF fee notice of Nov. 15, 2021. Confirm current rules before you buy.
Should you buy a used or new airboat?
Buy used if price and timing matter most; build new if the boat has a specific job to do. A used airboat costs less and is ready now, with no build wait. A new build gets the hull length, engine and rigging matched to your water and your load.
| Used from Patriot’s lot | New Patriot build | |
|---|---|---|
| Price, September 2026 | $38,000 to $125,000 | $80,000 to $160,000+ |
| Wait | None, the boat is built | Build time, quoted with the build |
| Spec | What is on the lot | Your hull, engine and layout |
| Condition | Inspected and water tested before it lists | Same final check sheet and water test before delivery |
| Holding it | $5,000 deposit, applied to the price | Quoted with the build |
Airboat price FAQ
What is the average price of a new airboat?
A new custom airboat from Patriot runs about $80,000 to $160,000 or more as of September 2026. Most of the spread comes from hull length, the engine package and rigging. Other builders’ new-build listings that month asked $70,000 and $84,000, so shop by spec rather than by the bottom number.
Does the listed price include tax, title and delivery?
No. Patriot’s listed airboat prices cover the boat only. Sales tax, title, registration and delivery are extra, and each used listing says whether a trailer is included. Patriot arranges delivery to any state and quotes it by ZIP, since cost depends on distance, the boat’s size, the trailer setup and permits.
Is it smart to buy a used airboat?
A used airboat is a smart buy when you know its engine hours and condition. Patriot inspects and water tests every used boat before it lists, covering fasteners, hull and poly, exhaust, drive, fuel, electrical, prop and controls. Buying from a stranger’s driveway means doing that checking yourself.
Why do airboats cost so much?
An airboat carries a marine V8 or diesel, a reduction drive, a large carbon-fiber prop, a welded aluminum hull with a polymer bottom and stainless rigging. In September 2026 a new gearbox alone was listed at $4,000 and a complete carbon prop at $2,350 to $3,840. Each boat is built by hand in low volume, so labor sits on top of the parts.
Can you finance an airboat?
Yes. Patriot offers financing on its boats, and buyers can also pay in full. On a used boat, a $5,000 deposit takes it off the market and comes straight off the purchase price. Enter your rate and term in the calculator above to see the monthly payment before you call.
Get a real number for your airboat
Tell the shop how you run, what you carry and where you launch. Patriot prices the build, or points you to the right boat already on the lot. 810 Edgewood St, Vidor, Texas, ten minutes off I-10 east of Beaumont.