On Tue, 25 Apr 2017 20:08:12 -0400, Alex wrote:

Airboats have thick polymer on the hulls to protect them from branches
and other debris. Some people run theirs on dry ground. When the
polymer is worn, it's replaced.

I am old and it has been a while but the guys in Everglades City were
running regular aluminum hulls in the 80s-90s with big V-8s and a
prop.
45 is still a fast boat tho. You don't really want to be going that
fast if you are actually in the swamp running around tho. This isn't
about speed, it is about getting anywhere you want to go. Some of the
hard core guys had nitrous systems to get off that hump they were
stuck on.