I rode in an air boat once, and I do mean once. and not long. I was
invited to go, and I was sitting tight in front of a 220 hp Lycoming .
Even with ear plugs the noise was deafening. We went about 3 mi. up
the Wabash river, and I tapped the "pilot" on the shoulder and said.
"I'm getting off. he looked at me funny and kept saying A"WHAT?"
WHAT?"

I knew it was too loud. I was wearing a pretty good vest so I just
bailed off!

he circled around and shut the thing down, and I told him I'd float
back. At that moment I didn't care. He took off and I could hear him
all the way back down to the docks. A friend of mine came by in a ski
boat and picked me up.

Like I said, even with ear plugs, I had a head ache for a day and
couldn't quit hearing that fan at night.

I won't do it again.