Fall 2021 Splash-In (with troubles)

After nearly two pandemic years off, 12 amphibious seaplanes splashed-in on the James River in eastern Virginia, on 2 October 2021. It was a gorgeous day and all went well--until two potential disasters occurred--genuine "SeaRey Adventures."

[@brucejholmes4701]

Great video, valuable diagnostics and analytics, terrific people. Sorry we missed it. My ICON came out of maintenance on Wednesday, November 3, after long supply chain issues. Uff Dah! Looking forward to the next opportunity to visit.

[@garytownsend3689]

I like it very much

[@theaeronaut-channel]

Beautiful video! Lovely place, beautiful machines and surely good people

[@dirt41gto]

I would love an invite to the next Splash-in...just down the road in Newport News!!!

[@BCGray10x]

Great video Dan as usual

[@Jkur2009]

Man, having grown up on the water in the Florida panhandle and seeing what salt water does to everything mechanical there ain’t a snowball’s chance in hell I’d expose my airplane to it.

[@THEDonMaxwell]

Fortunately, the James River is fresh water all the way down to Jamestown Island. It's always fresh up where we live. (I wouldn't drink much of it, though.)

[@danceswithstone]

Nicely done, lots of fun Hopefully next year, y'all'll do it again

[@THEDonMaxwell]

I like your new birdbath.

[@tomplatner]

Always learn something from your videos Don, hoping to arrange a flyin next summer up here in Wisconsin/ Minnesota…

[@THEDonMaxwell]

Go for it!

[@hamishkebb3550]

Good learning exercise.

[@SuperD820]

Good video

[@THEDonMaxwell]

Thanks. We missed you this year.

[@webstertreehopper]

Thanks for the video Don, second best thing to being there. I agree, the diagnostic info is helpful, thanks for putting that in. Q: Is the water salt water where you are or fresh water and how far is it to the ocean? (Jamie Oliver)

[@THEDonMaxwell]

Hi, Jamie! We're about 25 air miles from the saltwater fishing license boundary and 70 from the Atlantic--about 1/3 farther by river because of the bends.

[@guyejumz6936]

Great video Don. I'm in the middle of my build now. Do you think it would make sense to put some kind of backing plate on the bow eye bolt? I'm sure there will be some times when I need to yank it around as you did here.

[@THEDonMaxwell]

I do, Guy. I used a piece of 2x4, trimmed to fit into the V of the hull, and a longer bolt. It's light and spreads the load out over an area much greater than a one-inch flat washer. But if you ever need to do serious towing, tie a rope bridle to both landing gear legs, near the hull. That works regardless of whether the wheels are up or down--including towing up a beach or hill.