Know the risks. The large propeller that powers the boat can cause serious damage in an accident. Similarly, the high speeds and open deck of an air boat require that an experienced or supervised driver handles the boat to avoid injury to passengers.
Turn the boat on. First allow the fuel pressure to build. Turn the ignition on and pump the accelerator twice to inject fuel into the engine. Then turn the ignition all the way to start the boat's propeller.
Take the controls. Air boats use a fairly distinct set of controls that are made up of 2 simple sticks. Generally, the left-hand stick is for steering. Pushing the stick forward turns the boat to the right and pulling it back turns the boat to the left. The right-hand stick, which controls the throttle, increases power when you push it forward and decreases it as you pull back.
Drive at the correct speeds. Knowing how to plane the boat is an important part of driving it. Planing means bringing the boat to a speed where it is skimming along the surface of the water. This should be achieved only in open waters with the throttle to about three-quarters of maximum power. If you want to drive through swamp or marsh, though, you should not exceed a throttle setting of about half-power.
