Spirit of the Swamp Airboat Tours

If I had to describe what Captain Harold is like when he’s off the airboat, I’d say he’s a sunscreen connoisseur and a weather addict.  Or maybe a sunscreen addict and weather connoisseur?  Either way.  Take your pick.

Obviously being in the Florida sun AND on the water in an airboat all day requires some aggressive sunscreen tactics.  Captain Harold is a confirmed sunscreen authority – he loves the spray on sunscreen and wants the highest SPF I can find, 50+ and it’s gotta be for water sports.  He told me if he could spray it on his face he would.  Thank goodness he doesn’t. 

Added to the sun protection is a ball cap, quality sunglasses and SPF Columbia fishing shirts.

His weather addiction is summer weather necessity, (well actually he’s a weather addict all year round, just MORE SO in the summertime).  He watches a minimum of four; yes I said FOUR local weather station’s forecasts each night.  Why four you ask?  So he can “blend” all the forecasts into his own personal weather prediction for the next few days.  Wind, temperature, heat factors all come into play – and that’s why he’s such a good gator and wildlife spotter! 

Of course we both keep an eye on the radar whenever we see thunderheads building because our passenger’s safety is our top priority.

Have a great summer – we hope to see you soon!

We’re always having such a great time here at Spirit of the Swamp Airboat Rides – love to meet so many wonderful folks from around the world!  Take little Regan for instance – here she is loving every minute of her airboat ride:

And posing with Captain Harold:

Here’s what Regan’s mother had to say:

Had a wonderful time with our driver Harold.  We will be visiting you next year.

Can’t wait our 6 year old said to see more crocs.  She also tells everyone that our boat danced on the water.

Till next year. The Harder and Richmond Family.

Here are some more photos of the Harder family swamp adventures!

Ah, summertime in Florida… and the most common question I’m asked when making reservations is “what’s the best time to take an airboat ride?” 

My answer is always going to be the morning.  Lots of people think that late evening or night would be better, but take if from a Florida native – unless you have a really high tolerance for bugs the night trip isn’t for you.  Besides, your trip will have a very high probability of being rained out.

Yep, it rains almost every afternoon/evening in the summer.  Florida’s nickname may be the “Sunshine State”, but severe weather is a common pattern in the summer.  These thunderstorms are caused by overland collisions of moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean called the “sea breeze effect”.

No matter which direction the winds are blowing, they are always off the water!  On calm summer afternoons with little prevailing wind, our sea breezes collide in the middle, creating thunderstorms down right down the center of the state.

Once we get into a sea breeze pattern, these storms seem are a regular occurrence.  So when you see the Florida weather forecast, remember that percentage of rain is most probably going to be late afternoon, and plan to book your airboat ride in the morning!