What can a 185 handle strapped to the side? A 16' foot boat? A 20' square stern cedar strip freighter? An ATV? A fridge?

I don't own or fly a 185 and have no specific plans. I'm just curious about what has been successfully accomplished in accordance with the laws of physics, not the laws of man.

Please share.

UE

Depends on which floats are mounted. I've only ever seen canoes and lumber strapped to the sides of the buck eighty five

I've hauled more 14 ft boats on a 180 and 185 than I can remember but I've never attempted to take a 16 ft. Used a Beaver for those.

Now you need an approved external load system -- I don't think cessna has one -- having said that even back in the 60's the company i worked for would not haul external loads on a 180 or 185 because of the cost of overhauling tail feathers.

I wouldn't put a 16' boat on the side unless maybe the whole flight can be flown at 100'.

It'll do a 17' canoe. Gets a bit squirrelly with racks plus skulls on each side. We always doubled the weight of the external load to use in planning.

Carried 2 Porta Boats, one on each side, and lots of lumber on the 185 but somehow it doesn't seem to be the best platform for large bulky objects. Cub and Beaver are good and Norseman the best for us.

'97 Tercel wrote:We always doubled the weight of the external load to use in planning.

That's another one of those rules of thumb that never made much sense to me and always drove me nuts. It's so dumb. A 150 pound load in a 185 is in no way representative of or a remotely good comparison to how the aircraft will fly with a 75 pound canoe on the side, especially if it's at gross weight. A 200 pound aluminum boat on a Beaver is nothing like 400 pounds inside. I've flown more external loads than I care to remember and I never could see how that math checks out. All I can say is god bless twin otters.

Thanks for the replies everyone; interesting stuff.

Don't worry, I'm not planning anything silly.

I'm also curious about 2 canoes on a beaver while we're here...

UE

Hi
Does any one have an STC , or any paperwork, for a canoe rack or external rack for a 185 ?

Wolverine Air had/has an LSTC for any canoe up to 17 feet on Aerocets.

I've seen them take out a single person fishing pontoon boat. Not much for weight but one hell of an awkward shape to stick on the side of an airplane. I should have taken a picture.

Unenthused 2 canoes on a a Beaver is no problem as long as you aren't grossed out in the cabin. Used to regularly tie 2 14' boats on the Beaver with no issues. Just keep the turns gentle and no more that take off flap for landing.

That's a 14 foot boat on a 1954 C180. Many times I would have myself, the motor and a couple of hundred pounds of gear inside.

A very experienced friend of mine had a 14' or so Lund on a -185 on CAP 3000E's, but he said "Never again." I've flown any and all shape of canoes on them, my favorite being a 14' Grumman, my worst a 17' Coleman. I've had kayaks on and forgotten about them.