Quick Build Amphibious Float Kit for Experimental Aircraft
Orca Floats
Welcome to the home of Orca Floats, manufacturers of the easiest-to-assemble home built float kits for experimental aircraft on the market. We’re just getting started so check back soon for more info!
Quick Build Kit
Our new 2200lb displacement float is offered in both straight and amphibious configurations, designed for easy assembly by home builders. With pre-punched holes for quick alignment, you can put it together in just a few hours. It won’t be seaworthy yet, but it’ll look the part! Just match drill and rivet the parts without needing any special tools or measurements.
Designed with modern CAD drawing methods
Amphibious Floats
The ultimate in versatility for the most capable backcountry airplanes. Never worry about finding fuel on cross country flights again! Taxi right up to your truck for easy loading! Explore the ocean but wash that salt water off and park on land! Just as easy to build as the straight float but so much more versatile for all kinds of adventures.
Pre-assembled
Don’t have the time or the space to build a set yourself? No problem. We can assemble straight or amphibious floats for you. We’re all passionate airplane builders and we really enjoy the assembly process. Our crew will build your floats to order in our facility in Squamish, British Columbia.
Smooth Landings
Our innovative landing gear is strong, low maintenance, easy to install, and provides excellent landing and ground handling characteristics. A single-sided swingarm in the rear makes accessing the wheel and dual caliper brakes easy. A die spring provides much better impact performance than the more typical rubber bushings our competitors use and can be matched perfectly to the weight of your plane.
CAD Design
Designed entirely in CAD software, our aluminum sheet and billet parts fit together perfectly. Not only does this make the build process easy, it also ensures all of our floats will be straight and will perform at their best. In the event of damage, replacement parts will be an exact match of the originals.
Specifications
Build Time
300-400 hours. This will depend a little on the size of your shop and your skill level, but we’ve designed our floats to be built by someone with no aircraft building experience in a typical garage.
Weight
320 pounds. The lightest float in it’s weight class! This includes; the hulls, spreader bars, landing gear… Everything except the hydraulic pumps and the airplane specific struts and rigging.
Dimensions
We are currently working on providing detailed information for this section. Please check back soon
Variable Hull Angles
Our variable hull geometry starts out with a deep-V shape at the front to cut through waves and transitions to a flatter profile near the step to help get up out of the water faster.
Dual Hydraulic Pumps
We recommend a dual pump system with a pump in each float. Redundancy, simplicity, you don’t give up any space in your plane, and there’s no hydraulic lines to run to the fuselage. Add 14 pounds to the basic weight for both pumps.
Maximum Airplane Weight
Amphibious: 2444 lbs
Straight: 2500 lbs
Per FAR 23.751 with 80% reserve buoyancy (2 floats)