The air boat is not a multi purpose boat, it is a type of boat designed for very specific environments. The air boat solved a problem by allowing travel into places where other boats cannot go. The air boat is known by that name because of the way it is propelled, but it is also know as a Jon boat and a bottomed vessel. The air boat is propelled by an aircraft propeller and the propeller is powered by an aircraft engine and can also be propelled by a car engine. Typically the engines regardless of whether they are car engines or aircraft engines, they are air cooled. Choosing between an aircraft engine and car engine depends on the advantages offered by each type of engine. The aircraft engine is typically much lighter and accessible, so it is much easier to repair. The car engine has a superior advantage in fuel, because it uses regular gasoline, but the aircraft engine uses a specialty fuel that is expensive. Air boat hulls are mostly made from fiberglass and aluminum. Small family owned businesses manufacturer the air boat on a made to order basis.

Florida and Louisiana use the air boat the most, because of the everglades and bayous where the boat is ideal. Shallow marshy conditions which are common in Florida are inaccessible without the air boat. An air boat can travel on very little water and shallow or marshy water conditions will not impede its ability to travel.

The propeller is protected by a metal cage. The metal cage keeps things from coming into contact and it protects people. Such things as tree branches, clothing, wild life, and even the passengers and their belongings. There is no reverse on the air boat propeller, it only moves forward. Another thing about the air boat is that it has no brakes. The operator skills will determine how well the boat will change direction and how well it will stop at a specific location. A must of air boats is elevated seats which allow for greater visibility for the operator and the passengers.

Despite its popularity in the everglades and bayous, the boat is also commonly used for flood and ice rescues. The boat's hull can be flat, because there is nothing underneath needed for the operation of the boat. The operator needs to be skilled to be able to account for wind, currents, the depth of the water and the power of the engine.

A lot of improvements have helped to quiet these boats, but they are still very noisy. The use of mufflers and carbon fibers has quieted these boats down.

Air boats range in size from very small carrying 2 passengers to some very large carrying more than 18 passengers.

The boat was invented in the early 1900s but gained popularity in the 1930s when many homemade air boats started to appear in the swamps in Florida and Louisiana. This boat became popular among biologists, because it allowed travel in areas that could not be traveled by other boats.

As in with any other boat, safety is important. There is a safety video that is public domain that was prepared by a federal agency and it may be one of a very few and possibly the only one ever made. In less than 36 hours the these boats helped rescue over 3,000 patients and medical staff from downtown New Orleans hospital.