Dear Pilot-34,
Yes, modern composite materials can help reduce both empty weight and corrosion.
Consider that to operate along side Cessna float-planes, you need a high-wing flying-boat ... with the wings almost as high as a Cessna to avoid knocking dock-hands off the dock.
Some Grumman Geese were modified with retractable tip floats. Retracting trip floats were retracted when approaching a dock and the airplane "leaned" on its outboard tip float.
Republic
Seabee has a reputation for being one of the best small flying boats, so I would look at its Spencer Air Car and Trident Tri-Gull successors. TriGull never made it into production, but one of them sat on the Victoria International Airport ramp for many years.
I suspect that Spencer extended the aft hull to reduce porpoising, but would like to hear from more experienced seaplane pilots about which factors most reduce porpoising.
I suspect that many flying boats have short hulls (Coot, Seabee, Martin Mariner, etc.) to reduce weight. OTOH later flying boats (Martin Marlin, Volmer Sportsman, Anderson Kingfisher and Lake) have long rear hulls to reduce proposing.
Yes, modern composite materials can help reduce both empty weight and corrosion.
Consider that to operate along side Cessna float-planes, you need a high-wing flying-boat ... with the wings almost as high as a Cessna to avoid knocking dock-hands off the dock.
Some Grumman Geese were modified with retractable tip floats. Retracting trip floats were retracted when approaching a dock and the airplane "leaned" on its outboard tip float.
Republic
Seabee has a reputation for being one of the best small flying boats, so I would look at its Spencer Air Car and Trident Tri-Gull successors. TriGull never made it into production, but one of them sat on the Victoria International Airport ramp for many years.
I suspect that Spencer extended the aft hull to reduce porpoising, but would like to hear from more experienced seaplane pilots about which factors most reduce porpoising.
I suspect that many flying boats have short hulls (Coot, Seabee, Martin Mariner, etc.) to reduce weight. OTOH later flying boats (Martin Marlin, Volmer Sportsman, Anderson Kingfisher and Lake) have long rear hulls to reduce proposing.