About Us
Canadas First Welded Plastic Jet Boat 2025
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Used 20 Ft Airboat converted to Canadian Ice Air Boat 2025
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Canadian Airboats Engineered for the North
Yukon Airboats – Advanced Canadian Ice Airboats for Extreme Northern Conditions
Yukon Airboats is a Canadian manufacturer specializing in airboats engineered for ice, shallow water, and remote northern operations. Built in Canada and designed specifically for harsh environments, our airboats are created to operate safely and reliably in conditions where conventional boats fail.
From frozen rivers and deep cold water to remote wilderness terrain, Yukon Airboats focuses on building equipment that is stronger, more durable, and more dependable for real-world northern use.
Continuing the Legacy of Canadian Airboats
Yukon Airboats represents the next evolution of Canadian Airboats, a company with over 30 years of experience building airboats for northern environments.
We are continuing where Canadian Airboats left off — carrying forward decades of proven design experience while advancing airboat technology through modern engineering and innovation.
Our mission is not just to continue that legacy, but to improve it.
We are building the next generation of Canadian airboats that are:
• stronger and more impact-resistant
• more reliable in extreme cold
• easier to maintain in remote environments
• more efficient and practical for real-world use
Built Specifically for Canadian Conditions
Most airboats in the world are designed for warm, shallow environments such as the Florida Everglades.
Canadian environments are completely different.
Airboats operating in the north must handle:
• freezing temperatures
• ice-covered rivers and lakes
• deep cold water
• long-distance remote travel
• unpredictable weather and terrain
Yukon Airboats is focused entirely on solving these challenges.
We build airboats for:
• ice crossing and frozen waterways
• search and rescue operations
• remote transportation
• industrial access
• northern hunting and guiding
Engineering Beyond Trial and Error
Traditional airboats are often built using experience-based methods and trial-and-error design.
While this approach can produce functional boats, it often results in:
• inconsistent structural strength
• unnecessary weight
• inefficient designs
• unpredictable performance
Yukon Airboats takes a fundamentally different approach.
We use computer-generated marine engineering to fully design and analyze each airboat before it is built.
This includes:
• structural stress analysis
• impact and load modeling
• material optimization
• weight distribution engineering
• durability and fatigue analysis
This allows us to engineer airboats as complete systems — not just assemble them.
Advanced Computational Design and AI Optimization
Yukon Airboats incorporates advanced computational tools and AI-assisted design methods to optimize performance, strength, and efficiency.
These technologies allow us to:
• reduce weight while increasing strength
• reinforce critical stress areas
• improve hull durability and lifespan
• optimize performance in real-world conditions
• design more efficient propulsion systems
The result is a new generation of airboats that are:
👉 lighter
👉 stronger
👉 more durable
👉 more efficient
This level of engineering is rarely applied in traditional airboat manufacturing.
Built for Strength, Impact Resistance, and Durability
Airboats in northern Canada operate in some of the harshest environments on earth.
They must withstand:
• repeated ice impacts
• shallow rocky riverbeds
• submerged obstacles
• heavy operational use
• long distances in remote terrain
Yukon Airboats are designed with a focus on:
• structural strength
• impact resistance
• long-term durability
• reduced maintenance requirements
Every design decision is made for real-world reliability — not just theoretical performance.
Key Innovations in Yukon Airboats
Yukon Airboats is advancing the industry through practical, real-world innovations:
Welded Plastic Hull Construction
Designed for improved abrasion resistance, impact absorption, and durability in harsh environments.
Diesel-Powered Airboats
Utilizing high-torque diesel engines for reliability, fuel efficiency, and long service life.
Large Diameter, Low RPM Propeller Systems
Designed to generate strong thrust while reducing noise compared to traditional high-speed propeller setups.
Mechanical Simplicity for Remote Serviceability
Reducing reliance on complex electronics so airboats can be maintained and repaired in remote locations.
These innovations are focused on solving real problems faced by northern operators.
Designed for Remote Reliability
Many Yukon Airboats operate in areas where:
• there are no service centers
• there are no diagnostic tools
• there is no immediate help available
Because of this, reliability is critical.
We design airboats that are:
• simple to maintain
• easy to service in the field
• dependable in isolation
• built to keep working when failure is not an option
Built in Canada for Canadian Operators
All Yukon Airboats are built in Canada with a focus on serving northern users.
We work with:
• search and rescue organizations
• government agencies
• outfitters and guides
• remote operators
• industrial and commercial users
Our goal is to build airboats that are not just capable — but trusted.
Meet the Builder
Yukon Airboats is led by Ryan MacGillivray, continuing the legacy of Canadian Airboats with a focus on advancing airboat design for the future.
By combining real-world northern experience with modern engineering tools, Yukon Airboats is redefining what an airboat can be.
Our Mission
Our mission is to build the most capable airboats for northern environments by combining:
• 30+ years of Canadian airboat experience
• modern engineering and computational design
• advanced materials and construction methods
• practical, real-world design philosophy
We are focused on building airboats that perform reliably in the harshest conditions on earth.
Talk With a Canadian Airboat Builder
If you are looking for an airboat designed for ice, remote travel, or extreme northern conditions, Yukon Airboats can help.
Whether you are a:
• rescue organization
• government agency
• outfitter
• commercial operator
we can work with you to build a solution that fits your needs.
👉 Contact us to discuss your project.
Learn More About Yukon Airboats
Explore our airboat technology and applications:
• Canadian Airboats
• Ice Airboats
• Diesel Airboats
• Airboats for Ice Rescue
• Airboats for Remote Operations
• Quiet Airboat Design
• Airboat Fuel Consumption
• Best Airboat Engine
Our CEO
Ryan Macgillivray
Ryan MacGillivray – Builder, Innovator, Northern Operator
Ryan MacGillivray is not a conventional boat builder — and that is exactly why his boats are different.
A German DVS–certified plastic welder, Ryan brings elite-level technical skill to a material few builders truly understand. Plastic welding at this level demands precision, patience, and deep material knowledge — qualities that define Ryan’s work.
Before building boats, Ryan spent 11 years as a heavy-duty mechanic in the Arctic Northwest Territories, keeping equipment alive in some of the harshest operating conditions on the planet. That experience shaped his philosophy: if it doesn’t work in the North, it doesn’t work at all.
Ryan is also the founder, inventor, and lead innovator behind Yukon Expedition Sleds, now recognized as the world’s largest Arctic sled company. For over 11 years, he has challenged conventional design thinking, replacing outdated materials and assumptions with lighter, stronger, and more efficient solutions. His work has consistently disrupted traditional markets by proving there is a better way to build equipment for extreme environments.
Beyond the shop, Ryan is a highly experienced Yukon hunter and expedition leader, with decades of firsthand experience running long-distance, remote expeditions in both summer and winter. These expeditions are not theoretical — they are real-world testing grounds where equipment either performs or fails. This lived experience gives Ryan expert-level insight into what boats must do to be safe, reliable, and effective when help is hundreds of kilometers away.
Ryan’s passion for remote travel and problem-solving has fueled an out-of-the-box approach to design, allowing him to see solutions others miss. That same mindset is now driving his expansion into custom HDPE boat and airboat manufacturing, where durability, weight savings, and real-world usability matter more than tradition.
Known as a market disruptor, Ryan is not interested in copying what already exists. He is driven to break conventional wisdom, learn relentlessly, and build things better — even when that path is harder.
At the core of everything Ryan builds is a simple motivation: family. As a dedicated husband and father, he is committed to creating a strong future for his children — and that commitment shows in the care, integrity, and long-term thinking behind every boat he builds.
When you commission a boat built by Ryan MacGillivray, you are not just buying a vessel —
you are investing in decades of Arctic experience, proven innovation, and uncompromising craftsmanship.
H2: Meet the Builder
Meet the
H2: Meet the Builder
Meet the Builder – Ryan MacGillivray
Ryan MacGillivray is not a conventional boat builder — and that is exactly what sets Yukon Airboats apart.
A German DVS-certified plastic welder, Ryan brings advanced technical expertise to a material that few marine manufacturers fully understand. High-level plastic welding requires precision, deep material knowledge, and discipline — all of which are reflected in his work.
Before entering marine manufacturing, Ryan spent 11 years as a heavy-duty mechanic in the Arctic Northwest Territories, maintaining equipment in some of the harshest operating conditions on earth. That experience shaped a core philosophy that still drives every design:
👉 If it doesn’t work in the North, it doesn’t work at all.
Proven Innovation in Extreme Environments
Ryan is the founder and lead innovator behind Yukon Expedition Sleds, now recognized as one of the leading manufacturers of Arctic sleds.
For over a decade, he has challenged conventional design methods — replacing outdated materials and trial-and-error building with lighter, stronger, and more efficient solutions.
His work has consistently demonstrated that equipment designed specifically for extreme environments can outperform traditional designs.
Real-World Expedition Experience
Beyond engineering, Ryan is an experienced Yukon hunter and expedition traveler, with decades of hands-on experience running long-distance trips in remote environments.
These expeditions serve as real-world testing environments where equipment must perform under pressure.
This firsthand experience provides critical insight into:
• reliability in isolation
• safety in extreme conditions
• practical usability in the field
Advancing Canadian Airboat Design
Building on his background in Arctic equipment manufacturing, Ryan is now applying the same engineering philosophy to airboats.
Yukon Airboats represents the next step in that evolution — combining:
• 30 years of Canadian Airboats legacy
• modern engineering and design tools
• advanced materials such as welded plastic
• practical solutions for northern environments
The focus is not to follow traditional airboat design — but to improve it.
Built in Whitehorse, Yukon
Yukon Airboats operates from Whitehorse, Yukon with a small, highly specialized team that includes:
• marine engineering expertise
• heavy-duty mechanical experience
• certified welding professionals
This allows every airboat to be built with a high level of precision and attention to detail.
Due to the level of customization and engineering involved, production is limited.
A Different Approach to Building Boats
Yukon Airboats is not focused on mass production.
We are focused on building high-performance, purpose-built airboats for northern use.
Every boat is designed with:
• durability
• strength
• real-world functionality
• long-term reliability
Work With Yukon Airboats
If you are looking for an airboat designed specifically for ice, remote travel, or extreme northern environments, we invite you to get in touch.
Production capacity is limited, and each project is built to meet the specific needs of the operator.
👉 Contact us to discuss your build.
Builder – Ryan MacGillivray
Ryan MacGillivray is not a conventional boat builder — and that is exactly what sets Yukon Airboats apart.
A German DVS-certified plastic welder, Ryan brings advanced technical expertise to a material that few marine manufacturers fully understand. High-level plastic welding requires precision, deep material knowledge, and discipline — all of which are reflected in his work.
Before entering marine manufacturing, Ryan spent 11 years as a heavy-duty mechanic in the Arctic Northwest Territories, maintaining equipment in some of the harshest operating conditions on earth. That experience shaped a core philosophy that still drives every design:
👉 If it doesn’t work in the North, it doesn’t work at all.
Proven Innovation in Extreme Environments
Ryan is the founder and lead innovator behind Yukon Expedition Sleds, now recognized as one of the leading manufacturers of Arctic sleds.
For over a decade, he has challenged conventional design methods — replacing outdated materials and trial-and-error building with lighter, stronger, and more efficient solutions.
His work has consistently demonstrated that equipment designed specifically for extreme environments can outperform traditional designs.
Real-World Expedition Experience
Beyond engineering, Ryan is an experienced Yukon hunter and expedition traveler, with decades of hands-on experience running long-distance trips in remote environments.
These expeditions serve as real-world testing environments where equipment must perform under pressure.
This firsthand experience provides critical insight into:
• reliability in isolation
• safety in extreme conditions
• practical usability in the field
Advancing Canadian Airboat Design
Building on his background in Arctic equipment manufacturing, Ryan is now applying the same engineering philosophy to airboats.
Yukon Airboats represents the next step in that evolution — combining:
• 30 years of Canadian Airboats legacy
• modern engineering and design tools
• advanced materials such as welded plastic
• practical solutions for northern environments
The focus is not to follow traditional airboat design — but to improve it.
Built in Whitehorse, Yukon
Yukon Airboats operates from Whitehorse, Yukon with a small, highly specialized team that includes:
• marine engineering expertise
• heavy-duty mechanical experience
• certified welding professionals
This allows every airboat to be built with a high level of precision and attention to detail.
Due to the level of customization and engineering involved, production is limited.
A Different Approach to Building Boats
Yukon Airboats is not focused on mass production.
We are focused on building high-performance, purpose-built airboats for northern use.
Every boat is designed with:
• durability
• strength
• real-world functionality
• long-term reliability
Work With Yukon Airboats
If you are looking for an airboat designed specifically for ice, remote travel, or extreme northern environments, we invite you to get in touch.
Production capacity is limited, and each project is built to meet the specific needs of the operator.