Fortunately, Eustace Bowhay, of Salmon Arm, BC, is a pilot with vast experience in both land and water aircraft. He carefully researched the matter and decided that the RV-6 had the potential to be an excellent floatplane. After consulting engineers, he designed a float installation and submitted it to the Canadian authorities for engineering approval. The Canadian Ministry of Transport determined that the RV-6 was strong enough, without modification, to handle the added stresses and loads imposed by flying off water.

So Eustace and his partner Jim Rowe built a set of floats that mounted to the stock RV-6 engine mount and rear spar fittings. The whole installation was successful, resulting in what Eustace thinks is the fastest single piston engine floatplane in the world. Cruise speeds, with the 180 hp Lycoming and constant speed prop, were in the neighborhood of 150 statue miles per hour. The water handling characteristics were excellent and the airplane was easy to land and taxi on land or water.

After flying the airplane on both wheels and straight floats for two years, Eustace and Jim decided they could have the best of both worlds, and installed amphibious floats. These worked just as well.

In 2005, Eustace, then over 80, decided that it was time to step out of the cockpit. C-GHAY was converted back to wheels and sold. Eustace died in 2006, leaving behind a large group of friends in the RV world and the legacy of one of the most interesting sidebars in the continuing RV story.