Seaplane or Amphibian
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 68; Flight Crew Total 1669; Flight Crew Type 40
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Ground Event / Encounter Vehicle
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airport; Human Factors
I was flying my amphibious seaplane. The winds were calm and I departed Runway 13 at ZZZ and decided to land on Runway 12 water adjacent to the airport to practice some glassy water landings. As I touched down; I noticed a boat was rounding the corner and coming up the main channel towards me and into the area of the water runway. I accelerated and took off maximizing my climb rate and the distance between my aircraft and the oncoming boat- I would estimate that it was probably 400-500 ft. away. After allowing the boat to pass underneath; I set up for another landing.As I neared the surface of the water; I saw that there an abnormal number of logs present in the water (we had an abnormally rainy week prior). I flew low along the river checking to make certain the area was clear of debris and safe for landing. I saw another boat approaching from around the next bend and; again; I initiated a maximum climb to provide as much distance as possible between my aircraft and the oncoming boat traffic. I would estimate that this distance was around 400-500 ft.I circled back and landed on the channel in the river and completed several splash and gos. I noticed some unsafe waves in the water ahead of me so I elected to defer alighting until past them. I made a pass down the river and back up and; in normal seaplane flying courtesy; trying to not disturb the residents; decided to return to the airport for some landings on the runway. I climbed up and was unable to get the gear re-positioned to the down position. I raised the gear and landed on the river so that I could troubleshoot the situation. I taxied up to a beach next to a boat landing and adjusted the micro-switch that was preventing the gear from being reconfigured to the 'land' position. I tested its proper operation in the water several times before I was comfortable that it would function properly.
Seaplane pilot reported encountering boat traffic while attempting to land on a designated water runway; resulting in a go-around.