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We hear many sad stories from people who have purchased hovercraft only to discover the hard way, what works well, and what doesn’t. We have created this simple guide to advise potential users of things to consider before spending there hard earned dosh.

Small hovercraft can be classified as race craft, kit-build or leisure.

1. Race craft focus on speed

2. Self-build focus on low cost

3. Leisure craft focus on safety and reliability

Buyers should consider:

Cost Versus Performance, Safety and Reliability.

For Race craft, speed is the key objective, so weight is reduced wherever possible. For example, to reduce weight, craft have very thin GRP, so safety can be compromised. Race craft are often designed for land rather than use on sea. Thin GRP is needed for racing but not in leisure use as any impact causes expensive damage. Safety features such as the fan cage may restrict airflow, so safety is often compromised by speed. One craft, the Hov Pod is designed for safety rather than speed.

 Self-build folk favour the low cost approach; this often can affect quality, safety and performance. People spend considerable hours building hovercraft, (200 to 400 hours) only to experience major disappointment on the first outing. Whereas the Hov Pod has taken years of development to eliminate the pitfalls associated with hovercraft design and manufacture. That said, some people love a challenge, and are happy to spend hundreds of hours creating their own craft. At what cost, though? Too much work and not enough play can make Jack a dull boy!     

 The third type of craft appeals to people who just want to have fun. Leisure hovercraft demand safety, reliability, and ease of use. The Hov Pod may not be the fastest craft in town, but it allows its users to have fun in safety. Its creators don’t scrimp on quality either. Check out the build quality and many benefits such as stainless steel fittings to combat salt-water use, or the high spec electrical components, for trouble free operation. Not all leisure craft are the same. Some manufacturers sell new hovercraft with second-hand engines, purchased from a local salvage yard. Or craft that dig the nose into water and stop suddenly with dire consequences. Craft that do not contain enough buoyancy and sink! Craft that don’t restart on water (a paddle could be useful) One-piece skirts that cost megabucks to repair. Hulls that crack and let in water, craft you can’t steer without throwing your weight violently into the corners!

Engine type The Hov Pod uses highly reliable high power-to-weight Rotax engines proven by many years use in the snowmobile and microlight industries. They are located under a uniquely designed engine cover system that offers excellent protection from the elements yet is very quick and easy to remove (approx 15 seconds). The Hov Pod engines have been put through their paces for hundreds of hours in very harsh marine conditions in climates such as Africa, The Caribbean, and the Middle East. The engines are fitted with Rotax intake silencer and exhaust mufflers to give excellent noise reduction. When choosing an engine we picked the Rotax engine for its great pedigree and power-to-weight performance but also because the only other options were ‘used’ automobile engines or small commercial engines that need to be re-tuned and upgraded to generate sufficient power and therefore are prone to long term failure and overstressing of components.

One engine or two? Many hovercraft use two engines, one for thrust, one for lift. Hov Pods have only one engine for lift and thrust; reason being that it is easier and far safer to coordinate one set of controls, easier to service one engine, plus you get less noise from one engine. Thrust engines are often placed in front of the driver - yuck, all those fumes and noise coming at you, and the first wave that hits you may swamp the engine, causing lift failure. The Hov Pod is deliberately designed without a gearbox assembly, this allows us to site the engine much lower in the craft, providing lower centre of gravity, reducing the tendency to roll (we have even seen other craft literally roll over in a simple low speed turn), and providing much greater ease of control. The engine is also placed low down to ensure no airflow disturbance to the fan; clear airflow results in greater efficiency. Of course only new engines are used, whereas many new hovercraft have been sold with reconditioned engines 

Stopping on land. Hovercraft should be considered as land-based vehicles as well as water-based; stopping on a small rock shouldn’t cause the floor to crack, since cracks let-in water. Most hovercraft have a single skin or thin and weak double skin floor, whereas the Hov Pod has a thick double skin floor, between which runs a stiff marine grade buoyancy layer for greater safety and strength. They add Kevlar (as used in bullet proof applications) and aluminium runners and impact sheets to protect the craft from the inevitable knocks that occasionally occur.

Stopping on water? During demonstrations, a number of customers have panicked when stopping the Hov Pod on water, because other manufacturers have told them to avoid doing this! Many hovercraft have a problem with starting on water, and you will sometimes hear the expression "getting over the hump", that describes the problem in getting back up onto the cushion of air to start moving again. The Hov Pod is designed to lift a payload of 250 kilos (HP52) or 310 Kilos (HP65) on water starts. Other craft also have a very severe tendency to spin and throw occupants when stopped quickly on water; the Hov Pod has been designed to quickly yet safely and smoothly stop in a controlled straight line.

Buoyancy. Many hovercrafts have poor buoyancy characteristics and can actually sink if swamped, whereas the Hov Pod has full buoyancy sandwiched between a rigid, double skin floor. Not only will the Hov Pod stop quite happily on water but it has also been independently tested for flooded buoyancy approval. Buying a professional designed and manufactured craft helps to overcome regulatory restrictions, where they apply.

Skirts! Occasionally, hovercraft skirts may get damaged so you need to know how to replace a skirt, and how difficult the job will be. The Hov Pod has 65 different segments, (for damage limitation) so rather than having to replace the whole skirt if damaged, at great cost, you just replace the damaged segment. Naturally you will wish to go exploring with your hovercraft, but need to get home safely, so having a few spare skirt segments handy is a good idea, only takes a minute to change each segment; far easier than trying to recover a hovercraft with a damaged one-piece skirt. Hov Pods use a Hypalon/Nylon material (as used on all RIB’s) for excellent wear, UV and salt-water protection. The Hov pod in tests has operated with up to 25% of the skirts missing. The careful design of the skirts also means that in normal use the Hov Pod generates virtually no spray and the drive and passenger can stay virtually dry.  

 Other Considerations Check craft quality, is the craft constructed of GRP, has GRP chop strand mat been used or as in the construction of the Hov Pod, quadraxial mat?  A wack with a mallet shouldn’t offend. GRP when new nearly always looks great but if not made by experts in a controlled environment it will soon suffer from many hidden problems. Ask to see an older model to check the quality of the GRP, which can crack and delaminate after 6 months. An immaculate looking craft on day one can, after 6 months, can look very forlorn. GRP repairs are costly. Does the craft have a really solid bumper protection system? Can you give the impact areas on the side and bottom of the craft good hard whacks with a mallet? Can you sit on the side quite happily without breaking it?

Ease of use.  On Water - can the craft be used in the conditions you intend to use? On water, sit on the side, climb in, climb out, will it topple over? Does it plough in?  Will it float? What weight can it lift in on water-starts? Has any government provided safety certification? Do an emergency stop; can you keep control? Does the craft travel in a straight line? Do you have to throw your weight when cornering? Many craft will not turn unless you move your weight to the side of the craft? Is driving instinctive to use, with handlebars and throttle, or are complex joysticks and elevator controls needed to use the craft?

 I hope this guide has been of some use to you.

teamhovpod.com