Hovercraft are becoming very popular for leisure and commercial applications. How to choose a hovercraft, what to consider, business opportunities, make hovercraft, build hovercraft.

1. Hovercraft
What to consider when purchasing
1

2. Hovercraft uses
Leisure
Rescue
Commercial
Patrol
SuperYacht
Rentals
Detection - unexploded bombs, historic sites, treasure
2

3. Leisure Hovercraft
Land, sand, mud, ice, snow, grass, road, any
tide, fun, commute, safer than snowmobiles
3

4. Rescue Hovercraft
Shallow water, mud, sand, ice, fast response,
reach victims quickly, save lives, keep crew safe.
4

5. Commercial
Bridge maintenance, surveys, shallow water, ice,
mud, sand, fast, tough, easy to use.
5

6. Patrol
Rapid response, all terrain, affordable, easy to
use, quick to deploy.
6

7. SuperYacht
Get to shore, shallow water, no prop, so no
problems with rocks, coral, great for guests!
7

8. Rentals
Fun experience of a lifetime, learn to fly,
corporate, franchise, business potential
8

9. Detection
Find unexploded bombs, archaeological sites,
pipelines, deposits, oil, treasure.
9

10. Consider
Hull construction - needs to be strong, buoyant,
lightweight - glass fibre cracks too easily. Select HDPE
Skirts - Strong, (polyurethane/nylon) segmented, anti
plough, to prevent sudden stops, (ploughing in)
Power - check on-water payload, to ensure that engine
can lift weight requirement - on-water, shallow water -
problem with some craft to “get over hump”
Water ingression - some smaller hovercraft sink.
10

11. Check
Warranty - check if engine is new, standard, supplied
with full documentation. Check hovercraft warranty.
Training - Ask to see manual, preflight checklists, is
operator and technical training available
Support - Check parts availability.
Documentation - Are manuals, invoices, checklists,
help sheets available?
11

12. Problem areas
Hump - some hovercraft have problems getting
airborne from an on water start, hovercraft creates
pressure wave known as The Hump. Do not ask - how
many seats? - ask, what weight can be lifted from on
water start? (Land payload will be 50% higher, some
suppliers hide on-water payload. If too heavy, how do
you plan to get home? Greater problem in shallower
water.
12

13. Problem areas
Ploughing in. Describes when hovercraft suddenly
stops on water. General tendency, some suppliers fit
trim levers, but can be set wrong, so look for auto trim,
anti plough skirt designs. Some hovercraft have 2
engines, front engine for lift, but if sudden wave hits
front lift engine, or makes hovercraft nose heavy,
hovercraft will plough in - hovercraft may suddenly part
company with occupants, not nice.
13

14. Problem areas
Durability - Hovercraft are weight dependent vehicles
and some hulls lack durability and strength - glass fibre
can crack. Newer models manufactured from HDPE for
better strength, durability and improved buoyancy.
Water ingression. Some hovercraft ingress water too
easily, check what weight can be carried before water
ingression.
14

15. Further Resources
For buyer’s guide, specification sheets for various
applications, pricing, videos, images, technical details,
business opportunities (representative or local
manufacturing) and rental calculator, visit
http://www.hovercraft-hovercraft.com/
15