With recreational hovercraft becoming more popular in Canada, it’s time to look at the issues you need to consider if purchasing one for yourself. Some common mistakes are made from a simple lack of knowledge about the choices available in modern hovercraft designs and features. You should know what questions to ask and what to watch out for when buying.
Mistake #1 - Not stopping to consider why you want one. Small hovercraft are becoming popular for many reasons, and you need to ask yourself why you want one. There are hovercraft for racing, rescue, giving rides, or as 12-month leisure craft and ATVs. There are also business uses. Golf courses can use them all year without damaging the ground. Resorts use them for ride income, utility work, and promotions. They are used by land surveyors, and environmental and oil field companies.
Then there are manufactured models vs. plans or kits you can build. We’ll classify hovercraft into three groups - racing, home-built, and leisure craft. Racers are built to go fast, are very loud, very small, have thin hulls, and lack many safety features. Home-build kits can save you money but are often disappointing; a quick check on the internet turns up many half-finished projects for sale. Leisure hovercraft are designed for safety and ease of use. Utility hovercraft fall into the leisure category because they are built to be equally durable, worry-free, and fun to operate like other ATVs. Prices vary widely, as do options and overall quality. As you read through the rest of these common mistakes, bear in mind what you will be using your hovercraft for.
Mistake #2 - One engine or two? Hovercraft require just one engine to both lift the craft and move it forward (thrust). However, some models have one engine for lift and a second engine for thrust. Racers are built like this to give more control to the driver, and have one engine purely for maximum thrust. Some manufacturers give you the option of one or two engines, while other companies have only one design. Consider your use of the craft. Two engines require a little more focus when driving, use more gas, and mean extra maintenance. Imagine you see a cute girl/guy and lose focus for a split second; you slow down... except oops, you cut lift instead of thrust and nosedive into the water at 60 km/h. Two engines are also louder, and the lift engine is often in the front of the craft. If you accidentally nosedive, that engine in the front can flood with water, leaving you without your air cushion. And if you nosedive on land - ouch! However, two separate engines let you hover in place and turn on the spot without always moving forward. So, do you want separate control of lift and thrust, or do you want something a bit simpler to operate?
Mistake #3 - Poor quality fiberglass. Cheap fiberglass means expensive repairs from cracking, chipping, discoloration, and a host of other issues. Your hovercraft should last many years and if you decide to sell it one day you want the resale value to be as high as possible. Some companies have no particular skill in the art of fiberglass production, and make their craft as fast and cheap as possible. Other companies have a history of boat manufacture, and employ expert craftsmen with decades of experience. When fiberglass is new it’s hard to tell if it will last 20 years or 2 months before chipping, peeling, or fading. Since cracks in the hull and tears on the bottoms of hovercraft are common problems, you must realize that all fiberglass is NOT created equal. Internet chat rooms overflow with complaints of waterlogged foam in the bottoms of hovercraft due to water soaking up through cracks. Many owners are perplexed and angered when this occurs. Single-skin fiberglass, especially built by non-specialists, can crack easily. Accidentally park on some little rock and you’ve got a crack you may not notice until much later. Some companies have addressed these issues by adopting more stringent manufacturing techniques, using reinforced fiberglass layers, and/or adding impact plates, wear patches, and landing skids. Ask if the fiberglass will still look good 10 years from now, and how much effort was put into properly constructing and curing it in a controlled environment in the first place.
Mistake #4 - Lack of buoyancy. Racing hovercraft aren’t intended to be very buoyant. Most are, but some manufacturers actually advise against stopping on water. Leisure models should be fully buoyant and stable when parked on water, allowing you to enjoy some fishing, a good book, or mooring at a dock. Some are fully buoyant even when flooded or swamped with water. With home-build kits buoyancy isn’t known until you stop on water the first time. Hovercraft also have something called "hump speed", the time it takes to "get over the hump". This means once you’ve stopped on water, how long does it take to get back up onto the cushion of air and resume flight? This can vary greatly, and all craft have a maximum weight that will be able to get over the hump at all. So, are marine-grade buoyant foams and materials used? What types of flooding and stability tests has it passed? What’s the hump speed and maximum weight?
Mistake #5 - Believing all hovercraft are loud. Some manufacturers may tell you all hovercraft are loud. Not true. What this means is THEIR models are loud, and they don’t want you looking around at quieter ones. Yes, some hovercraft (like racers) are very loud, but be aware there are some pretty quiet hovercraft on the market in recent years. Models with engines at head level will be extremely loud compared to models where they are enclosed within the hull. Also be aware that the size and shape of the fan duct affects noise levels, with large ducts generally quieter than small ducts. Find out if loud snowmobile engines are still being used vs. newer quieter engines. Ask what mufflers, other devices, and design features are used to reduce sound.
Mistake #6 - Lack of adequate safety features. Racing hovercraft are intended for use at large organized events with rescue crews, and safety is not a concern. They need to go as fast as possible and can’t spare extra weight for things like safety features. But home-build kits and leisure versions, which will be away from crowds and rescue crews, must have basic elements of safety. They should be protected against "plowing-in" a very common and frustrating tendency of hovercraft to nose-dive into water or land (which can cause driver and craft to part company); they should definitely float in case of engine failure; and they may require the passing of fire and safety tests to operate in some districts. Common-sense safety options include engine-kill wrist straps, non-slip coatings, fan guards, and passenger grab handles. Be sure to choose a craft that will be safe whenever, wherever, and however you plan on using it.
Mistake #7 - Buying a craft that’s hard to control. Hovercraft steering is a bit like flying a plane. With no wheels or other parts touching the ground, turning left and right is accomplished by directing airflow with rudders. Stopping is often done by spinning the entire craft around 180 degrees and giving a small blast of thrust, which is great fun and makes them very unique. But different models have different steering characteristics. Large rudders direct more airflow, giving more response than small rudders. Some hovercraft will tip when turning, which is usually due to the engine being mounted high in the craft rather than at floor level. You will find some designs using bicycle handlebars, with dangling wires and levers. Others use twist-grip controls like those found on motorcycles and jet-skis. Racing craft require you to lean into turns, while some models are specifically designed to eliminate this issue. Ask what makes their craft easier to control than other models. Take several for a test drive if possible.
Mistake #8 - Getting used parts in a "new" hovercraft. I’m not sure if this happens in other industries or not, but some hovercraft manufacturers actually put refurbished engines in their "new" hovercraft. This isn’t talked about much, but the truth should be known. I’d hate to buy a brand new snowmobile or quad and find out the manufacturer secretly sold me left-over or refurbished bargain parts instead. I’ve heard of hovercraft being returned, repainted, and resold as new. Like cars, the odometers can be replaced or reset by clever mechanics. Fortunately this is not a widespread problem, and there is no need to name any specific companies here. I don't know if there is any way to be 100% sure of what you are getting, but you may want to ask outright if everything is exactly what it seems, including brand new components. And be sure common spare parts are readily available and easy to change.
Mistake #9 - Getting something too large or too small. Be careful when selecting the size of your leisure hovercraft. You can easily figure out how large it should be by what you will be using it for. A race craft only needs to seat one person, but for cruising or fishing you might want one that will seat 3 or 4 people. And use your own common sense to determine how many people will fit comfortably on any model. Some craft said to seat 4 people can obviously only seat 2 or 3 in any sort of comfort. Find out the tested and proven safe weight capacities on both land and water, which will vary. Like boats, all models should have an allowable passenger capacity plate or label. Do you want to take friends and gear camping or touring? Or is this a racing toy just for you? There are models of all sizes, so choose the one that’s right for you.
Mistake #10 - Thinking all hovercraft are the same! This is still the single biggest mistake people make when buying a hovercraft. People often get excited when they discover the world of hovercrafting and buy the first or cheapest (and frequently used) model they ever see, not realizing there are many companies, many models, many issues, and many questions to ask. There is a serious lack of regulations in hovercraft manufacture, so you must do your own research. Hopefully you now understand some of the issues, and know what options to consider and what questions to ask when purchasing your own hovercraft. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you all hovercraft are loud or they all "plow-in", because it’s simply not true. Especially be cautious of used hovercraft unless you are a mechanic and/or fiberglass repair expert. Don’t fall for something cheap that will end up costing you a fortune, or cause you to curse them all! Ask the right questions and insist on intelligent answers. All hovercraft are definitely not the same.
