| Mention the word hovercraft, and most people | | | | great for exploring, hunting and fishing. |
| think of lumbering passenger craft capable of | | | | From a practical standpoint, the first benefit of |
| taking 100 passengers or more, but personal | | | | hovering is being able to launch practically |
| leisure hovercraft (Hov Pods) make hovercraft | | | | anywhere. No need to launch from a trailer down |
| ownership possible, typically these craft are 2-3 | | | | the slipway, boat fashion, just unhitch on dry land, |
| seaters, around 12 foot in length, and capable of | | | | no need to get your feet wet, just drive down |
| speeds of up to 50 mph. Fun for all the family! | | | | the slipway or over the mud and sands to the |
| Hovercraft offer a unique and liberating feeling of | | | | sea. Upon your return, just drive up the slipway |
| freedom, as you fly from beach to sea, or scoot | | | | or beach. |
| over rivers and lakes; hovercrafting can be a | | | | No need to position the trailer under the craft, or |
| very addictive hobby. Radio control hovercraft are | | | | wade into the wet stuff, just drive up and step |
| OK too, but why let your pet hamster have all | | | | out onto dry land. Some folk use hovercraft to |
| the fun? Leisure hovercraft take three adults and | | | | reach waterfront properties, tidal or weather |
| can reach speeds of up to 50 mph. | | | | conditions can make island based property |
| Hovercraft handle a wide range of terrain; imagine | | | | impossible to reach, and in winter conditions, the |
| a PWC, snowmobile, quad-bike, boat, 4x4 rolled | | | | risk of using the wrong vehicle (PWC or |
| into one. Start the engine and you'll rise about 8 | | | | Snowmobile?) could have catastrophic |
| inches in the air, as if on some anti gravitational | | | | repercussions. |
| levitation sci-fi vehicle. Bemused onlookers peek | | | | Small leisure hovercraft (Hov Pods) also have |
| under your skirt to see where the wheels are; | | | | plenty of commercial applications. Rental operators |
| there aren't any. Increase the throttle, and move | | | | hire them out to event organisers, or civil |
| forward on the cushion of air. You have freedom | | | | engineers and environmental scientists for taking |
| to float off, over any flat surface. | | | | mud samples. Hov Pods are very useful for |
| Launch at anytime, regardless of tide conditions. | | | | rescue work, particularly mud, quicksand and ice. |
| No need to worry about submerged rocks, | | | | According to Wikipedia, even David Blaine has |
| manatees or coral, you have no propeller in the | | | | trouble holding his breath under water for more |
| water to damage the marine environment, you're | | | | than 7 minutes and 8 seconds, so there is no |
| as free as a bird to fly here and there, sliding, | | | | time to lose while reaching mud victims; rescue |
| gliding, performing 180 turns or 360/7200 spins. | | | | boats are not practical; rescurers have to wade |
| Strong currents may impede the progress of | | | | through the same mud the victim fell into. |
| boats, but hovercraft are not in contact with the | | | | It takes just ten minutes to understand the |
| water, so rise above that sort of problem. No | | | | basics; you just use a normal handlebar for |
| need to check your depth meter, you have no | | | | steering with twist grip throttle. Steer to the left |
| propeller to worry about, just levitate and drive. | | | | or right, and the rudders will direct the air |
| It is difficult to describe the immense sense of | | | | accordingly. |
| freedom hover travel provides, people expect a | | | | Once you have mastered the basics, the real fun |
| bump when travelling out of the water and | | | | begins. You can do 180 turns up the beach, or |
| straight up the beach or slipway, but there is no | | | | perpetual 360s, 720 spins and so on. As you can |
| discernable difference. Hovercraft are very | | | | drive on both sea and land, you'll probably want to |
| comfortable, you don't slap into water, and jar | | | | combine both in a little beach hugging exercise. |
| your back like PWC riders do, you glide and side | | | | You can turn in graceful loops, or slide and glide |
| on your soft cushion of air. | | | | where the mood takes you. You can access |
| Some liken the drive sensation to a sort of | | | | areas that are simply out of bounds for any |
| ride-on skateboard, but forget the confines of the | | | | other craft. SuperYacht captains use them as |
| skate park, find some grassy hills, or beach or | | | | tenders. |
| desert sand dunes to play on. | | | | Manufactured in Southampton, England, the Hov |
| Leisure hovercraft such as the Hov Pod are very | | | | Pod is enjoying tremendous success and is now |
| versatile, able to drive in many different locations, | | | | being exported all over the world. |