Should I buy or build a hovercraft?

I was once told that to design and build my own hovercraft would take years -- it did take years and tears -- but it was worth it.

I now understand exactly what makes a hovercraft work and I can proudly say that I built it to Victorian Marine Board standards for survey, these standards are the toughest in Australia and if a hovercraft passes VMB, it can be surveyed anywhere in Australia and I think in New Zealand also.

I wanted the knowledge because those who have been in the business are very secretive and are within their rights to protect their knowledge so if you want to build a hovercraft I would suggest that you buy a plan or a kit. You won't get any hints or tips from long time experts.

Because of this, I am happy to pass on hints and tips if you still want to do it yourself but listen, it won't be easy or quick and if you don't count your time, it is less expensive than buying one and you will know your hovercraft inside out. If you would like a copy of my 'Build-It' booklet which covers many of the considerations and problems, just let me know, It will cost you a few dollars for printing and mailing but Its well worth it.

When I started there were few if any 6 metre hovercraft available in Australia and what there were cost around $80,000 to $150,000, way out of my reach. I searched far and wide and talked to as many manufacturers, hoverers and builders as possible, you don't get much of the right advice from them. Some builders advertise hovercraft 6 metres or more in length and the only one I would recommend is Airlift Hovercraft they have done many years of research into this size and larger.

Some boat and marine manufacturers say that they make hovercraft to order, this is ok but how do you know, are you are getting what you really want and need. Expertise in boat hulls is not very relevant when designing and constructing hovercraft skirts and lift systems.

Its like saying, 'I can build rotary clothes lines, so I am expert at TV antennas', they look the same and wave around in the wind the same........ if you, who want a hovercraft, don't have some knowledge of the subject, how will you be aware, and if what you buy doesn't work, will they fix the problems if you live interstate and they don't know what the problem is all about.

One professional Aluminium boat manufacturer quoted me over $150,000 to build a 6 metre hovercraft if I provided the plans from a naval architect which cost me $2500. The naval architect would not provide the design I wanted, so I liaised with VMB, designed and drew the plans and specs to VMB requirements. Its not that hard and is not worth many thousands of dollars but you must have a working knowledge of force characteristics, flotation, construction, etc.

I built mine for around $20,000 including marine aluminium, specialised pressings, light aircraft 3 blade variable pitch prop (Warp Drive 6 ft diam) and the MAXI-LIFT fan. The skirts cost me over $1500 in materials and much experimentation, because as I said previously the designs in 'how to do it' books are just plain wrong or at best of little practical use, You would have to spend a lot of cash to obtain scientific references.

Don't misunderstand me, I would and will do it all again. Hovercraft can be daunting but in the end the sheer exhilerating pleasure of flying a hovercraft which performs well is beyond belief.

One person was able to advise me on skirt design and provide the formulae to calculate correct bag layout, and where the current designs in books and manuals are not right, for his patient assistance I am eternally grateful.

I purchased a Computer CAD 3D Design program which allowed me to do complex design in 3D and when it came to getting the aluminium pressed to form, the fit of the parts was exact; so I am pleased that I achieved that without difficulty. I went through yards/metres of cardboard which I used for cut-outs of each and every part before I got the metal pressed.

You will also have to consider the trailer, how you want to get the hovercraft on and off the trailer, roll-on roll-off, fly on/off. The trailer is an aditional cost, around $2000 and more, if you use good quality rollers or flooring, you will have to take all of this into consideration, it's not scary, just a practical consideration.