Tell me about hovercraft engines
Lift Engines: (not integrated craft)
The truth is out there...but can you find it Mulder.
Take the calculations for lift engines with a grain of salt, add some fuel, add a fan, you will be somewhere near right.
If you look at what the Hover-modelers do, using a 15cc for lift and 40cc for thrust, that's the equivalent of us using 500 hp for thrust with a 10 ft prop and 200 hp for lift with a 5 ft lift fan, in an 8 ft hull. In real life, a 3-4 ft model would have to weigh in at 70 - 80 kgs to be true scale, so model hovercraft are about 3 on the reality scale of 1 to 10 (But they are fun).
The lift calculations are correct in a perfect world, but what if your skirt is less than perfect, maybe the ends of the fingers or the ground contact of the bag is worn...All the calculations in the world will give you what you calculate but not what you need. (see lift fans and pressure guage).
There will be times you need to carry a load, not just yourself.
It's easier to allow for this in the begining.
THRUST Engines:
Virtually any aluminium case auto engine will do, Many vehicles still have Cast Iron crank cases and this can double the weight of the engine.
Subaru is the engine of choice, but, from 1985 on they had computers, and fuel injection, which you don't need.
...REMEMBER.. there are moves with Marine Authorities to stop the use of petrol engines below decks, because many boats have exploded over the years when fuel soaked into the foam or into the boundary layer between the urethane foam and fibreglass or ply of the hull, --- a spark from the starter motor or battery or stray cigarette and ka--bloo-ey no more vessel and very dead people.
(OFF the Subject) Universal Hovercraft have answered this by designing a flat hull and Sevtec seem to have a rear engine platform also.
eMail Hovergo SG for more information
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