Following many discussions over this relatively new process of skirt fabrications it has become clear over the last six months that weldable fabrics offer so much more in terms of longevity, strength, and "HOT sun protection"!
Our regular Loch Fyne and Etive sojourns test the gluable fabrics WAY past the glue abilities to withstand heat, in that the generated heat on hot sunshine days which
heats the joint up until parting company. Indeed this helps when wear patches require replacement - simply borrow the wife's hair dryer, and unseal the joint away! Kicking the skirt under the craft whilst sunbathing does help, but only if one remembers--- an increasingly difficult thing for me.Discussions by me with America over Zoom calls with The Hovercraft Society have shown this welding technique is possible and highly advantageous but clearly the main hovercraft manufacturers can afford to hide away considerable expenditure on capital outlays for equipment to help bond systems. Our club is clearly constrained on such matters, but the Committee have been discussing these matters in an attempt to bring these advantages to the general members of our club.
Recently some films have been developed that can be equally applied (similarly heat bonded) to our weldable skirt fabrics which can massively extend their wear resistance and longevity. These heat pressure bonded joints massively improve the joints ability to withstand heat from lying on the sun drenched shores of Scotland
With this in mind it has been decided to buy (from club funds) an automatic heat welding roller to help with construction for all members. John Robertson has kindly undertaken the testing of the machine over his Christmas holidays, so a huge thank you to him on behalf of us all (AND ME!) for slowly finding out the best parameters to achieve best results. John is currently compiling instructions for achieving best results for members to loan out the machine for use. These instructions will clearly help hugely in achieving good results by the member as experience is gained on practice.
The Club is still deliberating over how best to loan or lend out to club members but rest assured that the machine will need to be "looked after" for continued sharing to all and
1. If you bend it - OR if it ceases to work whilst with you! - YOU mend it
2. Borrower to pay outbound and in bound courier and insurance fees.
This is a huge leap forwards in amateur Hovercraft building but more importantly Hovercraft usage over time.
It goes without saying ----but I will say it anyway!---
Thank you Steve Holland for all his time and expertise researching fabrics and wear characteristics and buying sufficient for two craft!
Thank you Ian Brooks for much help and continued advices,
and Kim Taylor for arranging payments.
