[philw Posts: 8 Status: Offline]

Ok, Thanks for your help guys I think i'll stick with my RIB.

[John Robertson Posts: 5177 Status: Offline WWW]

"Recreational" can mean many things - as you mention camping gear I assume you will be cruising fair distances (coastal)?  If so, you will be at the mercy of weather/wave changes so you need to be aware that the payload figures normally quoted are for "perfect" conditions.  To be able to handle conditions at or near the craft performance limit (which varies depending on design - ask the manufacturers) you can half the payload.  To carry 4 people plus gear and fuel that needs a payload of close to 500Kg (and, in poor conditions, fuel usage can double - a good reason to discount 2-strokes as you won't be able to carry enough fuel!). 

Bearing all that in mind, IMHO none of the craft you list are capable of safely carrying the payload required in the conditions you are likely to experience (eg, the Marlin is a single seater craft that can carry two in good conditions).  If it were me I'd be starting at 18ft - anything less may get dodgy when things get a bit hairy.

1: Usage will be recreational and will need to carry pilot plus 3 people plus some camping gear.
2: Storage is not a problem. As for size 18ft will be max, smaller may be better I will take advice.
3: From what I have learnt so far twin engine is a bit more difficut to fly. I'm easy either way.
4: I am in West Wales, the reason for saying you are too far away from me regarding your Marlin.
5: Budget wise I don't like saying as people come out of the woodwork with al kinds of rubbish at top dollar(not everyone)
6: I have dismissed older two strokes,  although I do love the sound of a howling two stroke.
7: I have narrowed it down to. Vortex Mistral, Marlin 2, IH3, BBV 4 or 5 or something along the lines of a Neoteric as I like the idea of reverse thrust.
8: Any advice comments reviews of craft I have shortlisted gratefully received or any I should consider?
9: No experience whatsoever regarding hovercraft.
10: I don't want to buy one then discover I have out grown it within a season or so.

[philw Posts: 8 Status: Offline]

Yeah just googled them, not for me, having had a few kit cars and seen the standard of some of them you're relying on the ability the builder thinks they have and can end up costing a fortune to put right/ how you want. Also I don't have the time or inclination to fettle someone elses build or build one myself. I'm sure something I have short listed will turn up there's no rush as the weather is turning.

[Al Posts: 899 Status: Offline WWW]

Home build, but not in kit form. 

[philw Posts: 8 Status: Offline]

Is the Sevtec a home build as in kit form?

[Al Posts: 899 Status: Offline WWW]

You can rule out a Marlin, as too small for your needs.  Sevtec Surveyor would be a good craft for your needs, if you're able to find one.  Has the carrying capacity, good on fuel, plenty of space onboard, 14 to 16 foot long & either 7 or 7.5ft wide.


Have you considered building your own craft from plans?

[philw Posts: 8 Status: Offline]

1: Usage will be recreational and will need to carry pilot plus 3 people plus some camping gear.
2: Storage is not a problem. As for size 18ft will be max, smaller may be better I will take advice.
3: From what I have learnt so far twin engine is a bit more difficut to fly. I'm easy either way.
4: I am in West Wales, the reason for saying you are too far away from me regarding your Marlin.
5: Budget wise I don't like saying as people come out of the woodwork with al kinds of rubbish at top dollar(not everyone)
6: I have dismissed older two strokes,  although I do love the sound of a howling two stroke.
7: I have narrowed it down to. Vortex Mistral, Marlin 2, IH3, BBV 4 or 5 or something along the lines of a Neoteric as I like the idea of reverse thrust.
8: Any advice comments reviews of craft I have shortlisted gratefully received or any I should consider?
9: No experience whatsoever regarding hovercraft.
10: I don't want to buy one then discover I have out grown it within a season or so.

[Al Posts: 899 Status: Offline WWW]

The first thing to consider is: what do you intend to use the craft for?  How many people/ what weight do you want to carry?  What space do you have to store a craft, as they vary greatly in size?  What your budget is?


There are pro's & con's for single or twin engine craft, I've had both.  My personal preference is single engine (50% less to go wrong)


I'm not sure what part of the country you are at or if you have any experience with hovercraft, but the best way to find out what craft suits you best, is meet up and go out with hovercraft owners, to see what hovercraft suits your needs.  They vary greatly is size, performance, noise, carrying capacity, comfort etc.

[philw Posts: 8 Status: Offline]

I would wager the latter I may be wrong, either way I would rather gather info from users as I feel they would give unbiased opinions based on experience of different  craft, where as a dealer will push their craft (understandably). I guess I'll just keep researching,   which make and twin engine or single?

[Steve Holland Posts: 1598 Status: Offline]

It's possible that the dealers don't have the craft in the facility, they could be stored elsewhere.
There's also a possibility that the dealers want face to face contact to figure you out as a customer and even place the right craft with you that meets your specific needs..............or their method of customer interaction is designed to extract the most revenue from customers🤔

[philw Posts: 8 Status: Offline]

Why is it or at least seems to be a secret when dealers don't want to put a price on the second hand/ trade in craft they have for sale. Why is that? If I want to buy antyhing else second hand, cars/ bikes anything really there's always a price on the website, there have been 3 dealers who have told me they have at least 5 trade in craft each  then tell me I need to call them. I would rather them tell me what they have so I can research them myself.