[Alfredrogers Posts: 271 Status: Offline]

   I have printed out a smallish model of the craft and it actually floats(my wife likes it, what more can I say?).   I have started a larger version and I find it quite exciting.     Bad news at my age.    Kind regards ALF.

[rossfloyd Posts: 2047 Status: Offline]

I've followed your experiments with interest Alf - it would be a wonderful solution but the batteries are not quite there yet, although the latest concept using salt water - if true - could be a game changer.  That said, its not really the engines that make the noise! Direct drive, high torque and low speed with 99% reliability .... we can but dream.

[Alfredrogers Posts: 271 Status: Offline]

20 years ago I realised that hovercrafting was so noisy that people would complain, also quite complicated mechanically to keep operating, not every man’s ability.    Also the fact that not everybody had large houses or space to accommodate them.    That was why I attempted to interest people with a simpler lighter cheaper form of craft…….  Surely that time has now arrived?  I have now joined the model Hovercraft Association and trying to build a sensible machine using electric.   Being 88 years of age this craft should be Lightweight and simple and easily stored.?     still trying.    Alf.

[rossfloyd Posts: 2047 Status: Offline]

She may not have been French but the accent - from the very little she said - was similar.  The head ranger tried to tell her about the danger of being that far out on the mud but there was no interest or concern.


We were then asked to go and round up a couple of 'inebriated youths' who were reported to be cavorting about on the mudflats but by the time we got there they were half way back up the cliff face - and carrying a bicycle.  Why would anyone even consider lifting a push bike over a wall, climbing down a cliff with it and then carrying it up again and struggling to get it back over the wall onto the footpath.  The cliffs are steep and incredibly rough - there is no way you could even sit on a bike, let alone ride one.  And what did they expect to do with it in knee deep mud ?   Some things in life have to remain a mystery.


What started out as a fairly short proving trip with a new thrust coupling turned into several hours of entertainment and an awful lot of cleaning when we got home.

[Kim Taylor Posts: 624 Status: Offline]

Good work Ross👌👍👏👏👏

[Nick Flint Posts: 5067 Status: Offline]

-and forget their manners? Ive always found the French to be courteous, but just walking off is dreadful. Embarrassed? but simply poor behaviour.    Good work though guys.

[Al Posts: 1008 Status: Offline WWW]

So its not only when visiting Scotland that the tourist forget to pack and bring their common sense with them when on holiday   

[rossfloyd Posts: 2047 Status: Offline]

Rescuing a French student from over a mile out on the mud flats at Weston as requested by Milford Haven CG.   We brought her back, she got out and walked off.    We don't normally launch at this end of the beach due to the number of people about.