The construction of a vehicle that would allow movement both on land and on water was preceded by an acquaintance with the history of the discovery and creation of original amphibians - devices on air cushion (AVP), study of their fundamental structure, comparison of various designs and circuits.

For this purpose, I visited many Internet sites of enthusiasts and creators of WUAs (including foreign ones), and met some of them in person.

In the end, the prototype of the planned boat was taken by the English Hovercraft (“floating ship” - that’s how the AVP is called in the UK), built and tested by local enthusiasts. Our most interesting domestic machines of this type were mostly created for law enforcement agencies, and in recent years - for commercial purposes; they had large dimensions and therefore were not very suitable for amateur production.

My hovercraft (I call it “Aerojeep”) is a three-seater: the pilot and passengers are arranged in a T-shape, like on a tricycle: the pilot is in front in the middle, and the passengers are behind next to each other, one next to the other. The machine is single-engine, with a divided air flow, for which a special panel is installed in its annular channel slightly below its center.

Technical data of the hovercraft
Overall dimensions, mm:
length	3950
width	2400
height	1380
Engine power, l. With.	31
Weight, kg	150
Load capacity, kg	220
Fuel capacity, l	12
Fuel consumption, l/h	6
Obstacles to be overcome:
rise, deg.	20
wave, m	0,5
Cruising speed, km/h:
on water	50
on the ground	54
on ice	60

Consists of three main parts: propeller installation with a transmission, a fiberglass body and a “skirt” - a flexible fence for the lower part of the body - so to speak, a “pillowcase” of the air cushion.

1 - segment (thick fabric); 2 - mooring cleat (3 pcs.); 3 - wind visor; 4 - side strip for fastening segments; 5 - handle (2 pcs.); 6 - propeller guard; 7 - ring channel; 8 - rudder (2 pcs.); 9 - steering wheel control lever; 10 - access hatch to the gas tank and battery; 11 - pilot's seat; 12 - passenger sofa; 13 - engine casing; 14 - engine; 15 - outer shell; 16 - filler (foam); 17 - inner shell; 18 - dividing panel; 19 - propeller; 20 - propeller hub; 21 - timing belt; 22 - node for fastening the lower part of the segment. enlarge, 2238x1557, 464 KB

hovercraft hull

It is double: fiberglass, consists of an inner and outer shell.

The outer shell has a fairly simple configuration - it is just inclined (about 50° to the horizontal) sides without a bottom - flat over almost the entire width and slightly curved in its upper part. The bow is rounded, and the rear has the appearance of an inclined transom. In the upper part, along the perimeter of the outer shell, oblong holes-grooves are cut out, and at the bottom, from the outside, a cable enclosing the shell is fixed in eye bolts for attaching the lower parts of the segments to it.

The inner shell is more complex in configuration than the outer shell, since it has almost all the elements of a small vessel (say, a dinghy or a boat): sides, bottom, curved gunwales, a small deck in the bow (only the upper part of the transom in the stern is missing) - while being completed as one detail. In addition, in the middle of the cockpit along it, a separately molded tunnel with a canister under the driver’s seat is glued to the bottom. It houses the fuel tank and battery, as well as the throttle cable and the steering control cable.

In the aft part of the inner shell there is a kind of poop, raised and open at the front. It serves as the base of the annular channel for the propeller, and its jumper deck serves as an air flow separator, part of which (the supporting flow) is directed into the shaft opening, and the other part is used to create propulsive traction force.

All elements of the body: the inner and outer shells, the tunnel and the annular channel were glued onto matrices made of glass mat about 2 mm thick on polyester resin. Of course, these resins are inferior to vinyl ester and epoxy resins in adhesion, filtration level, shrinkage, and release harmful substances when drying, but have an undeniable advantage in price - they are much cheaper, which is important. For those who intend to use such resins, let me remind you that the room where the work is carried out must have good ventilation and a temperature of at least 22°C.

The matrices were made in advance according to the master model from the same glass mats on the same polyester resin, only the thickness of their walls was larger and amounted to 7-8 mm (for the housing shells - about 4 mm). Before gluing the elements, all roughness and burrs were carefully removed from the working surface of the matrix, and it was covered three times with wax diluted in turpentine and polished. After this, a thin layer (up to 0.5 mm) of gelcoat (colored varnish) of the selected yellow color was applied to the surface with a sprayer (or roller).

After it dried, the process of gluing the shell began using the following technology. First, using a roller, the wax surface of the matrix and the side of the glass mat with smaller pores are coated with resin, and then the mat is laid on the matrix and rolled until the air is completely removed from under the layer (if necessary, you can make a small slot in the mat). In the same way, subsequent layers of glass mats are laid to the required thickness (4-5 mm), with the installation of embedded parts (metal and wood) where necessary. Excess flaps along the edges are cut off when gluing “wet-to-edge”.

After the resin has hardened, the shell is easily removed from the matrix and processed: the edges are turned, grooves are cut, and holes are drilled.

To ensure the unsinkability of the Aerojeep, pieces of foam plastic (for example, furniture) are glued to the inner shell, leaving only the channels for air passage around the entire perimeter free. Pieces of foam plastic are glued together with resin, and attached to the inner shell with strips of glass mat, also lubricated with resin.

After making the outer and inner shells separately, they are joined, fastened with clamps and self-tapping screws, and then connected (glued) along the perimeter with strips coated with polyester resin of the same glass mat, 40-50 mm wide, from which the shells themselves were made. After this, the body is left until the resin is completely polymerized.

A day later, a duralumin strip with a cross-section of 30x2 mm is attached to the upper joint of the shells along the perimeter with blind rivets, installing it vertically (the tongues of the segments are fixed on it). Wooden runners measuring 1500x90x20 mm (length x width x height) are glued to the lower part of the bottom at a distance of 160 mm from the edge. One layer of glass mat is glued on top of the runners. In the same way, only from inside the shell, in the aft part of the cockpit, a base is made of wooden slab under the engine.

It is worth noting that using the same technology used to make the outer and inner shells, smaller elements were glued: the inner and outer shells of the diffuser, steering wheels, gas tank, engine casing, wind deflector, tunnel and driver's seat. For those who are just starting to work with fiberglass, I recommend preparing the manufacture of a boat from these small elements. The total mass of the fiberglass body together with the diffuser and rudders is about 80 kg.

Of course, the production of such a hull can also be entrusted to specialists - companies that produce fiberglass boats and boats. Fortunately, there are a lot of them in Russia, and the costs will be comparable. However, in the process of self-production, it will be possible to gain the necessary experience and the opportunity in the future to model and create various elements and structures from fiberglass yourself.

Propeller-powered hovercraft

It includes an engine, a propeller and a transmission that transmits torque from the first to the second.

The engine used is BRIGGS & STATTION, produced in Japan under an American license: 2-cylinder, V-shaped, four-stroke, 31 hp. With. at 3600 rpm. Its guaranteed service life is 600 thousand hours. Starting is carried out by an electric starter, from the battery, and the spark plugs work from the magneto.

The engine is mounted on the bottom of the Aerojeep's body, and the propeller hub axis is fixed at both ends to brackets in the center of the diffuser, raised above the body. The transmission of torque from the engine output shaft to the hub is carried out by a toothed belt. The driven and driving pulleys, like the belt, are toothed.

Although the mass of the engine is not so large (about 56 kg), its location on the bottom significantly lowers the center of gravity of the boat, which has a positive effect on the stability and maneuverability of the machine, especially an “aeronautical” one.

Exhaust gas exhaust is routed to the lower air flow.

Instead of the installed Japanese one, you can use suitable domestic engines, for example, from snowmobiles “Buran”, “Lynx” and others. By the way, for a one- or two-seat AVP, smaller engines with a power of about 22 hp are quite suitable. With.

The propeller is six-bladed, with a fixed pitch (angle of attack set on land) of the blades.

1 - walls; 2 - cover with tongue.

The annular channel of the propeller should also be considered an integral part of the propeller engine installation, although its base (lower sector) is integral with the inner shell of the housing. The annular channel, like the body, is also composite, glued together from outer and inner shells. Just in the place where its lower sector joins the upper one, a fiberglass dividing panel is installed: it separates the air flow created by the propeller (and, on the contrary, connects the walls of the lower sector along the chord).

The engine, located at the transom in the cockpit (behind the back of the passenger seat), is covered on top by a fiberglass hood, and the propeller, in addition to the diffuser, is also covered by a wire grille in front.

The soft elastic fencing of a hovercraft (skirt) consists of separate but identical segments, cut and sewn from dense light fabric. It is desirable that the fabric is water-repellent, does not harden in the cold and does not allow air to pass through. I used Finnish-made Vinyplan material, but domestic percale-type fabric is quite suitable. The segment pattern is simple, and you can even sew it by hand.

Each segment is attached to the body as follows. The tongue is placed over the side vertical bar, with an overlap of 1.5 cm; onto it is the tongue of the adjacent segment, and both of them, at the point of overlap, are secured to the bar with a special alligator clip, only without teeth. And so on around the entire perimeter of the Aerojeep. For reliability, you can also put a clip in the middle of the tongue. The two lower corners of the segment are suspended freely using nylon clamps on a cable that wraps around the lower part of the outer shell of the housing.

This composite design of the skirt allows you to easily replace a failed segment, which will take 5-10 minutes. It would be appropriate to say that the design is operational when up to 7% of the segments fail. In total, up to 60 pieces are placed on the skirt.

Principle of movement hovercraft next. After starting the engine and running it for Idling the device remains in place. As the speed increases, the propeller begins to drive a more powerful air flow. Part of it (large) creates propulsive force and provides the boat with forward motion. The other part of the flow goes under the dividing panel into the side air ducts of the hull (the free space between the shells up to the very bow), and then through the slot-holes in the outer shell it evenly enters the segments. This flow, simultaneously with the start of movement, creates an air cushion under the bottom, lifting the apparatus above the underlying surface (be it soil, snow or water) by several centimeters.

The rotation of the Aerojeep is carried out by two rudders, which deflect the “forward” air flow to the side. The steering wheels are controlled from a double-arm motorcycle-type steering column lever, through a Bowden cable running along the starboard side between the shells to one of the steering wheels. The other steering wheel is connected to the first by a rigid rod.

A carburetor throttle control lever (analogous to a throttle grip) is also attached to the left handle of the double-arm lever.

To operate a hovercraft, you must register it with the local state inspection for small craft (GIMS) and obtain a ship's ticket. To obtain a certificate for the right to operate a boat, you must also complete a training course on how to operate a boat.

However, even these courses still do not have instructors for piloting hovercraft. Therefore, each pilot has to master the management of the AVP independently, literally gaining the relevant experience bit by bit.

We owe the final design, as well as the informal name of our craft, to a colleague from the Vedomosti newspaper. Seeing one of the test “take-offs” in the publishing house parking lot, she exclaimed: “Yes, this is Baba Yaga’s stupa!” This comparison made us incredibly happy: after all, we were just looking for a way to equip our hovercraft with a rudder and a brake, and the way was found by itself - we gave the pilot a broom!

This looks like one of the silliest crafts we've ever made. But, if you think about it, it is a very spectacular physical experiment: it turns out that a weak air flow from a hand-held blower, designed to sweep weightless dead leaves from paths, is capable of lifting a person above the ground and easily moving him in space. Despite its very impressive appearance, building such a boat is as easy as shelling pears: if you strictly follow the instructions, it will only require a couple of hours of dust-free work.

Using string and a marker, draw on plywood sheet circle with a diameter of 120 cm and cut out the bottom with a jigsaw. Immediately make a second circle of the same type.

Align the two circles and drill a 100mm hole through them using a hole saw. Save the wooden disks removed from the crown; one of them will serve as the central “button” of the air cushion.

Lay the shower curtain on the table, place the bottom on top and secure the polyethylene furniture stapler. Trim off the excess polyethylene, stepping back a couple of centimeters from the staples.

Tape the edge of the skirt with reinforced tape in two rows with a 50% overlap. This will make the skirt airtight and avoid air loss.

Mark the central part of the skirt: there will be a “button” in the middle, and around it there will be six holes with a diameter of 5 cm. Cut out the holes with a breadboard knife.

Carefully tape the central part of the skirt, including the holes, with reinforced tape. Apply tapes with 50% overlap, apply two layers of tape. Re-cut the holes with a breadboard knife and fasten the central “button” with self-tapping screws. The skirt is ready.

Turn the bottom over and screw the second plywood circle to it. 12mm plywood is easy to work with, but it is not rigid enough to withstand the required loads without warping. Two layers of such plywood will be just right. Place thermal insulation around the edges of the circle to plumbing pipes and secure it with a stapler. It will serve as a decorative bumper.

Use the 100mm vent duct cuffs and corners to connect the blower to the skirt. Secure the engine using angles and ties.

Helicopter and puck

Contrary to popular belief, the boat does not rest on a 10-centimeter layer of compressed air, otherwise it would already be a helicopter. An air cushion is something like an air mattress. The polyethylene film that covers the bottom of the device is filled with air, stretched and turned into something like an inflatable ring.

The film adheres very tightly to the road surface, forming a wide contact patch (almost over the entire area of ​​the bottom) with a hole in the center. Air under pressure comes from this hole. Over the entire contact area between the film and the road, a the thinnest layer air through which the device glides easily in any direction. Thanks to the inflatable skirt, even a small amount of air is enough for a good glide, so our stupa is much more like an air hockey puck than a helicopter.

Wind under the skirt

We usually do not publish exact drawings in the “master class” section and strongly recommend that readers use their creative imagination in the process, experimenting with the design as much as possible. But this is not the case. Several attempts to slightly deviate from the popular recipe cost the editors a couple of days extra work. Don't repeat our mistakes - follow the instructions carefully.

The boat should be round, like a flying saucer. A vessel resting on a thin layer of air requires perfect balance: with the slightest defect in weight distribution, all the air will come out from the underloaded side, and the heavier side will fall with its entire weight on the ground. Symmetrical round form the bottom will help the pilot easily find balance by slightly changing his body position.

To make the bottom, take 12 mm plywood, use a rope and a marker to draw a circle with a diameter of 120 cm and cut out the part with an electric jigsaw. The skirt is made from a polyethylene shower curtain. Choosing a curtain is perhaps the most important stage at which the fate of the future craft is decided. Polyethylene should be as thick as possible, but strictly uniform and in no case reinforced with fabric or decorative tapes. Oilcloth, tarpaulin and other airtight fabrics are not suitable for building a hovercraft.

In pursuit of the strength of the skirt, we made our first mistake: the poorly stretching oilcloth tablecloth was unable to press tightly to the road and form a wide contact patch. The area of ​​the small “spot” was not enough to make the heavy car slide.

Leaving an allowance to let more air in under a tight skirt is not an option. When inflated, such a pillow forms folds that will release air and prevent the formation of a uniform film. But polyethylene tightly pressed to the bottom, stretching when air is pumped, forms a perfectly smooth bubble that tightly fits any unevenness in the road.

Scotch tape is the head of everything

Making a skirt is easy. It is necessary to spread polyethylene on a workbench, cover the top with a round piece of plywood with pre- drilled hole for air supply and carefully secure the skirt with a furniture stapler. Even the simplest mechanical (not electric) stapler with 8 mm staples will cope with the task.

Reinforced tape is very important element skirts. It strengthens it where necessary, while maintaining the elasticity of other areas. Pay special attention to the polyethylene reinforcement under the central “button” and in the area of ​​the air holes. Apply the tape with a 50% overlap and in two layers. The polyethylene must be clean, otherwise the tape may come off.

Insufficient reinforcement in the central area caused a funny accident. The skirt tore at the “button” area, and our pillow turned from a “donut” into a semicircular bubble. The pilot, with his eyes widened in surprise, rose a good half meter above the ground and after a couple of moments fell down - the skirt finally burst and let out all the air. It was this incident that led us to the mistaken idea of ​​using oilcloth instead of a shower curtain.

Another misconception that befell us during the construction of the boat was the belief that there is never too much power. We sourced a large Hitachi RB65EF 65cc backpack blower. This beast of a machine has one significant advantage: it is equipped with a corrugated hose, with which it is very easy to connect the fan to the skirt. But the power of 2.9 kW is clearly too much. The polyethylene skirt must be given exactly the amount of air that will be sufficient to lift the car 5-10 cm above the ground. If you overdo it with gas, the polyethylene will not withstand the pressure and will tear. This is exactly what happened with our first car. So rest assured that if you have any kind of leaf blower at your disposal, it will be suitable for the project.

Full speed ahead!

Typically, hovercraft have at least two propellers: one propulsion propeller, which gives the vehicle forward motion, and one fan, which forces air under the skirt. How will our “flying saucer” move forward, and can we get by with just one blower?

This question tormented us right up until the first successful tests. It turned out that the skirt glides so well over the surface that even the slightest change in balance is enough for the device to move by itself in one direction or another. For this reason, you only need to install the chair on the car while it is moving, in order to properly balance the car, and only then screw the legs to the bottom.

We tried the second blower as a propulsion engine, but the result was not impressive: the narrow nozzle produces a fast flow, but the volume of air passing through it is not enough to create even the slightest noticeable jet thrust. What you really need when driving is a brake. Baba Yaga's broom is ideal for this role.

Called himself a ship - get into the water

Unfortunately, our editorial office, and along with it the workshop, are located in the concrete jungle, far from even the most modest bodies of water. Therefore, we could not launch our device into the water. But theoretically everything should work! If building a boat becomes a summer activity for you on a hot summer day, test it for seaworthiness and share with us a story about your success. Of course, you need to take the boat out onto the water from a gently sloping bank at cruising throttle, with the skirt fully inflated. There is no way to allow it to sink - immersion in water means the inevitable death of the blower from water hammer.

In the vastness of our country, lovers of active recreation do not miss the opportunity to ensure comfortable off-road travel, including water obstacles, at any time of the year. And if you won’t surprise anyone with a snowmobile, jet ski and airboat, then the use military equipment attracts attention. The focus of this article is the hovercraft, its specifications, possibilities of use in peacetime, user reviews and short review prices for this type of transport.

Operating principle

A hovercraft, thanks to the laws of aerodynamics, uses the air flow created by the engine not only for propulsion, but also to reduce friction. An air cushion is a layer of compressed air under the bottom of a vehicle, which is held in place by the gravity of the vessel. Excessive air pressure leads to its release in the area of ​​contact between the bottom of the vessel and the surface of the earth or water. At the moment of releasing excess air, the friction force between the bottom of the vehicle and the surface of the earth is practically absent - this makes it possible not only to move the vessel using an aeroengine, but also to control it freely.

In addition to static work aimed at overcoming friction, the propulsion-discharge system also creates dynamic work, forcing the ship to move. To do this, a huge fan is installed on the boat’s hull, which accelerates the boat with a powerful air flow. The ceilings located behind the fan allow you to control the air flow, regulating the direction of traffic.

Technical capabilities

The technical characteristics of hovercrafts will not allow active recreation enthusiasts to pass by indifferently.

1. Any surface for movement. A body of water with a wave height of up to 25 cm, ice or snow cover is the native element for the vessel. You can travel on grass, sand, swamp, gravel or asphalt, but in such cases you need to be prepared for rapid wear of the flexible air cushion fence.
2. Load capacity. If we are talking about civil ships, then the carrying capacity, including passengers, is approximately 1000-1500 kilograms. To a greater extent, this parameter depends on the engine power.
3. Travel speed and fuel consumption. The standard is considered to be a fuel consumption of 20 liters per hour at a cruising speed of 60 km/h. Maximum indicators should not deviate from the arithmetic progression. That is, a boat speed of 120 km/h will double fuel consumption, but no more.

Restrictions on use

Small, medium or large hovercraft have a number of limitations that all buyers without exception need to know.

1. If the wave height is more than 30 cm on the water surface, the movement of the boat will be difficult and can lead to flooding, since jerks and impacts on the wave crests reduce the air pressure under the flexible fence, plunging the boat half into the water.
2. Dense and tall vegetation limits the flexible fencing's close contact with the ground, which can also make movement difficult.
3. Hard obstacles over 35 cm (driftwood, stumps, stones) not only reduce the pressure under the bottom of the vessel, but can also damage the flexible fencing. Although repairing boats on site is not a problem if you have an awl and wire, it is, however, an extra time investment.

Where did the interest come from?

In the 20th century, river and sea hovercraft were considered the best transport for walking on the water surface. Enormous speed, excellent maneuverability and high safety attracted not only tourists, but also local population, which moved to suburban areas and back along the seas, lakes and rivers of our huge country. But the attention of hunters and fishermen was attracted by the landing boat after the screening of the film “Retaliation” at the end of the twentieth century. It was then that the era of small hovercraft arose, because the film clearly presented all the technical capabilities of this type of transport, for which there are practically no barriers.

Landing boats are still in service in many countries around the world. The peace and tranquility of Russians is protected by the world's largest hovercraft called the Zubr. It won’t be much of a problem for him to cross the entire Black Sea with a couple of tanks and a dozen armored personnel carriers on board. In addition to transporting cargo, the ship has cruise missiles on board, which makes it a combat unit in wartime.

Young technician - the beginning of all beginnings

Reproducing the landing craft in sizes acceptable for transportation by the Russian Kulibin did not present any particular problems. By conducting tests and presenting the amphibian production technology to the country's scientific and technical publications, craftsmen made it possible for military technologies to serve for peaceful purposes. If you open any technical magazine of that time, in the photo you can find not only hovercraft or hard-bottomed motor boats. To overcome the expanses of land and water, masters came up with all sorts of symbioses of automobile transport and floating vehicles, vaguely reminiscent of BRDM.

However, all of them remained only on paper, which cannot be said about the most popular transport in the world, for which there are no barriers - the hovercraft. In the media even now you can find many detailed instructions, confirmed by photos and videos, for the production of watercraft with my own hands from scratch. However, professionals recommend refraining from such proposals, because the SVP is considered dangerous.

Above are only the stars

The Pegasus series boat is recognized as the best hovercraft. First of all, it differs from its competitors in its ability to be used at any time of the year. All new boats have a salon closed type. It is made with a heating system and allows you to maintain comfortable conditions even in thirty-degree frost. In the summer heat, the cabin can be easily transformed, allowing for improved circulation fresh air. Depending on the modification, the craft can carry on board from 5 to 8 people with 350-500 kg of equipment.

If we take into account low fuel consumption and good range and speed, we can conclude that this is the best boat. The price of such a device can be confusing ordinary person- 30,000 conventional units. However, if you add up the cost of the equipment taken together - a motor boat, an ATV and a snowmobile, it becomes clear that the hovercraft has a very attractive price.

If you are interested in the corporate segment, then the ship of the Neptune series is recognized as the leader here. Having many modifications at its disposal, the device is primarily positioned as a cross-country vehicle for transporting passengers.

Domestic alternative

In addition to the Pegasus, the hovercraft Mars, Neoteric, Strelets, Mirage, as well as sea boats for transporting up to 15 people of the Aerojet series have proven themselves well on the Russian market. All of them belong to the tourist class, which is why they have a number of restrictions, primarily regarding operating modes. For example, the Mirage ship can be used all year round, including very coldy, however, moving it along the waves and uneven surfaces limited due to some design features. But the baby “Neoteric” is able to go where no human has gone before, not to mention the low fuel consumption (5 liters per hour) and the enormous speed of the boat. But it has big problems with carrying capacity and operation at subzero temperatures.

An air-cushioned vehicle called “Bug” is considered a miracle of Russian industry. After viewing the hovercraft in the photo, no one will dare to call it a watercraft. It looks more like a hovercraft. The small-sized two-seater device shows high cross-country ability on different surfaces and at large angles.

SVP for fun

Judging by numerous reviews from owners, the Tornado hovercraft has gained great popularity in Russia. It was manufactured by the Ukrainian manufacturer Artel LLC at the Nikolaev shipyard. Initially, the boat is positioned as a watercraft for entertainment and cultural recreation. It is enough to see a photo of the boat to be convinced that it is unsuitable for fishing or hunting. Small dimensions and low load capacity enable the hovercraft to violate all the laws of physics and aerodynamics, both in speed and maneuverability, and in passing all kinds of obstacles. Why did he interest the Russian buyer?

1. Low price. For just ten thousand conventional units you can buy yourself universal remedy movement.
2. Possibility of modernization. SVP boat Perfectly convertible for both hunting and fishing for two people.
3. Spare parts Russian production. In addition to the RMZ-550 engine, all components can be found on the domestic market.

The inexpensive, but also low-power hovercraft Hov Pod SPX, presented by the English plant, is the most popular watercraft in Europe. It is also in service in two dozen countries around the world and is in demand in UN rescue missions. On the retail market, the boat is positioned as transport for the whole family - fishing, tourism, active recreation, picnics - all this is within its control. The manufacturer claims that simplicity, convenience and safety are the main attributes of this vessel, and a child can be trusted to operate the boat.

English high-tech devices and mechanisms have always been distinguished from their competitors by their impeccability. The Hov Pod SPX hovercraft is made of a unique composite material, which is used to make fences in Formula 1. The steering wheel is made from of stainless steel Teleflex. The base of the body, the engine protection, and all metal components in the body structure are chrome-plated. Thus, the manufacturer makes it clear to its customers that boat trips are not prohibited.

Need of government agencies

In addition to active recreation and entertainment, hovercraft have found their purpose in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Emergency Situations. For example, the Sever watercraft is used by transport police to search for and detain crime suspects. The hovercraft not only shows excellent speed characteristics (150 km/h on water), but is also able to overcome long slopes of up to 30 degrees. This vessel was noticed in service with the fishery inspectorate. Excellent tactical and technical characteristics will always attract attention.

For the repair of bridges and structures, maintenance of oil production platforms, carrying out all kinds of diving work, as well as if it is necessary to repair boats, yachts and cargo ships anchored in the roadstead, the Shelf series hovercraft is used. The enormous engine power and large dimensions make it possible to place up to two tons of cargo on the vessel without taking into account 20 workers. 360 degree rotation without displacement allows you to easily maneuver in any hard-to-reach place.

Japanese engines

Mostly all hovercraft are equipped with engines from Japanese automotive giants Honda and Subaru. This choice is not accidental. Unlike conventional motor boats, where the priority is the number of revolutions per minute of the propeller shaft, high power is more important for watercraft with a propulsion system. Naturally, fuel efficiency is always a priority for any owner. Two-liter and 130-horsepower Honda D15B and Subaru EJ20 engines have found application on air-cushioned boats.

And if initially their choice was justified by high productivity and durability during operation, then this moment The popularity lies in the possibilities of modernization. Craftsmen not only increased the engine power to 150 horsepower, but also made them significantly lighter by replacing some components. The result is a very fast hovercraft.

Legality of use

A hovercraft is classified as a small craft, which means it is subject to registration with the state inspectorate with the appropriate name. To operate a watercraft, it must also be registered and receive special licenses. These procedures are very simple and do not cause any problems. The only thing that can cause trouble is getting a medical certificate to test your license. After all, it’s not every day that doctors see owners of small boats. Judging by the numerous reviews of SVP owners, when passing the commission, it is recommended to talk about the usual test for driving a motor vehicle. Thus, the owner will significantly speed up the passage of the commission and save himself from questions and jokes from the medical staff.

Finally

As it turns out, the hovercraft market is not empty. A large number of models of both domestic and imported production have affordable price and open up a wide range of possibilities. When making a choice among models, you first need to outline the areas of use - walking, entertainment, travel, hunting, fishing. After this, it is recommended to decide in what season the boat will be used. The price of the watercraft greatly depends on this choice.

You need to decide on the number of passengers and carrying capacity. But the choice of engine, fuel system and steering does not play a special role, since most devices have very similar characteristics, which will have little effect on the price. Unless a potential buyer decides to give his preference to an English car, which has a 65-horsepower engine and is not capable of accelerating over 70 km/h.

It all started with the fact that I wanted to do some project and involve my grandson in it. I have a lot of engineering experience behind me, so simple projects I wasn’t looking, and then one day, while watching TV, I saw a boat that was moving due to the propeller. "Cool stuff!" - I thought, and began to scour the Internet in search of at least some information.

We took the motor from an old lawn mower, and bought the layout itself (costs $30). It is good because it requires only one motor, but most similar boats require two engines. From the same company we bought the propeller, propeller hub, air cushion fabric, epoxy resin, fiberglass and screws (they sell them all in one kit). The rest of the materials are quite commonplace and can be purchased at any hardware store. The final budget was a little over $600.

Step 1: Materials

Materials you will need: polystyrene foam, plywood, kit from Universal Hovercraft (~$500). The kit contains all the little things you need to complete the project: plan, fiberglass, propeller, propeller hub, air cushion fabric, glue, epoxy resin, bushings, etc. As I wrote in the description, all materials cost about $600.

Step 2: Making the frame

We take polystyrene foam (5 cm thick) and cut out a 1.5 by 2 meter rectangle from it. Such dimensions will ensure buoyancy of a weight of ~270 kg. If 270 kg seems not enough, you can take another sheet of the same type and attach it below. Using a jigsaw, we cut out two holes: one for the incoming air flow and the other for inflating the pillow.

Step 3: Cover with fiberglass

The lower part of the body must be waterproof, for this we cover it with fiberglass and epoxy. In order for everything to dry properly, without unevenness and roughness, you need to get rid of any air bubbles that may arise. For this you can use industrial vacuum cleaner. We cover the fiberglass with a layer of film, then cover it with a blanket. The covering is necessary to prevent the blanket from sticking to the fiber. Then we cover the blanket with another layer of film and glue it to the floor with adhesive tape. We make a small cut, insert the trunk of the vacuum cleaner into it and turn it on. We leave it in this position for a couple of hours, when the procedure is completed, the plastic can be scraped off from the fiberglass without any effort, it will not stick to it.

Step 4: Bottom Case is Ready

The lower part of the body is ready, and now it looks something like the photo.

Step 5: Making the Pipe

The pipe is made of styrofoam, 2.5 cm thick. It is difficult to describe the whole process, but in the plan it is described in detail, we did not have any problems at this stage. Let me just note that the plywood disk is temporary and will be removed in subsequent steps.

Step 6: Motor Holder

The design is not tricky; it is made of plywood and blocks. Placed exactly in the center of the boat hull. Attaches with glue and screws.

Step 7: Propeller

The propeller can be purchased in two forms: ready-made and “semi-finished”. Ready-made ones are usually much more expensive, and buying a semi-finished product can save a lot of money. That's what we did.

The closer the propeller blades are to the edges of the air vent, the more efficiently the latter works. Once you have decided on the gap, you can sand the blades. Once the grinding is completed, it is necessary to balance the blades so that there are no vibrations in the future. If one of the blades weighs more than the other, then the weight needs to be equalized, but not by cutting the ends, or by grinding. Once the balance is found, you can apply a couple of layers of paint to maintain it. For safety, it is advisable to paint the tips of the blades white.

Step 8: Air Chamber

The air chamber separates the flow of incoming and outgoing air. Made from 3 mm plywood.

Step 9: Installing the Air Chamber

The air chamber is attached with glue, but you can also use fiberglass; I always prefer to use fiber.

Step 10: Guides

The guides are made of 1 mm plywood. To give them strength, cover them with one layer of fiberglass. It’s not very clear in the photo, but you can still see that both guides are connected together at the bottom with an aluminum strip, this is done so that they work synchronously.

Step 11: Shape the Boat and Add Side Panels

The outline of the shape/contour is made on the bottom, after which a wooden strip is attached with screws according to the outline. 3mm plywood bends well and fits right into the shape we need. Next, we fasten and glue a 2 cm beam along the upper edge of the plywood sides. We add a cross beam and install a handle, which will be the steering wheel. We attach cables to it extending from the guide blades installed earlier. Now you can paint the boat, preferably applying several layers. We chose white; even with prolonged direct sunlight, the body practically does not heat up.

I must say that she swims briskly, and this makes me happy, but it surprised me steering. At medium speeds turns are possible, but at high speed the boat first skids to the side, and then by inertia it moves backwards for some time. Although, after getting used to it a little, I realized that by tilting my body in the direction of the turn and slightly slowing down the gas, I could noticeably reduce this effect. It’s difficult to say the exact speed, because there is no speedometer on the boat, but it feels quite good, and there is still a decent wake and waves left behind the boat.

On the day of the test, about 10 people tried the boat, the heaviest one weighed about 140 kg, and it withstood it, although of course it was not possible to achieve the speed that was available to us. With a weight of up to 100 kg, the boat moves briskly.

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A hovercraft is a vehicle that can travel both on water and on land. It’s not at all difficult to make such a vehicle with your own hands.

This is a device that combines the functions of a car and a boat. The result was a hovercraft (hovercraft) with unique characteristics maneuverability, without loss of speed when moving through water due to the fact that the hull of the vessel does not move through the water, but above its surface. This made it possible to move through the water much faster, due to the fact that the friction force of the water masses does not provide any resistance.

Although the hovercraft has a number of advantages, its field of application is not so widespread. The fact is that this device cannot move on any surface without any problems. It requires soft sandy or soil soil, without stones or other obstacles. The presence of asphalt and other hard bases can render the bottom of the vessel, which creates an air cushion when moving, unusable. In this regard, “hovercrafts” are used where you need to sail more and drive less. If on the contrary, then it is better to use the services of an amphibious vehicle with wheels. Ideal conditions their application is in difficult to pass swampy places where, except for a hovercraft (hovercraft), no other vehicle can pass. Therefore, hovercrafts have not become so widespread, although similar transport is used by rescuers in some countries, such as Canada, for example. According to some reports, SVPs are in service with NATO countries.

How to purchase such a vehicle or how to make it yourself?

Hovercraft is an expensive form of transport, average price which reaches 700 thousand rubles. Scooter-type transport costs 10 times less. But at the same time, one should take into account the fact that factory-made vehicles are always of better quality compared to home-made ones. And the reliability of the vehicle is higher. In addition, factory models are accompanied by factory warranties, which cannot be said about structures assembled in garages.

Factory models have always been focused on a narrowly professional area associated with either fishing, or hunting, or special services. As for homemade hovercraft, they are extremely rare and there are reasons for this.

These reasons include:

• Quite a high cost, as well as expensive maintenance. The main elements of the device wear out quickly, which requires their replacement. Moreover, each such repair will cost a pretty penny. Only a rich person will afford to buy such a device, and even then he will think again whether it is worth getting involved with it. The fact is that such workshops are as rare as the vehicle itself. Therefore, it is more profitable to purchase a jet ski or ATV for moving on water.
• The operating product creates a lot of noise, so you can only move around with headphones.
• When moving against the wind, the speed drops significantly and fuel consumption increases significantly. Therefore, homemade hovercraft is more of a demonstration of one’s professional abilities. You not only need to be able to operate a vessel, but also be able to repair it, without significant expenditure of funds.

DIY SVP manufacturing process

Firstly, assembling a good hovercraft at home is not so easy. To do this you need to have the opportunity, desire and professional skills. A technical education wouldn't hurt either. If the last condition is absent, then it is better to refuse to build the apparatus, otherwise you may crash on it during the first test.

All work begins with sketches, which are then transformed into working drawings. When creating sketches, you should remember that this device should be as streamlined as possible so as not to create unnecessary resistance when moving. At this stage, one should take into account the fact that this is practically an aerial vehicle, although it is very low to the surface of the earth. If all conditions are taken into account, then you can begin to develop drawings.

The figure shows a sketch of the SVP of the Canadian Rescue Service.

Technical data of the device

As a rule, all hovercraft are capable of achieving decent speeds that no boat can achieve. This is when you consider that the boat and hovercraft have the same mass and engine power.

At the same time, the proposed model of a single-seat hovercraft is designed for a pilot weighing from 100 to 120 kilograms.

As for driving a vehicle, it is quite specific and in comparison with driving a conventional motor boat doesn't fit in at all. The specificity is associated not only with the presence of high speed, but also with the method of movement.

The main nuance is related to the fact that when turning, especially at high speeds, the ship skids strongly. To minimize this factor, you need to lean to the side when turning. But these are short-term difficulties. Over time, the control technique is mastered and the hovercraft can demonstrate miracles of maneuverability.

What materials are needed?

Basically you will need plywood, foam plastic and a special construction kit from Universal Hovercraft, which includes everything you need for self-assembly vehicle. The kit includes insulation, screws, air cushion fabric, special glue and more. This set can be ordered on the official website by paying 500 bucks for it. The kit also includes several variants of drawings for assembling the SVP apparatus.

Since the drawings are already available, the shape of the vessel should be linked to the finished drawing. But if you have a technical background, then, most likely, a ship will be built that is not similar to any of the options.

The bottom of the vessel is made of foam plastic, 5-7 cm thick. If you need a device to transport more than one passenger, then another sheet of foam plastic is attached to the bottom. After this, two holes are made in the bottom: one is intended for air flow, and the second is to provide the pillow with air. Holes are cut using an electric jigsaw.

On next stage seal the lower part of the vehicle from moisture. To do this, take fiberglass and glue it to the foam using epoxy glue. At the same time, unevenness and air bubbles may form on the surface. To get rid of them, the surface is covered with polyethylene and a blanket on top. Then, another layer of film is placed on the blanket, after which it is fixed to the base with tape. It is better to blow the air out of this “sandwich” using a vacuum cleaner. After 2 or 3 hours, the epoxy resin will harden and the bottom will be ready for further work.

The top of the body can have any shape, but take into account the laws of aerodynamics. After this, they begin to attach the pillow. The most important thing is that air enters it without loss.

The pipe for the motor should be made of styrofoam. The main thing here is to guess the size: if the pipe is too large, then you will not get the traction that is necessary to lift the hovercraft. Then you should pay attention to mounting the motor. The motor holder is a kind of stool consisting of 3 legs attached to the bottom. The engine is installed on top of this “stool”.

What engine do you need?

There are two options: the first option is to use an engine from Universal Hovercraft or use any suitable engine. This could be a chainsaw engine, the power of which is quite enough for a homemade device. If you want to get a more powerful device, then you should take a more powerful engine.

It is advisable to use factory-made blades (those included in the kit), since they require careful balancing and this is quite difficult to do at home. If this is not done, the unbalanced blades will destroy the entire engine.

How reliable can a hovercraft be?

As practice shows, factory hovercraft (hovercraft) have to be repaired about once every six months. But these problems are insignificant and do not require serious costs. Basically, the airbag and air supply system fail. In fact, the likelihood is that homemade device will fall apart during operation, it is very small if the “hovercraft” is assembled competently and correctly. For this to happen, you need to run into some obstacle at high speed. Despite this, the air cushion is still able to protect the device from serious damage.

Rescuers working on similar devices in Canada repair them quickly and competently. As for the pillow, it can actually be repaired in a regular garage.

Similar model will be reliable if:

• The materials and parts used were of good quality.
• The device has a new engine installed.
• All connections and fastenings are made reliably.
• The manufacturer has all the necessary skills.

If the SVP is made as a toy for a child, then in this case it is desirable that the data of a good designer be present. Although this is not an indicator for putting children behind the wheel of this vehicle. This is not a car or a boat. Operating a hovercraft is not as easy as it seems.

Taking this factor into account, you need to immediately begin manufacturing a two-seater version in order to control the actions of the one who will sit behind the wheel.