Hovertravel is the world's longest established commercial hovercraft operator.

Operations commenced on 24th July 1965 using an SRN6 hovercraft which carried just 38 passengers. Three modern 98 seat hovercraft now run between Ryde and Southsea, and over 18 million passengers have used the service to date.

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Originally posted by Barryboat:
I love reading your posts about hovercrafts...

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At least I have one fan!

Joe is very tolerant of my Hovercraft obsession. They hardly represent ?alternative cruising? really, do they?

O.k. lets now debate nude hovercraft travel or hovercraft and pets!

[ 02-28-2003: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

O.k. lets now debate nude hovercraft travel or hovercraft and pets!

[ 02-28-2003: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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Originally posted by desirod7:

Hmmmm, maybe a Hovercraft marijuana ...cruise charter

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...me think the hovercraft wouldn't need to push that much its turbines for making its passengers lifting off... what significant fuel's economy for the company!

[ 02-28-2003: Message edited by: Vaccaro ]

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Originally posted by Barryboat:
Are the hovercrafts used mostly by tourists on the English Channel? or do people actually commute?

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Well whatever they were used for, they aren't used for anything any more, sadly. (That is, the cross-channel ones - there are still small hovercraft on other services IIRC.)

I would have liked to have been on one of Hoverspeed's two giant hovercraft before the rather abrupt end to service!

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Originally posted by Barryboat:
What happened? Why have the hoovercrafts been removed from service?

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The hovercraft have been gone from service since October 2000.

There is an excellent article in the Feb. 2001 issue of Airways Magazine which you can buy here.

The hovercraft were essentially retired because they (like so many of our favorite passenger ships) are very fuel-thirsty. The seacats that are now favored by Sea Containers' passenger subsidiaries (including Hoverspeed) are much cheaper to operate though slower and much less unique.

The last two hovercraft in service, THE PRINCESS MARGARET and THE PRINCESS ANNE, are presently laid-up and for sale. They received massive refits in 1999 to bring them totally up-to-date and they are being maintained by Hoverspeed in hopes that they'll be able to sell them for further trading.

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PS: Just noticed the typo "hoovercraft"... Now THAT is an idea... A hovercraft powered by vacums! Let's see, if we had diesels generating electricity to power a few "giant vacum cleaners"

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Actually Doug there already is a hovercraft powered by a Hoover vacuum cleaner, though it did not carry passengers! (It would have looked wonderful onboard a certain early decorated QE2)

Best, Onno

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This was the first of the Hoover Constellations, a type of cleaner they sold right up into the late 1960s. Later models were said to “float on air” — a cute advertising gimmick but in reality all it meant was that the exhaust blew onto the floor under the metal ring that the machine rested on. This did make it easier to drag the machine around; the exhaust formed a sort of cushion of air. However, it also affected the suction power of the machine because the free-flow of air through the cleaner was impeded and tended to blow dust around when the machine was lifted from the floor. A textbook example of form not following function!

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Originally posted by cruiseny:
The hovercraft were essentially retired because they (like so many of our favorite passenger ships) are very fuel-thirsty.

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Well put Cruiseny.

They giant car carrying SRN4's were also 30 years old, originally hbeing designed for 10 years of service. Part and service obviously became an issue. Yes they were fuel hungry, as they were essentially low flying aircraft, complete with four gas turbine engines and air screws.

The new breed of hovercraft are much more fuel efficient, quieter and use diesel fuel which is cheaper. They have become high flying boats.

There is a consortium who are designing a giant state-of the-art, more fuel effecient hovercraft. I don't doubt that it is possible, but unfortunately, it may never be a reality?

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
There is a consortium who are designing a giant state-of the-art, more fuel effecient hovercraft. I don't doubt that it is possible, but unfortunately, it may never be a reality?

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Any more information on this? Web link?

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Interestingly the SRN4 Hovercraft proved to be more reliable than the Seascats often do.

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The AP-100’s which operate from Portsmouth to Ryde, as discussed above, carry 100 passengers at high speed, use economical diesel engines and are pretty quiet.

What took you so long to respond?

I think the 2 SRN4's are still for sale? Hoverspeed, were certainly still servicing their engines? I heard it said that a couple of million pounds would probably secure the pair?

However, the running costs would be high. I think they need several new air-screws. These were the biggest ever made a cost a million each! The skirts cost something like million to replace, too.

The operator you would need to build some slipways and terminal buildings and set up a maintence team etc. etc.

I believe the company that's selling the two boats have all the needed spare parts including extra skirts and and motors etc. Check this out