No beach out of reach
They look unusual, they sound noisy, they can go on any surface and there are not many around – they’re quite a specialised vehicle, a bit pricey for their size as they are not commercialised and are uniquely handmade … sometimes one off builds.
“They might look menacing and noisy up close, but hovercraft are actually very environmentally friendly,” says Peter Hardi, from the NSW Sporting Hovercraft Club. “There are many jetskis and boats which are much louder, especially the heavy diesel boats.”
Hardi says many people and government authorities have a misunderstanding of hovercrafts.
“You tend to get hassled more on a hovercraft because it ‘stands out’ a bit from the others and you come across as perhaps a hoon on the water if they don’t know you. But we’re not at all,” he said.
NSW Sporting Hovercraft Club members are extremely cautious, responsible and courteous out on the water. There are only a handful of them and they are usually around Botany Bay, Georges River and sometimes on Sydney Harbour. Several times a year they travel up the Shoalhaven River and other scenic parts of NSW to meet other hovercafters.
There are no sharp propellers beneath the water surface to injure marine life. Nor do they disturb any sea grasses, a hovercraft operates 20-30cm above the water line and there is barely any contact beneath the water surface.“Adults and kids seem to be fond of and interested in hovercrafts when we are out on the water. We are always swarmed by kids with all sorts of interesting questions, like ‘Hey Dad, where are the wheels?’
“We have been participating in Camp Quality for over 10 years now; all around NSW taking kids and helpers on hovercraft rides – it puts a huge smile on the kids’ faces.”
Hardi is a member of several wildlife organisations and uses his hovercraft for accessing some waterways and creeks which can’t be reached by boat or 4WD.
“I use the hovercraft as a tool sometimes to generate donations or interest in endangered wildlife projects for the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife.”
Hardi says the hovercraft is much more environmentally friendly than any boat in several ways, especially in a marine park environment.
“There are no oils or fuels expelled into the water as with a boat engine/exhaust. It goes into the air.”
There are no sharp propellers beneath the water surface to injure marine life. Nor do they disturb any sea grasses, a hovercraft operates 20-30cm above the water line and there is barely any contact beneath the water surface.
Hovercrafts do not create any wash or wake as boats do, so there’s much less disturbance to the water and the surrounding environment.
On land a hovercraft can run over an egg without breaking it … Since the driving fan is raised in the air … which is why there is more noise than your average boat.“On land a hovercraft can run over an egg without breaking it,” he said. “Since the driving fan is raised in the air … which is why there is more noise than your average boat.”
Hardi says it’s not the engine that’s noisy … it’s the fan chopping the air that creates the noise. When it’s windy and there is a heavy load on the craft the fan works harder so it’s noisier than usual.
“In low speed areas such as eight knot zones, when there is a half or fully loaded hovercraft, or if there is a strong breeze, it’s hard to actually get fully hovering so it sort of drags the craft through water and creates a bit more noise than when we’re at full hover – a bit like planing on a boat.”
hovercraft undercarriageBefore he had a hovercraft Hardi had several sports boats and was a member of a leisure boating club where he could take out a 26-footer to a 42 foot luxury boat.
“But they were boring for me. You didn’t really feel like you’re on the water. It was like a slow moving apartment and you couldn’t get to the places I like to go.
“I prefer my little hovercraft more on local waterways as you can go anywhere from the water onto sand and onto mudflats. I like nature and exploring the outdoors and the hovercraft has been a great vehicle for this over a boat.
“Although, I would not take my hovercraft out on the open ocean. On extremely windy days I would rather be in my RIB (rigid inflatable boat).”
Hardi’s had a 4.2 metre Caribe RIB for the last year and a half which he says is a bit small now after working with them on the production of Sea Patrol and going for a thrill ride on Thundaraft at Nelsons Bay.
“I was amazed how these type of boats handle the rough seas at high speed but wanted something a bit more to my liking, safer and durable. So I’ve custom-designed a seven metre RIB from Britton Marine here in Sydney who build commercial, military and police boats.
“If I’m spending my day out on the open ocean, which can be a very dangerous and unpredictable environment – and I’ve had my days of breaking down – I want to be in a safe boat that is built tough to certain safety standards with two engines.”
Peter Hardi with his 5.8m military style hovercraft.Recently Hardi was featured in a short chase scene in Sea Patrol which was shot last year on Moreton Bay Island, Qld, with his 5.8m military style hovercraft which he developed with a company in Qld. Four were made. One went to the Australian Defence Force in South Australia and three to NZ. The same company also built two 12 metre, 25 seater hovercrafts which operate commercially in Broome, WA.
The president of the NSW Sporting Hovercraft Club, Karl Bowman, has been operating hovercraft in Australia for over 25 years and was the first person to register a Hovercraft in NSW. He has been featured on several TV Shows including Water Rats and large events taking celebrities such as Billy Idol around the football stadium.
“Earlier this year three of us were in the Darling Harbour Australia Day boat parade.”
NSW Sporting Hovercraft Club are always looking to meet other hovercrafters in NSW who want to learn more on hovercrafting and be part of the club to help out in some activities. For more information you can contact Peter Hardi at mirage@bigpond.net.au