Hovercraft owners?

[waukewanderer]

I'm considering buying a hovercraft, and would like to speak with anyone who owns and operates one. Am leaning toward a Neoteric, but any information and experiences with other makes would be most welcome. Thank you.

[AMekler]

Dan Marston on Keniston island has a 1000 island airboat
Alan

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by AMekler

Dan Marston on Keniston island has a 1000 island airboat
Alan

Didn't Diversified Marine buy that one from him?

We had one years ago, awesome boats.

[Descant]

My recollection is that Bob and Jan Dean had one for winter access to Lockes Island in the winter. It was very loud and theu apparently did not use it in the summer as courtesy to neighbors. Things mighjt be better now.

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by codeman671

Didn't Diversified Marine buy that one from him?

We had one years ago, awesome boats.

I know that Diversified has an air boat, Island Support Service as well. The former owner of Diversified's air boat used it for winter living on the east side of Rattlesnake.


Alan

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

I know that Diversified has an air boat, Island Support Service as well. The former owner of Diversified's air boat used it for winter living on the east side of Rattlesnake.


Alan

Most of the island contractors have gone this route. Island Services has had one for yours. Island Construction picked up one last year as well. Diversified and Island Construction both have 1000 Island Airboats.

[Charlie T]

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

I know that Diversified has an air boat, Island Support Service as well. The former owner of Diversified's air boat used it for winter living on the east side of Rattlesnake.


Alan

Is Island Support Services still in business? I used them for years when Steve B owned the company, he sold it and the new owners got flaky after a few years, they then just seemed to disappear a few years ago.

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by Charlie T

Is Island Support Services still in business? I used them for years when Steve B owned the company, he sold it and the new owners got flaky after a few years, they then just seemed to disappear a few years ago.

ISS just finished replacing our roof on Welch today. They have done several projects for us over the last 10 years, always good work at a reasonable cost.

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by Charlie T

Is Island Support Services still in business? I used them for years when Steve B owned the company, he sold it and the new owners got flaky after a few years, they then just seemed to disappear a few years ago.

Its still active as far as I know but am not sure who is running it. I heard at one point that Chip was running it into the ground and Steve was going to take it back over as monies were still due. Not sure what happened, but the entity is still active with the state. I recall seeing an ISS logo'd boat or two this season on the lake.

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by codeman671

Its still active as far as I know but am not sure who is running it. I heard at one point that Chip was running it into the ground and Steve was going to take it back over as monies were still due. Not sure what happened, but the entity is still active with the state. I recall seeing an ISS logo'd boat or two this season on the lake.

Chip is running ISS and doing good work.

Alan

[WIS]

Originally Posted by waukewanderer

I'm considering buying a hovercraft, and would like to speak with anyone who owns and operates one. Am leaning toward a Neoteric, but any information and experiences with other makes would be most welcome. Thank you.

Hi Waukewanderer,

At Winnipesaukee Island Services, we run both an airboat and a hovercraft for our operations on Lake Winnipesaukee. While both have performed well, we lean toward the hovercraft for most tasks due to its significantly smoother ride. The airboat, while reliable, can be quite bumpy unless we’re gliding over fresh snow. Our only gripe with the hovercraft is that our current model lacks a reverse function, which can complicate maneuvering. However, we’ve noticed that Neoteric hovercrafts offer this feature, which could be a game-changer for us.

If you’re curious about how they handle or want to see ours in action, feel free to reach out! We’ll be working on our winter island builds in late December or early January, and you’re welcome to check it out. Let me know if you have any specific questions!

Here is a video from last winter of ours running out to Mark Island:

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16vG7CQtM9/

https://www.facebook.com/Winnipesaukee.Island.Services/

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by waukewanderer

I'm considering buying a hovercraft, and would like to speak with anyone who owns and operates one. Am leaning toward a Neoteric, but any information and experiences with other makes would be most welcome. Thank you.

I remember, back in the 80's, a buddy of mine bought one. He had a condo at South Down
Shores and we were all up their partying in February. He let another friend of ours try it out with his girlfriend on the back and he tried to go through the Weirs Channel.
Well, that didn't turn out so well. They took a nosedive into the water, and the girl went over the handlebars into the water. Wearing a snowmobile suite and boots, she was sinking fast and almost drowned. That was my experience with a Hovercraft. I test drove it on the water when he first bought it, takes a little getting used to.

[fatlazyless]

On Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 4-pm, a 64-year old man ......www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdyAyBsZB1M ....... drowned when his small Hovercraft tipped onto or over the ice edge somewhere close to Harilla Landing dock, Moultonborough. He was heading out there alone to a Lake Winnipesaukee island, somewhere out there, and was not wearing his pfd. The pfd was later found in the bottom of the Hovercraft. A Marine Patrol sergeant says in this WMUR clip from 2011 that you really need to be wearing your pfd as opposed to just having it in the boat because things can go dangerous very fast especially when the water temperature is cold.

The Moultonborough Fire Dept has a ... www.facebook.com/watch/?v=5298791330134786 ..... two-man hovercraft used for snowmobile crash ice/water rescues and they always wear a bright yellow or bright red dry suit and a pfd when going out there in the winter.

Small hovercraft are clumsy movers and can flip over when going from snow covered ice to open water or vice-versa. It will sometimes sort of move along over the ice like the machine is drunk ...... slip'n and sliding over the ice ......whoopsie ...... wrong way, go the other way, there, here, there.

If you really don't want to wear a pfd because it is too bulky, too hot, or restricts movement or something, then wearing a 2"x32" foam noodle, tied tight with a line threaded up the center hole and around the waist and underneath a coat actually works pretty danged good for flotation water safety and swimming. Wrapping black Gorilla tape around the two ends make it more sturdy with the tight rope line. Is about 1000% better than no flotation.

"Ok, so what happens when you suddenly fall into water below 50-degrees? Sudden immersion in cold water may cause a series of involuntary reactions that greatly reduce the ability of an unwilling swimmer to survive. Practice in cold water can reduce some of these effects, but when the immersion is unintentional, the chance of a controlled response is not great. The first response to accidental immersion is an involuntary gasp, and if this occurs under water, it can be game over. Cold water suddenly rushing in through nasal passages and hitting the eardrum can also cause unconsciousness or confusion that makes rolling improbable. The gasp is followed by hyperventilation and a chest-gripping sense of breathlessness that can last several minutes and may leave you feeling dizzy and further confused. Your ability to hold your breath under water for your pool-practiced re-entry and roll is greatly diminished by cold water, so you may end up inhaling some water and failing to complete the roll. This failure in turn leads to panic, increasing the risk that even a strong swimmer will drown." ....... Quote from SEA KAYAKING by John Dowd.

[granitebox]

A small hovercraft just went for sale on the Lake - not sure this link will work but....

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...rce_attachment

[cowisl]

Originally Posted by waukewanderer

I'm considering buying a hovercraft, and would like to speak with anyone who owns and operates one. Am leaning toward a Neoteric, but any information and experiences with other makes would be most welcome. Thank you.

We own and use our hovercraft to get to Cow Island during the winter months. Happy to discuss pro's/cons.

Cheers,

Chris