Amazon river, Loadum up

I've heard some stories about the Amazon, which was why I was shy about posting at first. I've hovered a lot, but never in what I would call "big water." I've seen a lot of the conditions mentioned, but never all together and rarely even two together. I don't have any expertise with regards to commercial enterprise, or passenger service, or even being alone in a hazardous environment with no help within sight, really. Most times a cell phone gets me anything I need, and I doubt that would work in this case.

 

It is a very impressive, very dangerous and very demanding river, no doubt! But several thousand of boats are there on shedule daily. Many of them you (and me) would´nt trust to stay afloat another day, let alone crossing the river. But they manage, how so ever.
But if we bear in mind, that a hovercraft has no difficulties passing over a floating log, a wirlpool, a sandbank that was´nt there 2 days ago, nor any problems with the mighty current, that it needs just a shallow bank to load, unload, I think we have not many arguments left towards another sort of transportation.
Any counter argument?
Regards
Richard
ah the cellphone.... there are not as many "white spots" as one would assume, but naturally "covered area" is different.

 

Avoidance is still the best policy. I've had a floating log rip a huge hole in my skirt, because of a sharp broken-off branch that rolled up as I drove over it, and pierced the back of the skirt.

There are things which happen to hovercraft which generally you would not think would matter. The skirt is the Achilles' heel. It can be damaged, and if it is damaged you can be stuck on a bank for a couple hours fixing it. It is the most frequent point of maintenance.

I agree that a hovercraft might be a good solution for the problem posted here, but it is not a trouble-free form of transportation.

 

Interesting point, the skirt. Thank you for the hint!
But I still think it´s worth more than a thought, although I do´nt have your experience with them.
Regards
Richard

 

Kroberts, I sent you a P.M. Stan

 

And me a sixpack???

 

I responded to all the PM's in my in box. I'm actually shocked at how many. You guys should go investigate http://www.hoverclubofamerica.org

For the record, I am biased and partial to the Universal Hovercraft company. I do not work for them and never have, but I know them, I go hovering with them and I hang out with them on holidays. I help them with their projects sometimes and they have helped me with mine. I have given them a whole lot of my money.

As well, the things I like about hovering are the same things they like for the most part. I like going fast, I like the ability to maneuver rapidly and I like lots of adrenaline without the broken bones.

Universal Hovercraft offers plans that really work, they are cheap and easy to build and they perform as advertised. There are thousands of happy builders out there from these plans. However, they are NOT using best boat building practices as recommended by the USCG. They are legal to license in the USA, but not for commercial use. They cannot be used as a passenger service.

If you intend to do that, you should take the plans to your local maritime inspector and ask what needs to change. The designs as they are give you a high performance hovercraft which is cheap and easy to build, and for all I know they could be fairly easily modified to satisfy international maritime regulations for passenger service somewhere. I am not an expert on that, and have not even read most of the rules. I browsed some of the docs years ago but not recently.

Thanks.

 

As you noted A1 hovercrafts needs a gently sloping beach. Do they have those on the Amazon? All the Amazon pictures I have seen show boats loading at docks and jetties. It might be difficult to steer a hovercraft with enough precision to bring it safely to a dock trip after trip.

 

Not really. Most practical hovercraft have the ability to climb a decent slope. A few encyclopedias printed up some 10% grade max BS years ago, and it's turned into a myth that has haunted hovercraft publicity ever since. My smaller craft, I used to climb banks that were difficult to walk up. It takes technique and you wouldn't do that with a 26-foot-long craft, but it could be done.

I high-cut bank is a problem, as are rocks and logs with lots of air gaps. Deep wheel ruts would be a problem. Deep grass or brush would be a problem, where the flora pushes the skirt up and introduces a large air gap under the skirt. However, any slope you would consider backing a trailer down would be fine.

With practical considerations at real boat landings, I generally follow these rules:

1. If the ramp is sparsely traveled that day, I will drive right down on the way out and right back up on the way back in, drive it onto the trailer and go home.
2. If there is a hovercraft-navigable area which gets me to the parking lot without interfering with the boats, I use it. I go right over any type of grass that people plant for a lawn, but there are some especially stiff varieties that cause me to lose lift. Corn stubble is a bear.
3. If there is a beach or bank which is accessible, and I intend only to park for a bit, I will put it there and walk to the car.
4. If it's a heavily traveled ramp and people are being fussy, I wait in line like everyone else but when it's my turn I just power up the ramp.
5. If local regulations prohibit that, you can drop below wake speed and maneuver like any boat. They wallow around like crazy when you do that, but they are just as slow and they will float if everything works properly.

I imagine that if you have regular service to a city who appreciates your business, they will knock down a spot on the bank for you. A dirt slope with a 30% grade or less and some grass on it is the perfect thing.

 

Nahh they have a lot of shallow places, beaches and banks. But jetties are rare to find and destroyed regularely. That river can be a real monster.

Regards
Richard

 

The amazon river its self is like the interstate highway of the Amazon. It varies in depth depending on the time of year. This can reveal sandbars and other debris. During the rainy season there is a lot of debris that floats down the river and can cause problems. I will also be going up small rivers that can get as small as 40 yards across. These rivers usually have less debris but are very curvey. Labor is cheap and basic building supplies is cheap especially wood, but imported technology is expensive. Thanks

 

For a UH-26s you would need this sort of stuff:

1. V8 engine.
2. Plywood, probably 1/4 inch marine grade.
3. Light lumber, the treated sort you would use in a marine application.
4. Fiberglass cloth and resin, preferably epoxy.
5. Marine grade paint
6. Cables for control, maybe 1/8 or so.
7. Assorted metal for guards, engine mount and such.
8. Bearings for rotating shafts.
9. Belts for powering the prop and the lift fan.
10. Bolts, screws, etc.
11. Possibly a separate lift engine, probably best to be a vertical shaft, not sure what power but I would guess around 40 HP. This would be an alteration.

 

rasorinc was talking about a hi thrust engine. There is a Yamaha T50EFI and a T60EFI. These are both Hi Thrust outboard. I have been renting the 25foot aluminum with the 2-stroke 60, If this same boat were to have one of these T60EFI how much of a difference would that make, considering the heavy weight . And how would it work with an empty boat, Minus the 11 people and 160 gal of gas??

 

It seems that you're not into the hovercraft solution, but here is a build site of the one we've been talking about. It's a builder who made one a year or three ago.

http://www.geocities.com/crabola36/Craigs_Hovercraft.html

 

I like some of the concepts of the Hovercraft (speed, gas mileage, ability to go over stuff, etc.) the drawbacks would be having a place to park it, noise, and it would be culturally odd. By the way, what happens if the hovercraft just stops working or runs out of gas in the middle of the river?? Nice boats they have seen some, but a hovercraft would definitely turn some heads. =) It would also be a large investment on something I am not sure I could get to work. Its a toss up. Thanks for making me think.