Hovertechnics Hovercraft - Hovercraft Maintenance

Single Fan Hovercraft Maintenance

Hovercraft Safety and Maintenance Must Do's and Dont's

The hovercraft maintenance procedures on our web page are an introductory guide and not a complete set of maintenance instructions. It is important to read the Maintenance section in the Operator's manual which is more detailed and is specific to each hovercraft model.

For Maintenance and Operator's manual prices please see the Training Section.

Winter Maintenance

Anti-icing Precautions:

Spray the inner fan duct, the thrust frame and the fanguard with a silicone spray, WD40 or similar;
Spray the carburetor body with silicone;
Check around the engine and remove any chunks of ice prior to starting the engine on each occasion;
Ice on metallic parts will melt and break loose due to heat conduction from the engine. Be sure to loosen and remove these also before starting;
If ice has formed in the skirts and/or plenum the craft should be stored in a heated building over night or washed out through the inspection cover with a hot water hose;

Safety Clothing: It is inadvisable to use snowmobile suits if traveling over water. SURVIVAL SUITS are to be preferred which give you buoyancy rather than becoming saturated with water. Hovertechnics is a dealer for Mustang survival suits. Please call us for pricing.

Two-cycle Engine Carburetor Jetting: The correct size main jets for ambient temperature conditions is essential to maintain a proper fuel/air ratio. Improper jetting can cause engine overheating, burnt pistons and serious consequent damage to the engine. Check your Operator's Manual for proper jetting recommendation or call us.

Skirt System: Plastic skirt ties which are currently fitted to our recreation craft have a breaking strain of 120 lbs. In very cold conditions when skirts become a little stiffer and ties somewhat more brittle, you may want to consider the new 250 lb. Deltec skirt ties, provided your craft has the stainless steel skirt tie anchors.

VLTC (Variable Lift and Thrust Control): The VLTC when in the cruise position decreases thrust by 25% and simultaneously increases lift by the same amount allowing you to operate more slowly over rough, thin ice and mudflats. In the start position, you have more thrust which lets you get over hump quickly and climbs steeper grades.