How to make a hovercraft?

Not many years ago, they were science fiction. Even once that the major hurdles had been conquered, early hovercrafts were bulky, expensive to build, and difficult to maintain. Now, building your own hovercraft is no more than a simple weekend or science fair project. This article is a step-by-step guide to building your own leaf blower hovercraft.

Materials

Depending on the scale and complexity, this list can vary, but the list given should be sufficient for a simple hovercraft that can lift about two hundred pounds. Plywood You will need a 1/2 inch plywood disk of about four feet in diameter. This will serve as the base for your hovercraft. Other shapes will work, but sharp corners can be dangerous. Plastic sheet A plastic painter's drop cloth, an old shower curtain, or any four to six mil plastic sheeting will work. Avoid anything that is too light, as it will tear, and anything too heavy, as it will not inflate properly. The sheet needs to be one foot larger than the plywood base. Gas Or battery powered, leaf blower or a shopvac with blower This is where the air cushion will come from. Small plastic disk A coffee can lid will work. Four wood screws These connect the plastic disk to the base.

The skirt

- Cut a hole in the plywood disk half-way between the centre and edge, that is of the same diameter as your blower hose - Set your disk on the plastic sheet - Fold the edges up over the plywood - Staple and duct tape them securely If secured too loosely, the skirt will not inflate, if too tightly, it will tear

Skirt lifter

- Now attach your coffee can lid to the bottom centre of the hovercraft with screws. It forms a "doughnut hole" in the skirt. - Within a few inches around the lid, cut six two-inch diameter holes in the plastic sheet. Too close together, and they will tear. Too far apart, and they won't work. To simplify it, use a duct tape, reinforcing the plastic between the holes.

Air supply

Flip your craft over, so that the skirt is on the bottom, and connect your leaf blower or Shopvac. If the hose isn't perfectly fitted to the hole in the plywood, use a duct tape to seal it.

Testing

Place your craft on a smooth, level floor, and start the leaf blower. The skirt should inflate. If not, lift the plywood slightly to allow the air in. If it still doesn't work, the skirt is probably too loose, and needs to be adjusted.

Optional

Adding another blower for propulsion and steering is a definite improvement over a simple "floating" platform.