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Home | The Machines | The Presenters | The Experts | Find out more
Introduction | Affordable technology | Major repairs | A new skirt
During the 1960s, the hovercraft was at the cutting edge of technology. Heralded as a great British success story, it was seen as the transport of the future, and some people prophesied that there would be hover cars, hover tractors – even hover caravans. But despite the development of massive and fast cross-Channel machines, the hovercraft never quite lived up to expectations.
The first hovercraft, the SRN1, designed by Sir Christopher Cockerell, took to the sea in 1959. Its launch inspired a young engineer called Mike Pinder to get involved in hovercraft production.
The early hovercraft were built using complex and expensive aircraft technology. Mike Pinder thought there was a need for a simple hovercraft, designed using established boat-building techniques and powered by a petrol engine rather than a gas turbine.
Mike's vision led to the development of his company, Pindair, which produced small, simple hovercraft that were affordable and easy to maintain. His 12-seat hovercraft was called the Skima 12. More than 100 were manufactured and they were exported all over the world.
Claire and Suggs find the last remaining Skima 12 at the back of a barn in Hampshire. It hasn't hovered for 15 years and is in need of some serious attention.
Mike Pinder shows them what's left of his creation. They agree to restore the hovercraft so Mike can donate it to the Hovercraft Museum Trust, an organisation devoted to preserving hovercraft history.
Claire calls in hovercraft expert, John Gifford to help with the restoration. His diagnosis reveals that the aluminium hull is badly holed and needs to be repaired. The engine is a complete write-off. The propeller duct must be totally rebuilt and the rubber outer flotation ring will have to be fixed. The craft also needs a completely new skirt. The only thing that needs no attention at all is the orange vinyl upholstery inside the hovercraft, which seems almost indestructible.
While Claire gets on with the hard graft, Suggs looks into the history of the hovercraft. He discovers that this Skima 12 has had an illustrious past – it was once owned by the Sultan of Oman!
Now, though, it's in need of care and attention. Claire has to make aluminium patches to repair the holes in the hull and rebuild the propeller duct using flexible plywood called marine ply, which a previous owner has patched up using filler, newspaper and cardboard. The engine is beyond repair but Claire manages to find a brand new Chevy V8, which fits perfectly.
The biggest job, though, is the manufacture of the new skirt. The hovercraft floats on a cushion of air generated by a massive fan connected to the engine and this air cushion is held in by the skirt.
Claire visits the workshops of rubber experts Hovercraft Consultants Ltd. There she helps to build the new skirt by sewing 108 'fingers' – the ducts through which the air is channelled to make the hovercraft hover. She also helps make new air bags, which support the rubber flotation ring that surrounds the hovercraft.
Fitting the newly made skirt to the repaired hull proves a real problem until Claire suggests using washing-up liquid to lubricate the channel into which the skirt has to be pulled. Thanks to her bright idea, the skirt slips easily into place. The propeller fits perfectly into the restored duct and the engine works.
A delighted John Gifford takes the controls and is even persuaded to let Claire have a go. When they pull up on to the beach where Mike Pinder is waiting, he has a huge grin on his face.
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