matt13
Well-Known Member
...heading down the River Itchen, where do you think it might of been heading?
Last edited:
Saw this on the water today...
- Thread starter matt13
- Start date
Kawasaki
Well-Known Member
Dunno but Itchen ter know!
Der have to be a Pilot or a Skipper on summat like that?
Der have to be a Pilot or a Skipper on summat like that?
peterandjeanette
Well-Known Member
See quite a few hovercraft - big and small - running up and down the Itchen. Usually dark colours - military? Probably the only people who can afford to run them 
besides drug runners.
Don't know where they go to or come from. Too fast for me to follow
besides drug runners.Don't know where they go to or come from. Too fast for me to follow
Boomshanka
Well-Known Member
UK border control... dodgy place that Itchen dont y'know
On a serious note, vague memories from looking at the chart... there's a hovercraft testing strip on the East side of the Itchen, somehere near the old Vospers site (I think... could well be bull5hit what I've jst said there!)
On a serious note, vague memories from looking at the chart... there's a hovercraft testing strip on the East side of the Itchen, somehere near the old Vospers site (I think... could well be bull5hit what I've jst said there!)
burgundyben
Well-Known Member
There is quite regular hovercraft activity on Southampton water. They seem to bomb around just off Westfield Common quite a lot.
I think there is a place that builds them over in Hythe.
I think there is a place that builds them over in Hythe.
matt13
Well-Known Member
it seemed to be going a bit quicker than 6 knots thats for sure!
Scubadoo
Well-Known Member
It doesn't create any wash so not such a problem (from a wash point of view).
mlines
Well-Known Member
You have to be a pilot. Friends bought a small recreational one and have difficulty with insurance as it is considered to be a flying vehicle by a number of insurers who demand appropriate licencing of the "driver"
Firefly625
Well-Known Member
Bajansailor
Well-Known Member
Vosper Hovermarine used to build sidewall hovercraft (a bit like a catamaran with skirts fore and aft) at their yard on the upstream east side of the Itchen bridge - I think the site is now Spitfire Quay?
The hovercraft in the photo above might have been built by Griffon Hoverwork - http://www.griffonhoverwork.com/
The hovercraft in the photo above might have been built by Griffon Hoverwork - http://www.griffonhoverwork.com/
oldsaltoz
Well-Known Member
Saw this on the water today...
Me thinks your ears told you to look.
Had a good run in a 2 man version many years ago, even the bloke who invented the 'finger skirt' for hovercraft.
Fantastic fun do drive, go straight ahead get to maximum speed then full lock on the steering and spin round and round looking like you are out of control, fantastic fun....
Me thinks your ears told you to look.
Had a good run in a 2 man version many years ago, even the bloke who invented the 'finger skirt' for hovercraft.
Fantastic fun do drive, go straight ahead get to maximum speed then full lock on the steering and spin round and round looking like you are out of control, fantastic fun....
raggy
Well-Known Member
It looks like a brand new LCAC for the royal marines they build them at griffon hovercraft in southampton and test them up the itchen.
