DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WEST COAST HOVERCRAFT INC.
PRODUCTS AND OTHER HOVERCRAFTS ON THE MARKET
1) Very Low Noise. Typically 75 Db @ 50 feet @ full power vrs 95 Db
plus for single fan models. At cruise speeds, a conversation can be
held @ approx 65 Db without shouting or ear protection. Wildlife
disruption is kept to a minimum.
2) Minimal Spray. WCH inc products produce no spray over the bow or
sides, keeping the crew dry and eliminating the need for rain gear
required for other products. The low spray also gives an extended
life to electrical and mechanical components.
3) Safety. WCH inc products are designed with an anti-plow hull. This
prevents the hull from digging in while at speed and ejecting the
crew and cargo, a constant concern in other craft not designed with
this feature.
4) Stopping Ability. The WCH inc hovercrafts are the first on the
market with unique "dump ports" built into the shirt. Operated by
foot pedals from inside the craft, the craft can stop head-on from
full speed in 50 feet and more rapidly at lower speeds. This
greatly aids in operation, as the craft does not helplessly slide
into a ditch or obstacle, but can be stopped or slowed and
maneuvered around it. Other manufacturer's products need to spin 180
degrees, forcing their thrust in the direction of their momentum,
a great difficulty in strong wind conditions.
5) Precise Maneuvering. The skirt "dump ports" are differentially
used in conjunction with the rudders to give tight (pivot on center
spot if required) and precise turning at low power. The hovercraft
can be worked into any flat area a minimum of the craft width, and
turned around in any flat area that is the length of the craft.
6) Skirt Maintenance. The bag skirt will not snag or scoop as is
common with the "finger skirt" design found on other's products.
Replacement of "fingers" is a constant maintenance procedure. If
the High Wear rubber and Kevlar retro-fit option is selected, the WCH inc skirt is
virtually indestructible, running over cutting surfaces such as oyster beds or
sheet metal and high wear surfaces like concrete parking lots or wet sand with
undetectable wear and no maintenance.
7) Low Horsepower. WCH inc products can use lower powered 4 cycle
engines for greater efficiency and reliability than 2 cycle motors.
This is because of the efficient use of two air moving devices, a
lift fan and a thrust propeller. Typical HP loading is 50 HP for
2000 lbs or 40 lbs/HP vrs 80 HP for 1600 lbs or 20 lbs/HP.
8) Low Ground Pressure. WCH inc products typically have only a 10
lb/sq.ft footprint due to a larger cushion area. This reduces spray and HP requirment.
Other products start at 16 lb/sq.ft and go up to 30 lb/sq.ft. The larger area of
WCH inc products give the craft greater stability on uneven terrain and
rough waters.
9) Cabin Area. WCH inc products have a large open cabin area, free of
molded seats or other encumbrances. This allows for the loading of
many different cargos and the ability to distribute weight for
variable loads or conditions.
10) Body English. NO body english (like a motorcycle leaning into
a curve) is required to fly an WCH inc product due to their stable
platform. All competitors' products require body english. The WCH inc
hover can even be flown with ease if loaded lopsided.
11) Clearance. The WCH inc products start at 10.5 inches of hard
structure clearance as opposed to 6 inches for other products. This
prevents accidental damage to the hull in rocky areas. Hull clearance
for WCH inc hovers is on the order of 1/7 the beam.
12) Carburation. Due to the low spray and the fuel injection system,
no water is ingested into the carburation system. This has been a
major down fall of other products, particularly in salt water
environments. Many competitors hovers have "nuked" in the first
hour of operation due solely to this problem.
13) Low Maintenance. All WCH inc products are built with standard off
the shelf components that can be readily replaced from a Marine or
auto parts supply store.
14) Tech Support. WCH inc will give 24 hour technical support for
problem solving, parts availability, or operation questions. Other
manufactures give a "5 or 5" guarantee.
