Craftmanship & Quality

Craftsmanship & Quality of the Hov Pod
When choosing which craft is right for you many issues are important. Safety and durability are critical but so
are many other factors and the Hov Pod was designed to make Hovercraft affordable for marine leisure use,
they also needed to be easy to use, easy to service, easy to transport. The reasons why Hov Pod’s are
designed as they are to be safe and durable are covered in our buyers guide, but it doesn’t happen by
accident so lets take a look behind the craft and how it operates to see the process from design & testing
through to packing and shipping, how we manufacture the Hov Pod to make it the best leisure hovercraft
available.
Design & Testing
Parts are designed using 3D Computer Aided Design

(CAD) to ensure tight tolerances. This software also
generates the drawings or data file from which parts
are manufactured or directly machined. The use of
drawings or data files ensures repeatability and
control of components during the manufacturing
stages.
The 3D software allowed a complete analysis of the

design & assembly of the craft and the interaction
components.
Design should consider marine safety and hovercraft

should be designed to withstand salt-water
conditions. Flooded buoyancy tests were conducted
to establish loading of the Hov Pod without sinking.
Many hovercraft manufacturers ignore this or scrimp
this aspect during the design stage hoping all will be
well. The polyethylene foam core of the Hov Pod hull
ensures the Hov Pod can float with far greater
payload than possible to seat with a high factor of
safety.
Reaction International Ltd. Reg in: England & Wales Reg No. 4132578
All specifications are subject to change without notice. All prices are excluding local taxes and are Ex Works. Prices are subject to change so please contact us for latest pricing. Hov Pod is a
trademark of Reaction International Ltd. All Text and Images are Copyright © Reaction International Ltd. Craft are supplied to specific customer orders, non-refundable deposits of 30% with
order & 40% at engine order required and the balance payable before shipment. It is the purchaser and/or end users responsibility to ensure the craft meets all local and national regulations
and compliance requirements. Reaction International Ltd reserves the right to make changes to the specifications of the products shown, in accordance with their product research and
development programme. Craft Warranty: The Hov Pod is guaranteed for 12 months. This excludes wear/tear/damage & parts not standard or due to instillation/customisation/modification of
parts/systems used outside the design parameters &/or not designed &/or fitted by Reaction International Ltd. Engine Warranty: The engine falls under the engine supplier’s service
agreement. Full terms & conditions are available from Reaction International Ltd. Reg in: England & Wales Reg No. 4132578
Part Selection & Component manufacture
From the CAD drawings, components are

manufactured using Computer Numerical Control
equipment (CNC). Once set up, these machines
manufacture components without manual
intervention, so computer control ensures repetitive
and very accurate component manufacture, to
produce a better hovercraft.
The drive component on the right is machined from a

billet of aluminium (a solid piece of aluminium)
whereas the drive component on the left is a moulded
casting. Machining from a single billet of metal is a
more expensive process but produces far better parts
without the risk of moulding flaws or cracks. Almost
uniquely all the Hov Pod metal drive parts are
manufactured by this method. It was necessary to
redesign many components for the Hov Pod because
off-the-shelf supplied components were found
unsatisfactory or prone to part failure. The advantage
of CNC machining is that very accurate parts can be
produced to ensure components fit together to the
correct highly accurate engineering tolerances.
Other components are made to our specifications

using jigs and templates to ensure repeatability of
manufacture. Hov Pod parts are sub contracted out,
this is more expensive but ensures parts are made
under controlled environments by experts in their
field.
Part Selection & Component manufacture (continued)
The Hov Pod SPX is manufactured using high-impact

polyethylene with built-in buoyancy composite layer.
Unlike glass fibre, high impact PE can withstand
considerable knocks; the material has been used in
the production of F1 Racing crash barriers. Picture
shows the air feed holes that will allow air to feed into
segmented skirts to allow the craft to hover on its
cushion of air. Note the additional underside
protection from front and rear aluminium impact
plates, wear bolts and heavy-duty aluminium runners.
Key Engine parts made robotically before

assembly/testing and shipping to us.
Many Colours are available from a standardised

production process. We no longer manufacture Hov
Pod hulls from Glass Fibre (GRP) as this material
proved too brittle for all terrain use. HDPE is a high
impact material, as used in the past for production of
F1 crash barriers and artificial joints. It is lightweight
and very buoyant, so ideal for hovercraft
construction.
Ordering & Goods in Quality System
The stock control system automatically triggers

orders that are then placed to evaluated suppliers
using standardised control procedures. The order
forms are linked to each supplier using a revision
control system to ensure correct component supply.
On receipt at the factory parts got through a goods

inwards inspection procedure to ensure they conform
to standardised quality reports.
Stores & Stock System
Craft are made in a range of colours and stored

ready for build customisation.
A part control system gives many hundreds of parts a

unique number, which identifies its method of
manufacture and what it is used for. The parts are
stored in a racked & numbered stock bin system
ready for use.
Assembly Line
Parts are made up into a range of completed sub

assemblies ready to be assembled on the final
production line.
Hulls are prepared. The air feed holes are cut and the
wear plates and impact plates are added to give
maximum wear down & impact protection. The skids
and wear plates are easily changed yet offer
substantial extra impact protection in addition to the
SPX hull natural strength.
Other sub assemblies are prepared for batch

production methods.
Assembly Line (continued)
Engines are built up prior to installation and final

testing.
The Hov Pod has 65 segmented skirt sections to

minimise damage should the skirt get damaged
through everyday wear and tear. There are four
types, A, B, C and D type skirts, each shape controls
the air in a different way to give the Hov Pod it’s
unique handling characteristics. They are clipped to
the bumper bar that surrounds the craft. In tests no
body has been able to pull or rip the skirt fabric
apart………. even if we help them out to start with by
putting a cut in the fabric.
We connect the underside of each skirt with 2 cable

ties. Should the Hov Pod hover over an obstacle that
could damage the skirts, the cable tie is designed to
break first, thus having a sacrificial relationship with
the skirt, to minimise damage and operating costs.
Should a skirt need replacing, replacing one skirt
section is easier and cheaper than replacing the
whole hovercraft skirt.
Assembly Process Quality Control
The assembly line process is controlled through a

manufacturing method sheet system, which
documents every aspect the crafts assembly
process.
Build Quality
Gauge control panel showing the handlebar steering

and throttle with engine management gauges located
behind a clear Perspex console. Also shown is the
front storage locker and removable front seat to give
access to a drop in drinks & equipment storage tray.
Engine installed ready for final run up and testing.
Rudders, rear access panel and rear guard (we

understand we are the only supplier to fit a rear guard
which we regard as safety common sense).
Cockpit showing grab handles, upholstered seats,

and safety interlocks. Some hovercraft manufacturers
fail to fit safety interlocks or kill cord safety engine
cut-out switches – we know these features cost more
time and money to specify/ fit, but we choose not to
compromise our customer’s safety.
Build Quality (continued)
Craft labelled up with customer details ready for

shipping.
Pre Delivery Inspection
Pre delivery inspection & sign off. A final clean,

preparation for shipping & double check through key
assembly points.
Manuals & Instructions
Each craft is shipped with a full manual detailing

operation and preparation. Additional information
sheets are supplied with extensive engine manuals.
Shipping & Packing
Craft are handled in the UK by a specialist packer &

shipper used to the complexities of handling and
controlling worldwide shipments of luxury goods.
Craft prepared for urgent airfreight to a disaster relief

area.
Post Delivery
Hov Pod hovercraft are easy to drive & service, in

addition to the manuals a range of technical
information sheets covering key topics is available.
We offer a comprehensive training program ranging
from 1 to 3 days duration and covering all aspects of
preparation, driving, servicing & maintenance.
Hov Podding is great fun, and we enjoy receiving

images from customers all over the world,
experiencing the thrill over travelling on a cushion of
air at speeds of up to 45 mph. There are many
commercial uses for hovercraft and the Hov Pod is
frequently used for rescue work, commercial
surveying, oil exploration, and reaching areas that
other vehicles cannot reach.
For more information about the Hov Pod, please visit www.hovpod.com or http://hovpod-home.blogspot.com/

Craftmanship &amp; Quality

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Craftmanship &amp; Quality

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Craftsmanship & Quality of the Hov Pod

Design & Testing

Parts are designed using 3D Computer Aided Design

The 3D software allowed a complete analysis of the

Design should consider marine safety and hovercraft

From the CAD drawings, components are

The drive component on the right is machined from a

Other components are made to our specifications

The Hov Pod SPX is manufactured using high-impact

Key Engine parts made robotically before

Many Colours are available from a standardised

The stock control system automatically triggers

On receipt at the factory parts got through a goods

Craft are made in a range of colours and stored

A part control system gives many hundreds of parts a

Parts are made up into a range of completed sub

Other sub assemblies are prepared for batch

Engines are built up prior to installation and final

The Hov Pod has 65 segmented skirt sections to

We connect the underside of each skirt with 2 cable

Assembly Process Quality Control

The assembly line process is controlled through a

Gauge control panel showing the handlebar steering

Engine installed ready for final run up and testing.

Rudders, rear access panel and rear guard (we

Cockpit showing grab handles, upholstered seats,

Craft labelled up with customer details ready for

Pre Delivery Inspection

Pre delivery inspection & sign off. A final clean,

Manuals & Instructions

Each craft is shipped with a full manual detailing

Craft are handled in the UK by a specialist packer &

Craft prepared for urgent airfreight to a disaster relief

Hov Pod hovercraft are easy to drive & service, in

Hov Podding is great fun, and we enjoy receiving

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Craftmanship & Quality

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