It's been a while...
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| For various reasons it's once again has been
really quiet what comes to hovering. But silence was finally broken and
i finally got to go hovering. We did some preparion before this could
take place. You can read more about that in Construction section. |
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Weather was perfect for or any other outdoor
activity, just like it has been for almost two months. It has been very
warm and dry here lately, the dryest summer in hundred years or so. Day
was started off by washing and scrubbing the craft. Six years of
outdoor life and three years standind still had left it's signs so we
spend couple of hours of cleaning it up.
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| I started by going out alone to test things since
it has been 3 years since i last really operated the craft on water.
Water level is of course quite low due to prolonged heatwave so there
was a step going from hoverport to river. Not a problem going that way,
but other way around could pose a problem because of lack of recent
experienc operating a hovercraft. It's just not natural to give full
throttle surrounded by trees all around. Also the path from hoverport
to river has gotten narrower over the years. Those willows sure like to
grow and spread fast. |
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But everything really went just fine. I didn't
drive very far of course, since i remember it takes time to tow it back
incase something does go wrong.. I tested acceleration and overall
throttle response as well as rudder operation. Apart from still slight
hesitation when applying throttle and little squekiness from rudder
linkage everything seemed to work just like before. Going over the carb
one more time seems to have helped. I did notice craft did not want to
turn right, but turned left quite
happily. Probable cause for this is consensated water in aft
compartments which turned out to be true later. I got back to check
things before more taking in more payload and passengers. At this point
we also checked the aft floatation compartments: two of them had
significant amount of water, one little less and one no water. Have to
check them more often from now on.
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For next test spin we loaded all tools and
equipment i usually carry in the craft and three passengers; my wife,
daughter (now 4,5yrs) and my father. We made still short but 15-20min
spin up river and then to more open waters. Everything works and judged
by handling of craft it seems that there was close to 100liters of
water in aft floatation compartments. Craft turms also right better
now, but like before it's better to to turn left is tight radius turn
is required.
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Back ashore to change the crew a bit. My father
out and father-in-law in as well as our son (~5months). We did about
the same route as before this time going also test some head wind.
Father-in-law and my daughter got some spray on them while i did few
turns. My daughter did not like this at all at first, but after a while
it didn't seem to bother her anymore. She enjoyed the day, which was
probably the biggest reward of all efforts put into whole thing. Too
bad this didn't happen in May or June because, as mentioned, summer has
been quite good this year for any outdoor activity.
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We checked the skirt patch we didages ago and it
hard started to peel of - not good. We let the craft sit stil for
awhile and gave it another go. This time it was much worse and i barely
got back. Well i had warned our guests about this when we talked on the
phone so no surpises there. Actually it was time to cross the river to
go pick them up.
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All in all finally a good day. Five year
qulifying period of selling self made boats is now well over, so i'm
considering of putting my craft for sale. Wheather i will sell it
eventually remains to be seen, but i'm thinking of enjoy of operating
it for now too.
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