Hobbies And Interests
Hovercraft Function
Hovercraft move about with the assistance of two motor groups: The first group creates a cushion of compressed air below the craft itself, on which the craft "hovers," and the second motor gives the craft itself propulsion. Whereas the word "hover" may conjure images of a craft floating hish in the air, this cushion of air is only large enough so that the bottom of the craft does not touch the ground. To the casual observer, it would not even look like it was hovering at all.
Advantages
There are a multitude of fishing areas which traditional boats cannot reach. Such reasons include the need to pass over shoal waters, where the depth of the water is so shallow that a normal boat would run aground, or the fishing waters having no connecting waterways for boats to gain access. Taking a hovercraft on your fishing expedition means that you will be able to traverse both waters too shallow for boats to pass as well as solid ground. After you have taken the hovercraft to your intended destination, you can simply turn off the engines and let the hovercraft come to rest while you fish.
Licensing
In most states you can pilot a hovercraft without any special license, while some states require you have an ATV license to pilot such a craft. The only paperwork you need irregardless of where you plan on using your hover craft is from the United States Coast Guard (USCG). Because regulation of hovercraft fall under this organizations jurisdiction, hovercraft must have a hull identification number (HID) from the USCG, the boating equivalent of car's license plate.
Environmental Impact
If you are a fisherman who is contentious about a gamesman's responsibility to preserve the environment, the thought the nature of a hovercraft could bring up concerns about how taking a hovercraft fishing could damage the local environment. However, hovercraft have a surprisingly low impact on the environment. The craft are self contained, so any internal fluid leaks remain contained within the craft itself rather than leaking into the ecosystem in which you are fishing. Additionally, hovercraft leave little in the way of a wake, so they do not contribute significantly to soil erosion.