Hovermarine

Hovermarine was formed in 1965 and displayed at Hovershow '66 sidewall hovercraft with 30 to 60 seat capacity together with larger (car carrying) craft upto 300 tons. A licence for the use of HDL patented features was granted early 1967 with the prototype being completed in January 1968. In late 1967, Hovermarine tookover the Hovercat developed by the Manx Hovercat company.

The first HM-2 sidewall craft was operated by Seaspeed in 1968 between Ryde Pier Head and Portsmouth Harbour.

The factory was situated at Woolston, Southampton where the HM2 sidewall and Hovercat hovercraft were produced. In February 1969, the Hovermarine workshop was damaged by fire.

Red Funnel used an HM-2 craft in 1969 (hired from Hovertravel) between West Cowes and Southampton (according to their corporate website Red Funnel had two HM-2's operating up until 1982 mainly used for transporting shipyard workers between the IW and Vosper Thornycroft's Itchen yard but occasionally appearing on the schedule run).

The early HM2 suffered from mechanical problems and during a financial crisis in 1969, Hovermarine went into voluntary liquidation and the major assets were acquired by a new company, Hovermarine Transport Ltd, this was subsequently takenover by the American company,Transportation Technology Inc.

A 1976 book (Hovercraft and Hydrofoils by Roy McLeavy) states "Production of HM.2s for North and Central America is being undertaken by Hovermarine's factory at Titusville, Florida..."

By 1982, the company was known as Vosper Hovermarine Ltd. By 1988, the company name had changed to Hovermarine International, this company went into receivership in January 1997. Part of the announcement of the receivership included:

"In its prime the company employed more than 60 at its factory premises in Southampton, U.K., but reductions in light of falling demand resulted in a workforce of only 10 people at the date of receivership. Hovermarine has been involved in the design and manufacture of hovercraft, rigid side wall craft and fast ferries for more than 30 years and has reportedly sold more than one hundred of these vessels in more than 30 countries around the world. "

International Hovercraft Ltd. (IHL) acquired the assets of Hovermarine International Ltd. from the administrative receiver. Part of the announcement included:

"In excess of 110 craft -- primarily workhorse HM2 class -- have been built over a period of 25 years. This rugged design, which utilises a hull manufactured in composites with diesel power for both lift and propulsion, proved to be extremely adaptable. Special purpose derivatives of the HM2 design were produced for Tacoma USA and the Port of Rotterdam for firefighting, port surveillance, harbour patrol and hydrographic survey work. Craft have operated in more than forty countries and have proved reliable in service under extreme weather conditions. "

If anyone knows the details of the history of Hovermarine from 1969 to the end (or any part of it), please let me know because this is a missing piece of the story.

Various designs of hovercraft were proposed by Hovermarine, mainly sidewall craft although they did acquire and market the Hovercat amphibious craft developed separately as the Manx Hovercat. Over the years, Hovermarine produced well over 100 vessels which were operated all over the world.

(Click on an image to get a larger version)

HM-2 (HM216)	cutaway diagram HM2 survey craft - Belgian Ministry of Works, April 1972	The prototype HM2 was completed in January 1968. 51 ft long 20 ft beam 60 passengers 35 kt lift - 185 bhp Cummins V8 diesel propulsion - 2 x 320 bhp Cummins V8 diesels HM2 under construction in the Woolston works See more pictures of the passenger HM2
	The HM2 was developed over the years into a series of craft of varying lengths and varying passenger capacities. These craft became known as the HM200 series. The original sized craft (above) became the HM216. As passenger vessels, the others in the HM200 series included (the last two digits represents (roughly) the length of the craft in metres) : HM218 (entered service 1976) - (5 side windows) 60ft long, 84, 92 or 103 passengers. HM221 (built 1985) - (7 side windows) 21.19 metres, 112 to 135 passengers.
HM218		HM218 multi-role Harbour craft delivered 1979-1980 to the Port of Rotterdam Authority.
HM-4 concept (1966)		125 tons 350 passengers, 6 cars 160 ft long 68 ft beam 40 kt service speed
HM527		Series 1 - prototype launched January 1982 89 ft 3 in long 33 ft 6 in beam 200 passengers (split between 2 air conditioned saloons) 36 kt lift - 1 (?) x 8V-92TIs GM diesel propulsion - 2 x 1200 hp MTU 12V 396 TB83 diesels
		HM5 Inshore military version (concept)
Hovercat		Developed by Manx Hovercat Ltd of the Isle of Man, prototype hovered on the Island March 1967 - taken over by Hovermarine in late 1967. The original wooden prototype (built at Cowes yard of David Cheverton and Partners) was designed by Robin Parkhouse of Chichester and Malcolm Beckingham of Bognor. Hovermarine put it into production using GRP. driver plus 3 passengers, 30 kt , 28 ft long 12ft 11inch beam

Cushioncraft - HDL/NPL - Hovermarine - Saunders-Roe/BHC - Vickers - Vosper Thornycroft
Hovertravel - Seaspeed

Other hovercraft websites:

• Hovercraft Museum - UK
• Griffon Hovercraft - one of the last UK manufacturers
• Paper Hovercraft - Hovercraft Art by Michael Gardner
• Saunders Roe/BHC Archives (photos etc)