Sea fans: owning a Hov Pod means easy access to favourite haunts and always an exhilarating experience after a relaxing time on the beach. Described as a hassle-free adventure that skims above the surface, this UK-made two-person hovercraft is designed for fun or is ideal for expeditions along rivers, swamps, quicksand, rapids, packed snow or ice. Picture: Hov Pod

The amazing dexterity of the hovercraft continues to capture the imagination of marine manufacturers intent on offering its unique advantages to the leisure industry as well as to the public services.

One new development is the Hov Pod. Described as a hassle-free adventure that skims above the surface, this two-person hovercraft is designed for fun or journeying to places difficult to reach in any other way.

Considerable interest has been aroused in the UK-made product since its launch at the 2002 Southampton Boat Show in southern England and subsequent appearance at the recent London Boat Show. Some overseas visitors were interested in using Hov Pod as a leisure craft while others considered it could be a valuable aid as a rescue vehicle for police work.

It’s like no other water craft that you have experienced - it’s not an RIB (rigid inflatable boat) or a personal watercraft or a powerboat - it is all of them, and more, said a company spokesman at the southern England plant.

Owning a Hov Pod means easy access to favourite haunts and always an exhilarating experience after a relaxing time on the beach. The makers point out: You won’t need to wait for the tide to change, and you need never worry about running aground again.

Naturally, it takes to water with predictable zest and can reach a top speed of 70 kilometres (45 miles) per hour, cruising comfortably at 50kph. Its rear-mounted 52 horsepower air-cooled two-stroke aero engine and the in-line tandem style of seating provides both comfort and stability for driver and passenger alike.

The craft is 3.5 metres long and 1.8 metres wide, capable of manoeuvring into the tightest spots, making it an ideal vehicle for expeditions along rivers, swamps, quicksands, tidal deltas, wetlands, rapids, packed snow or ice.

It's robust build and easy handling characteristics make it an attractive asset for watersports activities as well as for more serious applications such as expeditions in areas impassable to even four-wheel-drive or tracked vehicles.

The hovercraft is built of glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) with side-impact resistance afforded by a load-transferring aluminium strip and under-hull protection provided by an enclosed sandwich reinforced core with twin longitudinal aluminum skids.

Even if its tough, Neoprene-coated nylon skirt, made up of 68 segments, suffered serious damage, the craft’s enclosed polystyrene chambers would provide sufficient buoyancy to ensure continued stability.