Renegade by Universal Hovercraft

 

For years UH has had a presence in the hovercraft industry. Recently they have started making some interesting innovative strides with the new Renegade two person hovercraft. I have had the privilege of visiting their factory and discussing future plans with President Bill Zang and learning about the many features of this new breed of hovercraft. UH is moving into a new era with the Renegade and it's technology, by seeking to offer a smooth running quiet hover with ever improving design.  When talking with Bill you will hear phrases like "what does the air want to do" "blending different composites" and "Style and comfort" of course my favorite is "faster". The nice thing about the changes, the existing Renegades can be upgraded, allowing current owners of the Renegade to improve as changes are made. The Renegade is light weight (currently weighing in around 350 lbs)

One feature that UH has not changed is you have an option, Kit or Turn Key. For those having the ability to follow instructions and the patience to work at putting the hover together you can save several thousands of dollars by assembling your hover yourself. However UH doesn't stop there they also offer a partially assembled unit for people like me who are all thumbs. All of this means UH is heading toward fulfilling a commitment to expanding the hovercraft market and helping as many would be hover pilots as possible, start their own exciting hovercraft adventure. I look forward to working with UH and offering the Renegade as another choice to my customers at TLS WindSled. For more information on the Renegade or to schedule a Pit Pass Lesson and experience the Renegade yourself please go to  www.hovercraftusa.org  and select contact. Under enter message request a Pit Pass and we will provide you with instructions for scheduling and payment.

S.W.A.T. River Tours

Well we are off on another adventure into the Mississippi River area where there is always something to do. This time out Linda found this interesting offer which turned out to be an incredible fun and educational trip. 

Captain John does an excellent job of pointing out historical points along the tour as well as having a good knowledge of the river and it's personality. The tour is an hour of constant movement and new sights to take in. From Native American stories to early settler information the tour covers it all. John also has a few surprise guests he will introduce you to along the way. We highly recommend this adventure and encourage anyone traveling in the Dubuque Iowa area to contact the folks at S.W.A.T. River Tours and schedule your tour. You won't be disappointed! I give this a 5 star rating for clean, professional, fun adventures.  

S.W.A.T. River Tours

Port of Dubuque Marina

Dubuque, Iowa 52001

www.swatrivertours.com

Tel: 563-590-6300

Fort Myers Beach Florida

When we first arrived in Fort Myers Beach we weren't sure we were going to like spending a week there. It didn't appear to have a lot to offer and I didn't immediately see any good eating places. First impressions can be deceiving.
What we discovered was a more natural beach with more wild life than we had experienced at other Florida beaches. Near our condo were 3 saltwater lagoons teaming with birds and aquatic life. Nestled away among the residential houses and buildings were some very nice eateries that blend so well with the residential buildings they are not immediately identified. Then there is the Boardwalk and what I call the strip, which is a series of shops and various eateries that are all within walking distance. There is a trolley that runs all day and into the night if you decide not to drive and park (pay per park and it is limited) the trolley can transport you along Estero Blvd. which is the main artery.
We also discovered that traveling at no more than 45 MPH with an average speed on the island of 35 MPH is not a bad thing. If you're from Chicago area like we are 35 MPH is unheard of.

Linda and I try to do something different each time we go travel and on this trip we decided to tame it down and a little more laid back, we decided on a sunset cruise. I know "yawner", so we looked up anything in the area and found Fort Myers Princess Sunset Cruises of Fort Myers Beach. Groupon had a coupon so at least it was not going to cost us a lot. The Princess is locally owned by Dan Heselton and on this cruise Capt. Josh was piloting the Princess.

The Capt. and crew were excellent hosts pointing out the various sites along the way and providing photo opportunities. We had calm waters and a beautiful sunset. Then when the sun went down things turned a little wild. The Captain turned on the party lights, converted the sunset cruise ship into a party boat, cranked up the music and people started dancing. What fun! Did I mention they have a bar on board? I heard someone say "What happens on the Princess stays on the Princess"! Dan and his crew made the entire cruise interesting and fun. If you are ever in Fort Myers Beach Florida make sure you look up the Princess and her crew, take the two hour sunset or the daytime dolphin cruise you won't regret it. The price is very reasonable, the boat very clean and comfortable, and the crew is outstanding. At the end of our cruise I met Dan and discussed briefly the idea of placing a hovercraft down in his area, won't that be awesome. Looking forward to returning to Fort Myers Beach with my hovercraft and doing some exploring of the area. Check out the Fort Myers Princess at www.fortmyersprincess.com

Saugatuck/Douglas Michigan

We arrived on Thursday night it was quite cool around 46 degrees. The little condo we rented for our two night stay was very nice, our compliments to the folks at the Beachway Resort for providing us with a very nice clean condo and a very friendly and helpful staff. We were actually their first guest of the season but the room was ready. My wife and I rented this condo so we could enjoy sitting on the patio and relaxing, however 46 degrees with a 10 mph wind blowing in from Lake Michigan and down the Kalamazoo river made for a very short time on the patio the first night. With that plan cut short we decided to check out the town.

What wonderful little towns with so many unique shops and things to see. I was not aware that Saugatuck & Douglas communities were such popular tourist destinations but after spending just two days there I could see why. Art galleries, ice cream shops, fudge shops, clothing stores, and wine shops like Petter Wine Gallery in Douglas (you have to stop by and say hi if you are in the area) with an attached art gallery was a fun stop during our stay. The stay was one of the most enjoyable we've had in quite a while.

Petter Wine Gallery 161 N. Blue Star Hwy, Douglas, MI 49406

However my attention was drawn away from all of that by the Kalamazoo River. Deep out to the lake but shallow out to the east, I've always been fascinated by the Kalamazoo, for years Linda and I have traveled across it on our way up toward Grand Rapids and I've always wanted to hover on the river and never had the chance. So wouldn't you know it the one time we actually not only stop by it by stay on it I do not have my hover. Of course that didn't stop me from checking it out and talking to the locals. I am told the east end of the water way heading east from Saugatuck right on the edge of Douglas, the river gets real shallow and boats have a hard time navigating it do to the sand bars and patchy swamp areas that stretch out for about 10 miles to the east.

I have to tell you June will find me back at Saugatuck, Douglas with the hover. After our enjoyable stay and a warm up in temperature on Friday and Saturday we had plenty of sun and patio time watching the boats run up and down the river, we will definitely be back and the next time it will be hover time.

View of the Beachway condo and Kalamazoo River North

Traverse City Michigan U S A

It is late fall and typically all of the fall colors have peaked by now, but not this year. We arrived in Traverse City late afternoon, the sun was glistening off the bay and the colors of fall were in full bloom. Our room at the Cherry Tree Inn is the penthouse suite overlooking the bay and from our vantage point we can see the peninsulas jetting out both sides and the islands out beyond them. Lake Michigan and the Traverse bay are a beautiful aqua color reminding us of the waters down around Destin Florida, the water is calm low wind and perfect for hovering. I began to ask around and discovered that the bay typically does not freeze over in the winter and yet last year it froze for the first time in about 10 years. The surrounding inland lakes and the numerous bays along this part of the Great Lakes make this the perfect place for hovercraft. The  open waters of Lake Michigan can be rather treacherous during the late fall and the winter months so the bays and inland lakes offer some of the best waters for recreational hovering and the views are spectacular. In addition to hovering the area offers numerous shopping opportunities from gourmet to down home. Wine tasting is almost a sport in this areas with more wineries than most places have corner gas stations. Traverse City also offers the site seer sand dunes and incredible hiking trails, not to mention the cherry orchards which produce some of the best cherries in the world and the area provides you with everything cherry from chocolate covered cherries to cherry wine. During the fishing season there are charter services and boat rentals all over the area. Biking trails and scenic drives are abundant. The area offers up about every outdoor activity imaginable including snow sports during the winter. The restaurants in the area have a diverse menu so bring your appetites.

If you are looking for a great place to vacation any time of the year I highly recommend Traverse City Michigan USA.

AirBoats and Alligators

In the past I have written strictly about Hovercraft in this blog, but my Backwater Adventures have taken me to other places using various means of transportation. On a  recent trip to Florida we decided to try an air boat to discover the difference and or similarities. Our captain for the day was Greg (shown in the picture to the right) a very personable southern gentleman who assured us from the start that he had many years of air boat experience. It did not take long to discover for ourselves that he was telling the truth. It was fun to watch his maneuvering through areas that were less than adequate for the size of air boat we were in. The boat was powered by a 450 HP V8. The Hostess Sharon, who signed us up was very friendly and most helpful. The tour took just over an hour and Greg allowed a young man about 11 to sit next to him and be our gator spotter. The lake contains over 3000 alligators so in our hour tour we spotted or at least counted 56, in addition to the gators the lake is also home to snakes, turtles, wild animals including panthers, and various local and migrating water birds,. The air boat is a unique vehicle with many of the hovercraft characteristics with one exception, it is on the water and land not above it like a hovercraft. If you have never tried air boating I recommend it for the simple reason it allows you to make an informed decision when purchasing a hovercraft. I will not be trading off my hover for an air boat but it was a fun trip. All in all the cruise cost is fun and worth the time to take it. If you are in the Naples FL. area look them up and take the tour. Tell them Terry from TLS WindSled sent you, they may give you a discount. Thank you Capt. Greg and Airboats & Alligators for a fun and informative outing.

 Airboats & Alligators

6001 Lake Trafford Rd., Immokalee, FL 34142

239-657-2401

  
All Photos of Airboats & Alligators are courtesy of TripAdvisor

Potential commercial uses for the hovercraft

After recently seeing the flurry of interest in the hovercraft as a golf cart novelty perhaps it's time to present some ideas for the use of hovercraft in untapped areas. TLS WindSled Inc is capable of custom designing any hovercraft on the market to fulfill all of the following uses. Since 2005 we have sold hover to many people who have used the units for these purposes.
1. Agricultural Sprayer- the unique properties of the hovercraft make it an ideal vehicle for applying various liquid fertilizers and minerals to crops. The hovers small footprint on cushion and at rest prevent damage to young plants and grasses.
2. Lawn Care- run a hover over the grass and see what it does to the lawn. This requires a segmented skirt which many hovers on the market today use. The segments work with the air in lifting and removing dead grasses and other debris trapped in the in the grass. This leaves a clean smooth lawn. I've used my hover on pro ball fields and the grounds keepers love it. Potential customers will include; Sod farms, Lawn Care companies, Pro Baseball, Football, and Golf courses
3. Track dryer- Water on race tracks can be easily removed using a hovercraft the downward motion of the air for lift and the outward motion of the thrust make quick work when applied to a race track. It also makes for a pretty good show for spectators
4. Low head dam whether it be inspection or rescue the hovers ability to operate unhindered around low head dams make the hover ideal for any work involving fast moving water
5. Survey companies- the hover can be used in all manner of terrain. Mud, Ice, Water, Grass, and Snow the hover can skim over the top of these surfaces with little to no impact on the surface most hovers can be landed on an unstable surface and due to the footprint of the vehicle even off cushion most hovers make for a very stable platform to operate from. Obviously high waves will impact the vehicle but mud, snow, weak ice, and surfaces that would be damaged by a tire track will be left untouched by most hovers.
6. Maintenance transporter- Maintaining cable systems or warning buoys can be difficult when the seasons change the hover makes perfect sense when it comes to this type of application. Reaching a barge frozen in the river way is simple with the hover
7. Rescue work- the hovers ability to skim over instead of plow through makes it the perfect match for rescue work. A victim has fallen through the ice the rescue worker simply flies the hover to the victim reaches over plucks the individual out of the thin ice and chilling water places them in the unit and flies them back to solid ground and a waiting medical team. The rescue worker never has to exit the hover. A rescue boom can be added to the deck of a hover and platforms to the sides and you have the perfect platform to perform many rescues. Since the hover flies over snow it can be used to reach stranded motorist on long stretches of road way or victims in flooded areas.
8. New form of spectator sport. Races on clay tracks with varying surfaces can make for an awesome draw for clay track owners. Rain and wet track will only improve the performance. Off season racing can help generate additional revenues for clay track owners. Pre-race hover exhibition races can draw in new crowds and new revenue.
9. Ice fishing, Hunting, Fishing- Whether tournament or novelist the hover is a smart choice in addition to camouflage the unit and it is the perfect mobile duck blind. Enclose the cockpit area and it is a toasty warm ice fishing shanty no packing and unpacking equipment just fly up to your favorite spot even if it is on thin ice or at the edge of the ice set the unit down shut off the engine fire up your heater and stay warm dry and safe. Meal time heat up your meal on your built in stove and enjoy. Add a small generator and watch your favorite program while you fish, camp out on the ice over night if you want. If the ice brakes away under you drop anchor and keep on fishing. For more information and or ideas contact me at the email under about me to the right of this article.