March 2013
Queensland Sporting Hovercraft Club
A branch of the AUSTRALIAN HOVERCRAFT FEDERATION Inc (Vic)
Dear Air Cushion Vehicle enthusiast,
The Queensland branch of The Australian Hovercraft Federation held a planning meeting on Tuesday,
19th March 2013, in the Staff Room of the RC primary school, 350 Mortimer Road, Acacia Ridge.
This meeting was attended by:-
| President:- | Peter Venn |
| Vice President:- | Angus Kerr |
| Treasurer:- | Phillip Audsley |
| Secretary:- | Steven Odgaard |
Other members attending were Bill Toppin, Arthur Stead and Brandon Bull.
Visitors for the evening were Rita Chaffey, Kerri Audsley and Mario Cesar.
Cruise report - Muriel St, Redland Bay - Sunday 17th March 2013.
The March cruise was the 'Des Goss Memorial Cruise' in recognition of Des Goss who passed away 12 months ago.
Those attending the cruise with craft were:-
| Peter Venn | Turbo TP6 powered by a Subaru 1800 EA81. |
| Angus Kerr | Viper powered by a Subaru 1800 EA81. |
| Arthur Stead | Revtech Renegade powered by a 20hp Honda. |
| Neil Budworth | Turbo Vortex 265. |
| Brandon Bull | Turbo Wedge 225 powered by a 1600cc Subaru. |
| Ben Woodhead | Turbo Vortex powered by a Suzuki 4 cylinder 4 stroke. |
| Dale Baxter | Bay cruiser. |
| Steven Odgaard | Expo Turbo (blue) powered by a 51hp Yamaha PE485 courtesy of Peter Venn. |
| Static Display | Billy Baker 2 powered by a 44hp Chaparral. |
Also attending the cruise were:-
Bill Toppin, Mario Cesar, Ann & Amelia Torrance, Lucas Kerr, Tamara Ward and Rita Chaffey.
Visitors attending were:-
Cle & Aven Sheck, Sue Davis and Dwayne Morgan.
The last QSH club cruise was held at Karragarra Island on Sunday 17th March 2013. We had our largest turnout of craft on a regular monthly club event in nearly 15 years. 8 hovercraft and 1 boat. 15 people, a silver tea pot and a 3 tier cake stand. There were 8 craft on the estuary terrace and 7 on the cruise to Karragarra Island.
Peter Venn began the morning’s event with courtesy rides on the Redland Bay Channel for our club visitors : Cle (pronounced “clay”) Sheck and son Aven Sheck accompanied by Sue Davis, then Dwayne Morgan and Mario Cesar. Cle was told about the QSH club day by Tony Westwood of HCV, Dwayne is a friend of Arthur and Judy Stead and Mario is Bill Toppin’s neighbour. Ben Woodhead turned up at 10:10 am but was unloaded and ready to launch in under 10 minutes.
The main cruise set off at 10:20 am with 7 craft.
Peter Venn took Bill Toppin and Mario Cesar in the TP6, Arthur Stead whispered along in his 20hp
Revtech Renegade powered by a 2 cylinder 4 stroke air cooled Honda engine, Brandon Bull and Amelia
Torrance cruised in the yellow timber Turbo Wedge 225 powered by a 1600cc Subaru EA81, Angus
and Lucas Kerr and Ann Torrance followed in the Viper also powered by a Subaru, Neil Budworth
expertly plied the smooth waters in his Turbo 265, Ben Woodhead thundered along in the Turbo 265
powered by a Suzuki Swift car engine, and Steven Odgaard took Rita Chaffey in the blue University
Expo Turbo 240 powered by a 51hp Yamaha 2 cylinder air cooled 2 stroke.
At Karragarra Island we met Dale Baxter and Tamara Ward on their cruiser anchored in deep water a
short distance from the popular picnic spot. After alighting on the island, Peter Venn ferried them
ashore from their boat in the blue Expo Turbo. We set up a nice morning tea complete with table cloth,
silver ware, fine china, and an assortment of cakes and savoury’s contributed by the ladies.
Our president gave grace in memory of Des Goss who died 12 months ago.
After these delights, we packed up. Peter ferried Dale and Tamara back to their boat in the TP6 then all the hovercraft took to the water for a return via Russell Island and Long Island. The wind picked up and in the rough near the power lines off Rocky Point, Peter lost a lift fan. The hub cracked due to metal fatigue. Ben Woodhead almost made it back to the ramp, but a shaft bearing seized just minutes into the Redland Bay Channel. Steven and Neil returned to Peter and took his passengers and Angus Kerr towed Ben into the ramp for a wet retrieval. Elaine and Judy supplied lunch for everyone after all the craft were safely back on the terrace.
After lunch Peter in the blue Expo Turbo went for another short cruise up the Logan River with Arthur, Neil, Brandon, Angus and Lucas up to visit Ross McLeod's Airlift Hovercraft factory, however Ross was out doing grocery shopping.
Cruise Photos
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Australian Hovercraft Federation News:-
On the weekend of 28th & 29th of September 2013, the NSW Sporting Hovercraft Club
will host the Australian National Rally at Wyangala Waters, about 3½ hours west of Sydney.
This should be a great rally so if you are thinking of coming, check the details from the link on the
Home page of this site, and book your spot early.
Report from Western Australia:-
Date: 04 March 2013
Hi All,
Just tested the White Knight, (lightened viper cruiser) powered by a Rotax 582.
It took me many months to get this craft done. It is done properly in every way.
The craft is extremely light weight. I removed anything and everything I could.
The craft has no foam floatation for one. The buoyancy chambers are still there, but are not filled. Yes I did put a drain bung in.
There are no grab rails, no electric start, no big battery, just a small one to regulate the power from the engine; it fits in the dash.
When I say it is light, it really is; made from 3mm luan, not marine ply. So I had to be careful to seal the wood well.
Wow does it go, acceleration is awesome. It almost leaps out of the water from a standstill.
Floats well without power. You can pull spins all day.
I have never had a craft that is so nimble. It is a blast.
Jeremy Ludlow
Next club cruise:-
The next club cruise will be held on Saturday 13th April 2013 at Muriel St, Redland Bay.
Sam Waugh and Lorraine Brighton are visiting while on their way to north Queensland and will
participate in this cruise with the Revtech Renegade.
Meet at 9:00 am at Peter Venn's place at 96 Muriel St, Redland Bay for a launch into the Redland Bay
Channel.
UBD Reference - Map 267 B9.
Contact for the event is Steven Odgaard on 0400 798 404.
Next Queensland branch meeting:
The next club meeting will be on Tuesday 16th April 2013 at 7:30pm.
It will be held in the Staff Room at Our Lady of Fatima RC primary school, 350 Mortimer Road Acacia Ridge.
Hope you can come. All welcome.
Regards
Steven Odgaard
QSH secretary