Motor yachts can broadly be divided into two categories - displacement yachts and planing yachts. Displacement yachts, like Archimedes in his bath, displace their weight in water and plod along, pushing the water aside in a big bow wave. Their top speed is proportional to the square root of the waterline length, and even if you crank up the engines, the yacht will not go any faster. Only if you massively increase the power (and ideally tinker about with the hull lines a bit) will the yacht rise out of its hole in the water, develop hydrodynamic lift, and start skimming over the water. There are downsides of course - the fuel consumption increases enormously, and the movement of the yacht is a lot less comfortable, particularly in a heavy sea. But now some clever boffins have come up with a third option - the really cool looking M-Ship .

This beastie has a hull shape that not only develops hydrodynamic lift, but as it accelerates faster, starts to develop aerodynamic lift so it can go yet faster. And that’s not all - the clever hull profile means that it does not even need to slow down in heavy seas. Predictably, the US military are the first customers for this design, but I wonder who will be the first yacht owner to build one…

http://www.mshipco.com/ 

Take the local playground, inflate it, and put it on a lake and you’re getting close to the potential of the Rave WaterPark. The central pontoon is a circular water trampoline up to 7.5 metres in diameter with an inflatable rim that can accommodate four adults bouncing or up to 8 adults or 16 children if just lounging around. It takes around 20 minutes to inflate the Aqua Jump using an industrial strength blower and an aluminium ladder is provided for climbing back onto the 1.3 metre high platform.

An array of add-ons are available to expand the fun including the Aqua Slide, Aqua Log, an Aqua Launch to make your journey to the water even more eventful, an inflatable version of the see-saw known as the “Rock n Totter” and a variety of other floating accessories to climb over, jump off or just relax on between dips.

Rave produce smaller versions of the Aqua Jump trampoline including a 3 metre, lower model for younger children, a square version called the Aqua Deck and a more portable unit known as “Bongo”. It’s recommended that the Aqua Jump be used in an area where the water is at least 3 metres deep and specifications are given for the required anchor weight to ensure safe use.

Rave equipment can be used in salt water and like any aquatic activity, safety is paramount: the brochure even reminds us to “avoid dares and double dares” - sound advice at the best of times. The Aqua Jump and playground accessories are available in Australia from AirQuatic. The 6 metre Aqua Jump costs around US$4,500, the 3 metre Bongo costs AUS$1150 and the Aqua Slide costs around US $900.

Phone +61 (0)418 538 073 for more information.

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It can traverse land, sea, mud and snow at speeds of up to 70kmh, crash through one metre of surf and then double as a stable platform for fishing, diving or relaxing. The Slider Hovercraft is a fully amphibious vehicle seating two in-line with a steering and throttle set-up similar to a jet-ski. Two aerofoil sectioned centrifugal fans provide the lift and a single 3-bladed axial fan the propulsion, with a skirt design that remains permanently inflated adding to buoyancy and stability, and allowing for tight turning without “ploughing-in”.

The Slider’s electronic fuel injected, 45hp Hirth 2-cycle twin-cylinder engine can cruise for around 3 hours on one 40 litre tank of fuel and the engine, exhaust system and fans are enclosed behind the passenger seat for safety and quiet operation.

The glass reinforced lightweight plastic hull includes two storage compartments - one under the seat and the other through the front fairing - and the Slider comes in custom colours with a range of extras including hull cover, tilt trailer, windscreen, collapsible oar and anchor available.

Electric start is standard along with tachometer, voltage and fuel gauges, rear view mirrors, engine compartment bilge pump and a manual pull-start back-up.Manufactured in New Zealand by Pacific Hovercraft.

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