The 2012 Marlin II

Full caffeine excitement with our 2/3 Seat Sports Cruiser!

Choose from 'Freestyle' or 'Extreme' Specification

Flying Fish Hovercraft is the UK’s leading manufacturer of small hovercraft, supplying their recreational and light commercial craft around the world to private buyers, businesses and organisations. Whilst designed and built as a recreational craft, the pedigree of the Marlin contains a successful race heritage with numerous race wins and championships to their credit.

During it's ten year development, several hundred have been sold making it one of the world’s most prolific hovercraft.

With such astounding credentials, it’s not surprising that the Flying Fish Marlin 2/3 seat hovercraft is the only contemporary small hovercraft to have crossed the English Channel – and the only small hovercraft ever to have completed a return trip, a record set when two absolutely standard Mark I customer craft made the round trip in July 2008, taking under an hour each way. Just to prove it was no fluke, the feat was repeated in 2011!

The Marlin II is a turn-key hovercraft built to marine standards and has a sporting, modern and professional look and comes with a warranty on both the craft and engine for added peace of mind.

Vanguard 35 The Engine makes the difference!

Flying Fish discontinued 2-stroke powered craft nearly ten years ago and became the first hovercraft manufacturer to use the 'Big Block' motor. The use of environmentally friendly, low emission 4-stroke power is becoming necessary in many sports previously dominated by 2-strokes – Microlighting and Snowmobiling being two obvious examples of how environmental pressure is changing the face of motorised sport, in fact two stroke engines are actually banned in many countries. Four stroke hovercraft are likely to welcomed at many more venues than 2-strokes, due to noise and pollution levels.

But environmental issues aside – two strokes are a poor choice for hovercraft use. Reliability in a salt water environment is poor making it - at best - a depressing choice of engine and -at worst - plain dangerous for maritime usage. Two strokes are also very noisy and consume vast quantities of fuel (and with petrol at over £6.00 per gallon, this is increasingly important!)A well-sorted and protected four stroke engine can resist pretty huge quantities of water - take a look HERE to see what we mean!

The key to the success of this fabulous machine is the brand-new, lightweight four-stroke, air-cooled Briggs & Stratton 35bhp engine. At the turn of a key, this quiet 1000cc engine produces fabulous performance. Under normal operating conditions, it sips little more than a gallon of fuel an hour (approx 25mpg) With Hirth or Rotax two stroke engines, most hovercraft will consume around five gallons and hour - plus a pint of expensive two-stroke oil!

To put that into real money, in typical operating conditions.

Two stroke powered craft – typical 4 hour cruise is approx. £156.00
Marlin, fuel costs for a 4 hour cruise is approx. £35.00

It’s also likely that a two stroke craft of comparable size will need to be refuelled a coupel of times during a four hour cruise.

The only advantage that two-stroke engines have is their excellent power-to-weight ratio. As a result, we sometimes, we get asked if the Marlin needs more power. Well,the simple answer is that the craft is faster, has better acceleration and can carry more load than many more powerful hovercraft of the same size. This is due to it's light weight, uncluttered fan and superior power-to-weight ratio. Hovercraft owe much to aircraft design - and quite simply, heavy hovercraft don't work properly! Take the challenge, try a Marlin out at one of our demo days and you'll be amazed at this 45mph rocket!

Hull, Design & Bouyancy

The Marlin offers superb buoyancy and freeboard. The attractive but strong GRP hull has been designed to reduce drag and lift at high speeds and weighs a featherweight 210kgs. It’s protected from minor bumps by an aluminium bar around the outside and the reinforced floor has two strong keel strips for protection. All fittings used in construction are of marine quality – designed for use in a salt water environment. It can be supplied on a one man easy-load trailer and can be unloaded and on it's way within a couple of minutes.

It can start from a dead stop in water with absolutely no problem whatsoever (called 'Getting Over The Hump' in the world of hovercraft!) Within the hull is more than adequate foam buoyancy. This means the craft can be safely set down on water when loaded to its operating capacity. To illustrate this, on the Rhone Raid, craft need to float for up to an hour in 70ft deep commercial locks, something that these craft achieve with no problems whatsoever, year after year!

Controls

Seating is very comfortable with padded and upholstered seating and the drivers legs extended in front (no sitting on your knees!) Control is via simple handlebar steering with throttle control. Most people are driving it easily within 10 minutes! Steering is precise and because of it's light weight and excellent thrust, much faster and more responsive than you'd expect.

Fan Assembly

The unique fan assembly is robust and well protected. It is CAD designed to be light and easily serviceable but is extremely strong. The 6 bladed fan gives phenomenal lift characteristics to allow the craft to operate over virtually any surface. Unlike a 'bag skirt' the Marlin's skirt is in 70 separate segments – so any damage is quickly and easily repaired. Being individual segments means the skirt can seal more effectively on the land or water, so the hovercraft hovers correctly in all conditions. The skirt and lift performance is so good that the craft has been tested with 8 segments missing, giving amazing ‘return to base’ capacity. You'll do whole days cruising without ever having to change a skirt...but in the event of a segment needing replacement, it is a really quick and simple job to change.

Coastal Cruising, Maritime Usage & the Flying Fish ‘Coastal Kit’

In the UK at least, there is no legal requirement for a license or qualifications to drive either a boat or hovercraft. However, like any other boat, it’s crucial you prepare properly for its use. Hovercraft aren’t magic, and failure to respect the sea can land you in trouble, whatever you’re driving. We advise joining the hovercraft club and - initially at least -, using your craft with others at organised events. We’ll teach you how to drive your new craft as part of the ‘handover’ when you come to collect it, but if you have no maritime experience, we recommend gaining some basic boating qualifications from the RYA. Before using your craft in a maritime environment, you should equip yourself adequately with all necessary equipment, clothing and safety gear, register it and carefully check the weather and tidal charts before setting out. If you don;t have relevant safety equipment, consider adding in an optional but recommended 'Coastal Kit' which includes everything you need to use the Marlin in an ‘uncontrolled’ environment – estuaries, rivers etc. Includes two lifejackets, yellow beacon, navigation lights, flare kit, handheld VHF radio, bilge pump, fuel gauge, fire extinguisher.

Options

Craft can be specified with a variety of options. As standard, choose from a white or black hull colour with a secondary colour of blue, red, green, black, yellow, orange or green.

The craft can be specified to your own taste from a variety of options.

Specification - Marlin II Extreme - £8,950.00+VAT

The Marlin II Extreme is a high specification hovercraft as standard - but can be further optioned for your own requirements.

As standard, hull colour is either white or black. Choose from 7 'secondary colours (red, blue, white, black, green, yellow, orange.)
Other hull colours are available, an extra charge will apply.

Hull construction - Glass reinforced plastic (fibreglass.)
Protection - Two keel strips, perimeter aluminium strip.
Fan protection - 2"/50mm guard to front of duct.
Dry Weight - Approx 460lbs/225kgs.
Payload - Up to 660lbs/300kgs on land or when travelling over water without needing to stop. Maximum water start/hump capability is approx 195kgs.
Seating - Padded seats in 'T' shape arrangement for two or three people. Rear 'bench' seat can be removed to provide a small deck space.
Steering - Handlebars with lever-style throttle control.
Length - 10'9"/3.3m (off cushion) 12'3"/3.65m (on cushion)
Width - 6'0"/1.85m (on cushion) 7'6"/2.25m(on cushion)
Height 4'6"/1.4m (off cushion) 5'6"/1.7m (on cushion)
Engine - 'Hoverised' Briggs & Stratton 'Vanguard' air-cooled, V-Twin 35bhp engine. Upgrades available for the speed crazy!
Starting - Electric.
Max Revs - Static 3800rpm
Flotation - Floats and starts on water.
Bouyancy - Foam filled plenum, positively bouyant when swamped.
Noise - 75dbA (25m) at cruising speed. Maximum 83dbA at full power (loudest possible reading)
Fuel Capacity - 6 Gallons/27 litres in integral tank.
Range - Approx 100miles/160kms, depending on conditions.
Maximum Speed - Approx 45mph/70km/h depending on surface/wind/load.
Cruising Speed - Approx 28mph/45km/h depending on surface/wind/load.
Skirt - Neoprene coated nylon in 70 replaceable segments.
Fan - 6 Blades, 940mm duct, 120m/s tip speed.
Flow straighteners - 7 concentric, give extra thrust & fan protection.
Lights two headlights as standard - navigation lights optional.
Battery - 12v, 10 amp max charging system.
Standard Fittings - Passenger grab handles, towing eye, three mooring cleats.
Water Ingress - Two drain plugs to void interior, optional bilge pump in plenum chamber.
Strengthened load points - Handles, tow eyes, cleats, frame, steering etc. Can be fitted with davit/lifting points.
Storage - Front pockets, unders seat storage and rear seat removable to provide a small deck area.
Engine/Fan frame/Exhaust - Stainless steel.

Recommended Operating Conditions - Preferably no more than a WMO Sea State 3.

Specification - Marlin II Freestyle - £7,950.00+VAT

The Freestyle is a basic Marlin II which retains the same basic hull and engineering of the 'Extreme' but has less standard features in order to keep the price down. It's ideal for driving events businesses or for non-marine usage.

Hull colour is white, with the choice of either red or blue secondary/trim colour.
No options can be added to the basic hovercraft.

Hull construction - Glass reinforced plastic (fibreglass.)
Protection - Two keel strips, perimeter aluminium strip.
Fan protection - 2"/50mm guard to front of duct.
Dry Weight - Approx 460lbs/210kgs.
Payload - Up to 660lbs/300kgs on land or when travelling over water without needing to stop. Maximum water start/hump capability is approx 195kgs.
Seating - Vinyl covered (unpadded) 'jockey' seat for two people.
Steering - Handlebars with throttle control.
Length - 10'9"/3.3m
Width - 6'0"/1.85m
Height 4'6"/1.4m
Engine - 'Hoverised' Briggs & Stratton 'Vanguard' 35bhp V-Twin 4-Stroke. Engine upgrades available for the speed crazy!
Starting - Electric.
Max Revs - Static 3800rpm
Flotation - Floats and starts on water.
Bouyancy - Foam filled plenum, positively bouyant when swamped.
Noise - 75dbA (25m) at cruising speed. Maximum 83dbA at full power (loudest possible reading)
Fuel Capacity - 6 Gallons/27 litres in integral tank.
Range - Approx 100miles/160kms, depending on conditions.
Maximum Speed - Approx 45mph/70km/h depending on surface/wind/load.
Cruising Speed - Approx 28mph/45km/h depending on surface/wind/load.
Skirt - Neoprene coated nylon in 70 replaceable segments.
Fan - 6 Blades, 940mm duct, 120m/s tip speed.
Flow straighteners - 7 concentric, give extra thrust & fan protection.
Lights None.
Battery - 12v, 10 amp max charging system.
Standard Fittings - Passenger grab handles.
Water Ingress - Two drain plugs to void interior, bilge pump in plenum chamber.
Storage - Front pocket, under seat storage.
Engine/Fan frame/Exhaust - Stainless steel.

Recommended Operating Conditions - Preferably no more than a WMO Sea State 3.

Buying a Hovercraft