Is there any reason why, if you bought a hovercraft..you might be unable to stay at sea for long periods....?

Question

and what is the best shape for a vessel to be, if you wanted to live semi permanently at sea? would it be a flat round-ish shape that would be most stable and move about the least?

Answer 1

A hovercraft needs fuel to stay aloft.  Some may be able to float without their fans running, but a lot can't.  

There are no gas stations in the middle of the ocean.

that is why you could not stay at sea for long periods.

Answer 2

hovercrafts are unstable in high seas if you want to live aboard what about a semi displacement motor yacht a mono hull sailing yacht the catamaran is highly unstable in open waters in high seas

Answer 3

Refueling means you have to return to shore with a certain regularity.  Hovercrafts are not particularly fuel efficient.  In order for the hovercraft's air cussion to be effective, the hull of the vessel should be flat or close to flat.

Why would you want to live semi permanently at sea, I wonder?

Answer 4

The main reason why hovercrafts have not become more popular is simple. They require a huge amount of fuel to operate. Not only do you need to power them to move, you need to power them to lift.

This is the single biggest reason why you cannot stay on a hovercraft for an extended period at sea.

Ja.

Answer 5

You are better off with a decent yacht maybe a catamaran yacht as they are the most stable and therefore more comfortable, forget the hovercraft mate

Answer 6

Hovercrafts can float without their engines running, basic laws of physics apply.  The air cushion simply allows low friction movement but if the skirt gets damaged or even torn off, they will not sink.  However, a hovercaft behaves at sea much like a flat bottomed boat which is very uncomfortable in any kind of sea.  Even without the air cushion engines you will need some sort of system power and that could be solar or wind driven.  Even huge cruise liners will roll and pitch in a seaway and there is no way to avoid that with a floating object.

Answer 7

Two reasons.  One, a hovercraft hovers because its engines are continuously providing it with a cushion of air.  Therefore you need to run the engines continuously - you can't turn the engines off, drop anchor and bob along happily.

Second - hovercrafts are not sea-worthy in rough weather.  When the wind gets up, the hovercraft service accross the English Channel is suspended, though the ferries keep going.