Explorer 24 Overview

hovercraft
Hovercraft, Amphibious Marine Explorer 24 along mud flats.
Amphibious Marine Explorer 24 Hovercraft, West Beach Deception Pass , saltwater beach, stern quarter view.

The Explorer 24 commercial hovercraft is the most efficient, cost effective, saltwater capable hovercraft on the market today. It has a fully enclosed cabin with seating arrangements.

Explorer 24 capabilities:

 

·         Powerful braking/pivoting feature

·         Cruise speed 32 mph

·         Leaves virtually no wake

·         Powered with a Steyr 144 hp commercial diesel engine

·         Can seat up to 12 people

·         2200 lb payload

·         Operating range of 325 miles

·         Stainless steel fasteners

·         Stainless steel propeller guard and engine stand

 

This design has proven itself over the last 18 years, on trips as long as 1400 miles from Seattle to Juneau Alaska up the inside passage and an 1800 mile trip to the Arctic Ocean.

The Explorer 24 video can be see here.

 

Detailed specifications are available in the form of a downloadable PDF for your viewing or printing and there is a brochure as well. Please view the videos and photographs and feel free to e-mail or call with questions.

Request a white paper for more information about the capabilities of the Explorer 24. 

Base price: Call for factory direct pricing.



Commercial

  • Tourist operations, resort hotels, eco tours, remote resort access
  • Hunting & Fishing guide services
  • Oyster and clam harvesting
  • Surveys, pipe lines, drilling
  • Fishing, easy access to shore line, skims over net

Search & Rescue

  • Ice rescue, fast, safe, & efficient rescue of people and animals.
  • Mud rescue
  • Flood water rescue. Hovercraft are immune to floating or submerged obstacles, debris, and swift currents.

Recreation

  • Fishing, fly fishing, ice fishing, and trolling.
  • Tender for larger vessels.
  • Duck hunting.
  • Exploration
  • Camping

Government

  • Mosquito abatement.
  • Tidal area research and monitoring.
  • Noxious weed abatement.
  • Oil spill clean up.
  • Surveys, wildlife, pollution. wetland

Options:

  1. Steyr engine control display, 7″ LCD
  2. Saltwater series: includes all necessary upgrades for saltwater use
  3. Camouflage paint scheme
  4. Galvanized boat trailer
  5. Dry launch, rapid deployment trailer
  6. Hot air skirt welder
  7. Stainless boarding ladder
  8. Carbon fiber radar and LED light mast
  9. Hatch
  10. Roof grab rails

Downloadable Brochures

Picture of Explorer 24 hovercraft brochure

Specifications

Dimensions Dimensions: 24’ X 11’ (6.7m X 3.4m) cushion, 227ft2 (18.9m2) Length over all: 26’ (7.9m).  Cockpit space 153” X 76” (388cm x 193cm). Height: 8’ 6” (2.59m) off cushion. Cushion depth or hard clearance: 16.5” (41.9cm). Note: craft automatically folds down to  8.5’ (2.6m) for trailering.
Payload 10-12 adults or 2200 lbs (1000 kg) payload, includes people, fuel and gear.
Empty weight 2200 lbs (953 kg).
Speed 47 mph (75 kph) maximum on water in flat calm conditions, 32mph (51.5 kph) cruise
Fuel use  3.4 gallons (11.3 liters)/hour at cruise.
Maximum Wave Height 4 feet (1.2m), sea state 4 to 5
Hull material Resin infused composite laminate of structural marine foam, glass fiber, carbon reinforcement and epoxy vinyl ester resin. Three sealed compartments, front and rear provide 3000 lbs (1363kg) of flotation. No wood is used in the construction of the craft.
Engines Steyr marine, 144 hp (107 kw), 4 cylinder, 2.1L, diesel powered, turbo charged, inter-cooled.
Drive system The lift fan and propeller are driven by Urethane/carbon fiber belts with hard anodized aluminum pulleys via a flexible coupling from the engine.
Thrust propeller 84” (213cm), 3 bladed quick adjustable pitch composite propeller.
Lift fan 34” 12 bladed adjustable pitch nylon fan.
Skirt System Multi-compartment skirt, with fore and aft partitions. Large diameter bag type skirt on sides and rear.
Skirt material 35/23 oz/yd Urethane approx. 1,500 to 2,000 hour life. A feature not found on any other hovercraft!
Brakes The brakes, controlled by the operator, reduce the pressure of the forward compartment allowing for smooth slowing, stopping and turning.
Noise Levels 82 dBA measured at 50 feet (15.2m) over grass, full power.  78 dBA measured at 50 feet (15.2m) over grass, cruise setting. The large diameter propeller reduces noise far below common hovercraft by making efficient use of power.
  • None of the prices listed above include shipping and handling.
  • We accept payments in the form of a money order or wire transfer, the preferred method. We will accept a personal check but we must give it 5 business days to clear the bank. We also accept payment through PayPal but a 3% charge of the total order will be added for processing.
  • Our labor rates are $110 per hour. 
  • Prices are subject to change.
interior photo of Explorer 24 hovercraft
Before interior covering
interior photo of Explorer 24 hovercraft 
With carpet and interior sound deadening