I bought a Hovpod from an internet site at www.hovpod.com and met with a Mr Pete Ward and Mike Glanville some 3 years ago. The product appeared good and after a showing and demonstration on a airfield was convinced it was what I wanted. Within 1 month the engine seized up and a drive shaft broke. When I confronted the sales staff at Hovpod I was told this wasn't covered by any warranty. After many calls and e-mail exchanges I started researching the company, it turns out they are not called Hovpod and have a very hidden secret to which they spend endless time covering up. www.hovpod.com may be the name they use, but Reaction International Ltd is the true name to which there have been several.
I found out through the Hovercraft Club of GB that many people had bought this craft with a variety of engines, and mounting debt and Law Suits were just the start of the problems with the company and product. I was informed through good information that the product has a huge failure rate and the whole product has a Zero safety record. The company was banned from launching the craft in Southampton harbor by the authorities and has major problems in securing Insurance products, the reason being that Lloyds are aware of the major faults in the product.
The engine has huge problems as it was designed for motor bikes and not marine quality, the craft & hull is prone to cracking and major fault round the engine mountings and th whole fan area is at best "Dangerous". I have been fighting a re-fund in full for 3 years on the basis the product is not fit for worth. I was happy to have it simply repaired by Hovpod, but they refuse to accept the problems with my craft were their fault.
I can now inform you that I am not alone with my problem with Hovpod, there are many well documented places on the internet and H, C, G, B confirming the product is bad. Additionally there are many customers who have contact me through my blog confirming they were lied to by Hovpod and also had sub standard products from them. I can now confirm that Hovpod work through a P.O Box address in order to hide, the contact number is a mobile phone number in order to hide and Mike & Pete are the biggest con men out there. They lie about the quality, they lie about the reliability and they lie about the safety record.
My advice to anyone looking for a Hovercraft is look else where, these people have a very bad track record of customer support to whom I have spoke with many ex customers of Hovpod, and look toward a Jet Ski or similar which is better made, faster and more fun. Both Mike and Pete Ward are without doubt con men. They take your money with promised delivery times to which they never honor, they refuse to put right the problems covered under warranty etc, and ultimately are down right dishonest in every way.
I now question the following:
Why do you always get to test the product on dry land?...
Why does the engine work loose on every craft?...
Why does the fan always shatter when running at high speed...
Why do the grab handles snap so often...
Why is it not just myself who has had all these and many more problems?
My advice to all is keep well away from www.hovpod.com
Mark Bent
Devon
United Kingdom
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