Neoteric Hovercraft Golf Cart on “Big Kenny’s Crank It Up Garage”

Before we give you the back-story on Phil Yastrow’s Hovercraft Golf Cart, take a look at how Neoteric Hovercraft are media magnets, just like Bubba’s Hover …

Phil Yastrow bought his Hovercraft Golf Cart last September … and now he’s appearing with it on Big & Rich’s Big Kenny’s Crank It Up Garage, premiering this Thursday, July 8, on Circle TV. Watch the trailer for a quick glimpse of Phil’s unusual replica of Bubba Watson’s BW1 Hovercraft … 

Although the episode featuring Phil’s hovercraft was the first one filmed, we’re not absolutely certain it will be the first one aired. But even if you have to watch several episodes to see it, it’ll be worth it. Big Kenny’s Crank It Up Garage website says, “Big Kenny and his sidekick Charlie Pennachio find and meet the builders, crafters and tinkerers of the craziest motorized “projects” you’ve ever seen. Featuring custom cars, motorcycles, boats, planes and a range of other weird, wacky and interesting modes of transportation, Kenny and Charlie chase down their authentic fascination of all things custom.”

Here, Phil and Big Kenny fly the hovercraft during the filming ...

Now let’s start at the beginning …

Remember that Neoteric was chosen by Bubba Watson to create the first and only hovercraft golf cart in the world. An extremely limited number of replicas were made available to the public. So, you’d think the only reason to buy one of these is to play golf, right? … wrong!

Golf was the last thing on Phil Yastrow’s mind when he bought his Neoteric Hovercraft Cart. Phil is a retired mechanical / electronics engineer who lives in Osage Beach, Missouri. After seeing the Bubba’s Hover video and learning about Neoteric and Founder/President Chris Fitzgerald, Phil decided he couldn’t do without one. He says, “I live on Lake of the Ozarks and I got the notion that I could avoid rough water by flying over it.” 

Here’s Phil last September when he came to Neoteric to pick up his hovercraft and undergo flight training ...

But Phil’s creativity had only just begun. He decided that his hovercraft golf cart had a strong resemblance to Fred Flintstone’s vehicle, the Flintmobile, which is called a Canopysaurus …

So Phil decided to turn his hovercraft into the “Brontocraft”. His nephew, CJ Patterson, designed the Brontocraft wrap, and here’s what his hovercraft golf cart looks like today …

Phil is no novice when it comes to being on water. He explains, “Water skiing was a huge part of my life. I built and owned two competition water ski lakes in Windsor, Colorado starting in 1989. I competed and became a world rated official. I ‘retired’ from competitive skiing around 2014 and got a place at Lake of the Ozarks in 2016.”  

But being on water and other surfaces in his hovercraft is truly a novelty. Phil says, “It’s enabling me to have fun and be unique in a way that other vehicles couldn’t do. I own two other boats and I’ll use them when the time is right and I will fly the Brontocraft when I want the thrill of flying. As an electrical and mechanical engineer, I am mesmerized by its technology and the design.”

Phil has also made it his goal to fly his hovercraft in 48 states. He says "I have friends and family in almost every state and the thrill of going places is unbearable!"

Here’s a map of the states he’s flown in so far …

Check back often because there's lots more to come about Phil's hovercraft ventures across the United States!

Don’t miss out on seeing Phil and his Hovercraft Golf Cart on television! Be sure to watch the premiere episode of Big Kenny’s Crank It Up Garage on Circle TV this Thursday. If you aren’t familiar with Circle TV, see how to access it here.

Update June 2025: Unfortunately, Circle TV has since shut down, and is no long broadcasting. You can, however, find Big Kenny's Crank It Up Garage at this link.

And whether or not you’re a golfer, learn more about Neoteric’s Hovercraft Golf Carts!

Neoteric Hovercraft: A Great Promotional Tool!

Yes, we're in business to sell hovercraft. But did you know that the Neoteric hovercraft is the most popular hovercraft out there for helping other businesses sell their products and services?

During our 40 years in business, a wide variety of businesses around the world have used Neoteric's hovercraft in commercials and events to promote their products and services. A few examples are Disney World, LaBatt's Beer, Germany's Lord Extra Cigarettes, Brazil's Hollywood Cigarettes and, of course, Bubba Watson's Bubba's Hover, which was created to promote products sold by his sponsor, Oakley.

So, Neoteric doesn't just sell hovercraft ... our hovercraft can sell anything!

Watch the latest commercial featuring the HoverTrek, for GMC Certified Service ...

Advertising agencies & businesses:

Could a hovercraft help you promote your product or service?

Contact us today to learn more!

Neoteric Hovercraft: Fly before you buy

Because Hovercraft Training Centers conduct all their Training Courses and Test Flights on Neoteric craft, you have the perfect way to find out if a hovercraft is right for you before you commit to buying one. Here’s a perfect example of how that works …

Bill Hopkins, a retiree from Kansas, has been flying most of his life – hang gliders, helicopters, airplanes. “If it’s flyable, I like to fly it,” he says. But when he started building his second aircraft, he learned that because of his asthma he couldn’t renew his pilot’s license. “And my wife told me she’d just as soon I stay on the ground. But I want to stay at least a little bit off the ground,” he explains, “That’s how I came to hovercraft.”

But Bill knew nothing about hovercraft, so his first step was to enroll in a training course at HTC. As this experienced pilot explains, “There’s more to flying than just jumping in the cockpit and taking off … you need somebody to show you how to do it.”

Bill Hopkins (left) accepts his Hovercraft Pilot Certification from HTC Senior Instructor Chris Fitzgerald (center). Bill’s friend David Raynolds (right) accompanied him during his training course ...

At the Wabash River training site, Bill learns how to conduct a thorough preflight inspection before launching the hovercraft ...

At the controls, Bill learns every maneuver possible in the hovercraft, including how to get over the hump …

With Chris Fitzgerald providing constant instruction and feedback, Bill learns to operate the Neoteric training hovercraft’s reverse thrust. This patented feature gives all Neoteric hovercraft the unique ability to brake, fly backwards and hover in place …

Bill’s thoughts at the end of his training day? “It went fine, very enjoyable. I didn’t know anything about them, so I learned everything! I might consider buying one with that reverse thrust if you have one here and I could take it home with me.”

He found just what he wanted. Here’s Bill Hopkins’ hovercraft, purchased from our Trade-In Showroom, which he plans to use for lake and river cruising and fishing – and, of course, staying off the ground!

Want to fly before you buy? 
Take a Training Course or Test Flight to see if a hovercraft is right for you!

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The Perfect Cure for Cabin Fever

It’s that time of year when outdoor lovers start dreading winter … that is, outdoor lovers who don’t have a hovercraft – who are getting ready to stow away their jet skis, boats, kayaks, canoes and ATVs and then hope for some snowmobile weather.

But you don’t need this whole fleet of vehicles when you have a hovercraft – it’s the only all-in-one, four-season recreational vehicle that replaces them all. What a way to save a bundle of money and guarantee year-round fun!

In a hovercraft, you fly smoothly over land; swift water; shallow or flooded or frozen rivers; sandbars; swampland; mud; snow; and even thin or broken ice – rising above it all on a cushion of air. Hovercraft are not only safer and more fuel-efficient than boats; they’ll take you places that boats and other recreational vehicles just can’t go.

A Neoteric hovercraft flies over thin and broken ice on St. Petersburg Harbor in Russia. 

Why not find out for yourself? Take a Test Flight on a Neoteric hovercraft at Hovercraft Training Centers and experience the greatest way on earth for an outdoor lover to dump the winter doldrums.

And why not beat the budget blues at the same time: Check out the Neoteric Trade-in Showroom for great deals on recreational hovercraft.

 

Neoteric Hovercraft Patrols Flood Waters in Washington USA

As KING 5 Television reports, the only sound in Silvana, Washington on Thanksgiving night was the sound of the fire department's Neoteric Hovercraft patrolling for those cut off by floodwaters ...

This is not the first time the Neoteric Hovertrek has been a lifesaver in Washington state flood rescue operations. In 2006, Neoteric hovercraft rescued hundreds of flood victims, plucking them from trees and homes surrounded by fast-moving water filled with flood debris. And again in 2010, their hovercraft were the calm in the storm during devastating flooding in Granite City.

Hovercraft are extremely effective in flood rescue operations because they can access areas that boats and other rescue vehicles can't reach. Unlike other vehicles, hovercraft fly on a cushion of air 9 inches above the surface, so they simply glide over swift flowing, debris-filled floodwaters. And, unlike other hovercraft, the Neoteric Hovertrek's patented reverse thrust system gives it the unique capability to brake, back up, hover in place - maneuvers that are critical in flood rescues.

See photos of Fire District 19's hovercraft pilot training 

Hovercraft Pilot Training in Sweden

At the invitation of Neoteric’s dealer in Sweden, Ivanoff Hovercraft AB, Neoteric President Chris Fitzgerald is in Sweden this week to train a team of hovercraft pilot instructors from the Swedish Sea Rescue Society, Svenska Sjöräddnings Sällskapet. The organization utilizes two Neoteric HoverTrek™ Rescue hovercraft …

The Swedish Sea Rescue Society already operates a fleet of rescue hovercraft from Ivanoff Hovercraft. To enable the expansion of their rescue operations into inland lakes and rivers, smaller craft such as the HoverTrek™ provide more versatility.

The rescue hovercraft pilot training will consist primarily of open water training, with additional ice rescue and swift water rescue training depending upon the existing level of trainee experience.

Neoteric Hovercraft has trained and certified rescue, recreational, commercial and military hovercraft pilots for more than 30 years. Neoteric’s Hovercraft Pilot Training program is the most comprehensive light hovercraft pilot training course available.

The Swedish Sea Rescue Society plays a crucial role in sea rescue around the Swedish coast and is responsible for 70% of all sea rescues in Sweden. The Society has 160 vessels ready for use at all times by 1,700 volunteer crew members. The Society celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2007.