| [Image: Hover mower.] |
| [Image: Use of hover mower around sand traps on golf course.] |
| [Image: Use of hover mower for trimming.] |
Hover mowers are rotary lawnmowers that have no wheels but rather ride on an air cushion. The mowers have a fan as well as a blade under the totally enclosed deck. Vents in the top of the deck allow air to be pulled into the under-deck area and then blown down to support the machine. These machines float on the ground like a hovercraft. Because they have no wheels, they can be easily moved in any direction: side to side, forward and back, angles, etc. They are relatively light in weight to facilitate the flotation effect.
Hover mowers are not intended to be a replacement for traditional wheeled lawnmowers, but they do replace string trimmers in some situations. Hover mowers are best suited for trimming in areas where (1) the ground is soft, such as around ponds or golf sand traps, (2) side to side motion is needed and (3) the area to be mowed slopes too much for safe use of a wheeled mower. They are widely used by professionals, especially on golf courses, but are seldom used by homeowners due to their high cost (two to six times the cost of a comparable wheeled mower).
Hover mowers can operate right down to the edge of a pond or creek and the deck can even touch the water. Unlike a string trimmer, hover mowers contain the clippings and debris under the deck rather than throwing debris. They also tend to leave a smoother cut than a string trimmer.
When operating on a slope, it is generally safer to stand at the top of the slope and let the mower hang down the slope, moving it back and forth and up and down as needed. Multiple passes may be needed if the grass is tall.
Some hover mowers are a little safer than traditional rotary lawnmowers because they use small plastic blades instead of the full-length steel blade found on a traditional lawnmower. Nevertheless, the blades can inflict dangerous injuries, and hover mowers should be used with caution. Using the mower upslope can lead to injuries, as can slipping downslope when mowing from above and getting a foot or hand under the mower.
In summary, hover mowers offer a useful alternative in situations where a traditional mower is impractical. They are expensive but meet a need for some professionals.