Four days on I don't see myself departing from this any time soon as it's lightweight, versatile and adaptable to X-8 octocopter with no alterations to the airframe beside a raised seating platform. It also qualifies as a drone for flight-testing, or ground-effect vehicle (GEV) at larger scale.
Which is how I'll pitch it, as a replacement for boat or hovercraft with the proviso that unlike each of them, it can be adapted for free flight.
Well done Colin!