Thanks for the info guys. i guess, if you pay less, ity's fair to expect less. But to be honest, 50 minutes on a boat, I think I only need a seat. If it goes tits up, I'll have to sort it. At present the risk seems worth the gamble. £190 more left in the kitty to enjoy myself with!!! That's the up side!
Hoverspeed have always had a ropey reliability record themselves. I can recall at least 2 crossings in the past 3 or 4 years where only one engine was working on the Seacat - conventional ferry would have been same speed.
We'll see........