Well I got up to 15 km/h today, see the orange line:



I thought that the board would be a lot more stable than it actually was, when I got to 15 km/h it started to get all wobbly so I had to back off. Also I was worried about my feet slipping off the deck but the sideways force is way less than when windsurfing -- so some sandpaper tape should be all that's needed.

Will tighten the trucks up and have another go...

Loads of fun though, and no need for a wetsuit

try locking the back wheels completely
I got my first trial in today too, discovered that moving your CG backeven a few mm can spell disaster

once that was sort out it was down to business. steering was really bad till 25kphthen the flywheel effect smoothed it out. 1 good run , but felt a bit brown streak after



hello, Im Johnny Crash

Geez Paul, you make it hard for the "Bigger framed" (fat) ones" amongst us!!!![}:)]

Well I have tried sitting in it and I'll have to bring a shoe horn to get my bum in it, but here goes so far.

Giggle away folks.





I have the rods cut but not fitted from the rear axle to the spine.


I will put stirrups on the control bar at the front as my dead leg, might fall off otherwise.

Any suggestions on improvements it needs guy's???????
Got to sort out the rear pulley block mount yet as well. I have an A frame setup in mind. This might keep the elbows off the wheels somehow too.

Chook

Yeh I was pondering about the seat a lot!!!!
It's just tacked there to try the seating. I was thinking of heating the seat base to soften it and bend it down. The very sump of the seat, base/back intersection, is right on the rear axle line.

Pretty tight between the wheels with 5 degrees on them. Your an evil bugger, ha ha. But I guess you good wife has already told you that!!

Cheers Paul

noice build Chook....too

Chook2 said...
Any suggestions on improvements it needs guy's???????
Got to sort out the rear pulley block mount yet as well.

bolt the pulley to your helmet?

Chook2 said...
Got to sort out the rear pulley block mount yet as well. I have an A frame setup in mind. This might keep the elbows off the wheels somehow too.

Chook

Maybe a stainless ring with two wire strops swaged to it with the other ends of the strops attached to the inside ends of the axles.

Great suggestions, loved the helmet block attachment sn!!!
The cable is food for thought too.

Not sure about the sail Nikrum, but I'm definitely going to use a 4600mm high mast, as that's the size mast socket I've fitted.
It will also be a one piece mast and I'll be able to fill it with helium to keep me upright!![}:)]

I'll need all the stabillity I can muster.
Yes thats a 600mm steel rule laying beside it.

Good guess Ron.
As per the parameters Paul set. It's 5mm smaller to be safe.
1045mm axle to axle and 1045mm at the base of the outside side walls (bottom curve) of the tyres.

Big plus is it dosen't take up much space in the shed.

Here's a thought! If your yacht is too small to fit workable foot steering and obviously no room for hand steering then, try this.
1. Main spine connected to rear wheels and mast step and to just behind front wheel.
2, Seat connected to pipe inside spine and front wheel which is attached in line.
To steer, simply lean into the corner and voila front wheel lays over and around you go.
Simply put, you would be steering by the seat of your pants!
Needless to say your seat belt would have to be attached to the seat!
[}:)][}:)]

Thats a neat idea Test pilot 1.
But am I wrong in saying, that when you were "over powered" and had to steer/correct the slide, you would then be leaning the wrong way to get your weight over the upwind wheel
I wonder if that would be that important, on such a small vessel, with very little between the wheels anyway
Great thinking mate, but now I won't sleep bugger ya!!!.........[}:)]

Yeh Ron that might work too.
Come on get into the shed and get a "litt-ilee" build happening yourself. You should have plenty of time being a more senior member of our community. More work on the welder, than the pen big fella. Ha ha [}:)]

"sn" had some good ideas too, when I spoke to him last.

you need to wear a Cricketers Box to protect your tackle in a sudden stop. ... No need to worry mate, I'm married, so I have finished with them.

given the sudden flurry of caraft being built. TP1 has started on a unique trophy for the minimini cup. lets say it would be a trophy I would be proud to build a cabinet for
come on Andy B heres you chance to give us home builders a run for our money

mrsquish said...


hmmm, following a comment Gizmo made in another thread, I've got I reckon a fully wooden construction might be in order, might be as slow as an old dog but at least it might look nice :)

Any ideas for a cheap sailcloth replacement for those of us that don't have sails "laying about" in the shed?

If its only for a minimini try a plastic tarp. That way if everything goes pear shaped we can wrap the remains for burial [}:)]

mrsquish said...

Test pilot 1 said...

mrsquish said...


hmmm, following a comment Gizmo made in another thread, I've got I reckon a fully wooden construction might be in order, might be as slow as an old dog but at least it might look nice :)

Any ideas for a cheap sailcloth replacement for those of us that don't have sails "laying about" in the shed?

If its only for a minimini try a plastic tarp. That way if everything goes pear shaped we can wrap the remains for burial [}:)]

What about 2 layers of rip stop nylon? One layer with the weave horizontal, the other at 45 degrees, zig zagged together every foot or so?

Squish Dude,
Rip Stop Nylon? Shoot we were using tha back in the Dark ages on our Hang gliders. It was good for us 1000' above the ground and I can't see why you couldn't use it now at Sea Level?? Are you sewing it yourself? If you haven't got a good pattern to run with Whisper in Paul's Shell Like and he may come up with something suitable (Gotcha Paul)

Ron