I would like to build a Land Yacht, how hard can it be
I have been looking and reading some of the posts, and have looked at alot of youtube footage, i have windsurfed alot in the past so understand the point of force of the sail but do not know where this point needs to be in relation to the front and back wheels. I used to sail with a 5.7m sail is that about the size i would be needing ? I plan to build around whatever sail and mast i can find. If i find a windsurfer mast and sail is fiberglass strong enough ? what would be the best way of attaching the mast to the frame ? A tube to go in the frame tube and up the hollow of the mast ? Has anyone got pic's of how they built a "simple" land yacht it is only for a bit of fun so don't want to spend too much. I plan to use a childs push bike for the front wheel and steering, what is the go as to feet steering or hand ? That is probably enough questions for now, Cheers

I am a newbee to this forum and in the middle of building the mini yacht Cisco is on about, if you can weld and cut metal and wood then I recon its easy to build one. I started with a kite buggying but my elbows are not so good now through years as a joiner so the landyacht seemed the best change to the kites.
Good luck and welcome to the forum.
Regards
Jay

Thanks very much for that guys, there is plenty of food for thought.
I looked at the how to build a Mini, i was looking at the steering it looks as if you rotaate feet to steer not pushing forward and back as i thought it would be. This obviously works and is easier to build. What are your thoughts.
Hi Hiko what would you use as a stiffener in the mast, saw another post which used Ali' tube mastic and fingers on the end to take the stress point out (great idea that i wondered how to get over that problem). Do you know details of the fingers. Are the fallshaw wheels like the ones that super cheap have, they have bearings. Can't wait to start just need to track down a mast and sail for a start. Will try traiding post and e bay, not so much choice down here in Tassie, should have built one when i lived in Brissie, ho hum.

Re the stiffener in the mast If you can find an aluminium tube that fits then just fit it with mastic like you read in the forum
The saw cut fingers in the top just remove the hard stress point
I actually used a metre or so of cedar timber planed to fit in mine with a cross cut in the top down about 100mm to avoid the hard point seems to work OK so far
The Fallshaw wheels are the ones to get if you can They are proven Some of the others have been tested by landyacht and didnt measure up for various reasons
My preference is also for the ribbed tyres rather than the knobbly ones [lighter and less drag IMHO] if you can get them
regards Hiko

Would reinforcing with the a length off another sailboard/windsurfer mast work, as these look to be relativley easy to find for many people?

That is what I did and it seems to work quite well. For the fibreglass joiner sleeves I actually doubled up.

If you have two tapered masts exactly the same it should be quite easy to make a single sectional mast.

A fair bit of sanding and smoothing off is needed which thins down the wall thickness of the sleeves which is why I doubled up with them.

I achieved a very neat fit and used 2 pac epoxy glue. If your fit is not snug it might pay to use a more flexible glue. The glue is really only to hold the sleeves in place and does not take much load. You could even use pop rivets or self tapping screws but might cause wear spots in your mast pocket.

Have a look here www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=51426

Remember that the neater the fit of the sections, the less fall off you will get with the mast and the joints will be stronger.

Tassie Olly said...

Hi All thanks again for great advice.
Steering- is the idea of the steering design for the yacht to go straight if you let go of the steering, not that you would, ie does the front of the yacht lift up when you turn or is it best design to keep level turning or straight ?
Ta

From the question do you mean does the yacht "round up" ie weather or lee helm? If that's what you mean, NO you want it to run straight. With the "roll over" type steering there is a slight lift as the steering rolls, but not much. There is mountains on the forum about this, probably needs a "sticky"

With respect, read much of the stuff on the LLM particularly relating to steering. The yacht above likely works OK, but the steering from the photos and drawing can be improved a great deal in relation to it's geometry.
A good first yacht, just there is the knowledge on this forum to do better.

I have been looking at the Build a mini Lefroy forum which is a great how to page. With the steering it looks like the bearing part is just steel washer to steel washer, does the finished steering move smoothly, do you chuck some grease in to it ? or does grease get stuck with sand. I have also been looking at the photos, a fantastic source for ideas. What are the pros and cons of foot steering over a handle bar like the blokarts. It looks as if with a handle bar the length front to back of the cart is longer is that an advantage. Does anyone know of the quality of the wheels sold by super cheap are they up to it ? maybe with new bearings ?
The more i know the more questions i have!

You will save yourself a lot of time, effort and money if you follow the lefroy mini plans, (you dont have to be exact-experimentation is encouraged) just stick to the wheelbase and overall length measurements- so you are within the same class as other mini yachts/ blokarts.

I tried using lightened 10" suzuki hatch wheels and it was a dismal failure- so was using a plastic seat- as it made the center of gravity higher- and you couldnt get the boom low enough as my head kept getting in the way- I couldnt lay down due to the fixed seat back.

the fallshaw 8 x 4 plastic wheels have proven to be the best- and can take a variety of bearings, and a hell of a lot of punishment.
most of the steel wheelbarrow wheels are not worth wasting your time with as they are usually too weak -welds fail under the stress
You can use urethane bushes for the steering head, which will absorb some of the vibration and shock- or use the nylon bushes that you can get from fallshaws (part numbers are on the stephen and brodies lefroy mini thread)

All very good points, I had another look at the super cheap wheels today and it does not look like the bearings can be changed if they stuff up, i think i will go with the flow and try to get some fallshaw wheels, it would be a pain in the a..s to go to the trouble of the build only to find the wheels give out not to mention possible injury. Talking of which, seatbelts i see are used seems like a good idea
I just had an idea for the steering between the washers you could cut a washer of rubber to act as a dampener from vibration may be a few rubber washers.
I have also decided to give the seat/bed of the lefroy a go but just stick to ply and foam padding. They definitly look more proffessional but as you say might take a bit of getting used to for a beginer, does it make your neck saw holding up your head or can you lie back
I was putting up a flyer for a mast and sail in a yacht club today and got talking about Lazer sails and mast apparently they have a mast same as windsurfer but ali' and the kids start with a 4.5m2 sail all sounds good to me would using a Lazer sail be a good idea It would not need cutting and 4.5m2 is about the right size, isn't it
PS i have to appologise for any spelling mistakes as i have not found the spell checker
Cheers

Foam on the seat is a great idea !!!!
The laser sail will still have the same problem as uncut sailboard sails ... being to full in shape.
If you put an add up in the local yacht club or talk to the sail board guys they would possibly have some old sails and masts cheap.
Yes the Fallshaw wheels are rated at 8km/h but will do more, and thats why we use them. they are listed as 400x8KNO-PWB10
http://fallshaw.com.au/core_wheels_pages/core_wheels_pneumatic_plastic/core_wheels_pneumatic_plastic.htm

As my wheel supplier once said "show me a brickie that can push a barrow at 80km/h and change the rating on them" !!!

Also make a head rest from extra foam. Saves that pain in the neck feeling.

Laser sails! Not a good idea at all. They are designed for "slow boats" (think even going well do not go much above 15mph) and just won't do the business, which will be money you spent, did not get the performance you wanted = wasted money.
They would need so many mods, rake, full length battens, new luff curve, removing seam shape, that you could almost have a brand new sail made for the same overall cost.
The sailboard rigs, modded as suggested on the LLM build have been proven to work and can be done for not a lot. Get a yacht going, then re-invent the wheel! That way you will be having fun while you dream up the new master improvement, rather than spending a lot of time resolving issues that may not exist (like the non-existant vibration problem you allude to).
Go for it!

Recorded top speed, have a look at Greenbird on this forum! 200+

sn said...

the world record is a smidgeon over 200kph

lefroy mini landyachts and similar types aim for 100kph

I believe the correct term is wee themselves at 100ph