Reconsidering Building a Land Yacht

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gerald1234
gerald1234
8 posts
8 posts
7 Apr 2012 3:56am
After joining Seabreeze Forum a few years back I lost all interest. My interest has been rekindled again.I Was going to purchase land yacht but could never seem to get the cash to buy as I always had to use the money somewhere else. And after reading comments on other sites saying that home build land yachts are not up to much as bought land yachts because they have years of testing and it was near impossible to get the geometry right for the sail and you would never have the same speed handling overall enjoyment as a bought land yacht.
Nikrum
Nikrum
TAS
1972 posts
TAS, 1972 posts
7 Apr 2012 9:34am
Hi Gerry,
Dang! What a Mind Job they did on you..
What those sites failed to tell you is that they stole other peoples ideas and fed them into their own commercial interests. Home building is fun in itself leading to a great deal of self satisfaction and pride. Sure a build takes time.
Manufacturers have only one interest and that is Self interest and $$$$ Look about you at the Big Multi Nationals and their Advertising Tactics.. Need I say more?? Tightly close your fist hold it before your forehead extended to arms length and unfold your middle digit and fly the lying swine the "Bird"

Now go to "Construction" Look at the LLF Mini Plans, Run Off a Couple or so sets and then begin to collect the materials. You have more than enough Home Builders in Ireland to advise and may be assist. All you need is to be able to user your Head, Arms and Legs.

There also some very experienced builders here to advise you, although they will be off to the Champs' in Europe for a week or two..
Welcome back to the site and Happy Building..
Ron

PS; If I give you a hard time then it is for several reasons. You are out of range for physical contact, you may well deserve it but above all it is only in fun.. I have a copy of "Pukoon" and one just has to love the Irish..
fossey
fossey
QLD
7 posts
QLD, 7 posts
7 Apr 2012 11:58am
hi!
I spent years in motor racing and a lot of people get out there with the latest and greatest but its at a price and built or bought from a business
with a financial interest in making you believe you have to have their product.But like most things it all started in someones shed in a backyard somewhere. I am totally new to this caper like you, and found the info on seabreeze very refreshing, guys who build/test/refine their ideas and put them out there for guys like you and I at no cost other than time and materials; The LLF Mini like Nikrum said is the way to go, it give a detailed plan, easy to construct (with basic skills and tools)( Landyacht thank you) and still allows an element of freedom to suit your materials,ideas,tools and skills I have just finished mine and had my first test sail yesterday.(I sailed a dingy twice when I was 15 years old,that was a couple of centuries ago so its safe to say I have not one once of knowedge when it comes to sailing) and the test went alot better than I expected, I didnt eat any sand or break anything and for me that is pleasing. I'm pleased to tell people its built not bought.

Peter

Nikrum :- I know pictures or it never happened, Just waiting on the movie
director to finish the washing.
cisco
cisco
QLD
12365 posts
QLD, 12365 posts
7 Apr 2012 12:23pm
gerald1234 said...

And after reading comments on other sites saying that home build land yachts are not up to much as bought land yachts because they have years of testing and it was near impossible to get the geometry right for the sail and you would never have the same speed handling overall enjoyment as a bought land yacht.


I have proved to myself that the opposite is the case with LLF Minis and blokarts.

Gizmo
Gizmo
SA
2865 posts
SA, 2865 posts
7 Apr 2012 12:09pm
With home built land yachts be mindful that yachts like the LLMini and the Pacific Magic have been developed with the construction of MANY MANY yachts prior to the plans being released.
I often shake my head at people building yachts free form from recycled trampolines etc and are often disappointed with the results.
When you build a yacht build it "to plan" and try not to deviate to much..... for example people will try and skimp a few$$$ on cheaper wheels and find after a short time they need to buy another set because the original ones have a poor performance so then they buy the correct set effectively wasting the money for the first set.

aus230 recently posted this video showing that even "factory made" land yachts sometimes have problems.

landyacht
landyacht
WA
5921 posts
WA, 5921 posts
7 Apr 2012 9:53pm
gerald1234 said...

After joining Seabreeze Forum a few years back I lost all interest. My interest has been rekindled again.I Was going to purchase land yacht but could never seem to get the cash to buy as I always had to use the money somewhere else. And after reading comments on other sites saying that home build land yachts are not up to much as bought land yachts because they have years of testing and it was near impossible to get the geometry right for the sail and you would never have the same speed handling overall enjoyment as a bought land yacht.

welcome to the forum, gerald.
dont be shy to ask any question, we have probably already made the mistakes and can tell you about it
I would disagree with nikrums statement thats manufacturers have stolen the ideas, its more a case of good ideas and bad being seen and picked up backwards and forwards. ofeten ideas come to people in different places at the same time.
If you looking for a starting point , the LLM is a great place to start, it will give you the basics of building and sailing, and you will be pleasantly suprised with the performance.
You wwill probably have to substitute materials, as some of the things we have you dont and visa versa. ( although all the stuff seems to be available in latvia!)
this come s back to the silly question bit
even better share the experience with a mate or your kids, by building a small fleet
cheers Paul

gerald1234
gerald1234
8 posts
8 posts
10 Apr 2012 6:44pm
Thanks everyone for all the feedback .It will take a lot of research to find the right combination of parts to build land yacht .It might look simple structure but a lot of design criteria has to be taken into account.
1. Ground clearance .If you have 150mm ground clearance your wheels would need to be 300mm minimum diameter.
2. Overall dimensions of land yacht .I would like to build compact design for easy transport .Can I build one that's is easily taken apart and put together again.
3. Steel type round or box section.
4. How to connect axle stubs .type of axle to use.
5. Weight. Does the overall weight affect performance .as to say if you over design the frame. Add hubs to axles. Steel wheels .Extra bracing
6. Sourseing all the materials
Gizmo
Gizmo
SA
2865 posts
SA, 2865 posts
10 Apr 2012 8:44pm
gerald1234 in answer to your questions...

1. Ground clearance .If you have 150mm ground clearance your wheels would need to be 300mm minimum diameter.
Often people use drop axles to lower the overall height of the yacht, this is done to lower the centre of gravity which makes the yacht more stable. To raise the yacht will raise the centre of gravity and it may more easily tip over. Why do you want the yacht higher?

2. Overall dimensions of land yacht .I would like to build compact design for easy transport .Can I build one that's is easily taken apart and put together again.
The LLMini will beak down and fit into the back of a hatch back car or station wagon. Mast pieces are normally the longest pieces.

3. Steel type round or box section.
Round tube is better for the main spine as it withstands torsional twisting better than square tube. Rear axles use square to stop them rotating when using the brake.

4. How to connect axle stubs .type of axle to use.
Normally its a weld in situation or a bolt through the axle and stub axle.

5. Weight. Does the overall weight affect performance .as to say if you over design the frame. Add hubs to axles. Steel wheels .Extra bracing
It is often said weight is only good for steam rollers but a few Kg extra is not a problem... but its normally not needed as the materials specified in the plans are a good balance between weight, strength, availability and buildability.

6. Sourcing all the materials

Keep in mind that the LLMini has been developed over MANY years and perhaps 100+ yachts picking the best parts and discarding things that don't work.... The yacht might look simple but a lot of time and effort has gone into getting the plans and yacht to the current point.


cisco
cisco
QLD
12365 posts
QLD, 12365 posts
10 Apr 2012 10:26pm
Gerald, you really need to click on the sticky threads on the top of this page and the construction page.

You will find all your questions answered there without you having to wait for someone to respond to your questions.

There you will find explanations with photographs and some diagrams as well as reasons why some achieved the same end by different methods.

Don't be lazy. Trawl the site for the info you seek.

The blue menu bar ^^^ has HELP with a drop down menu, at the top of which is SEARCH. That option is powered by Google.

Give it a try.
Nikrum
Nikrum
TAS
1972 posts
TAS, 1972 posts
10 Apr 2012 11:31pm
Seems to me Gerry, that you have all the knowledge at your finger tips and like me when I first started a build I needed a little friendly advice and a Pat on the Tushy to get me moving. The first thing you should do is to Print out the LLF Plans and sit down and redraw them ( I will be decried on this and asked WHY?)
Well what this will effectively do in my humble opinion will be to have you building your first LY in your minds eye. That is what I did with Occum's Razor, it really did slow my mind down and allowed me to understand what had to be done and when. It also boosted my confidence and gave me time to start gathering materials etc. Many years ago I took up Hang Gliding and as luck would have it I had a sheet Metal Factory at my finger tips and outside work hours I built a Seagull by shear Bloody Mindedness and a lot of help from those that had the experience. I had 7years of flying before Lifes Little Tricks took me out of the game.. Moral to the yarn is; Don't procrastinate any longer, get in there and do it and ask all the questions you like and I am sure you will find others in Ireland with the same passion who will be glad to help.

Ron
landyacht
landyacht
WA
5921 posts
WA, 5921 posts
10 Apr 2012 10:08pm
gerald1234 said...

Thanks everyone for all the feedback .It will take a lot of research to find the right combination of parts to build land yacht .It might look simple structure but a lot of design criteria has to be taken into account.
1. Ground clearance .If you have 150mm ground clearance your wheels would need to be 300mm minimum diameter.
2. Overall dimensions of land yacht .I would like to build compact design for easy transport .Can I build one that's is easily taken apart and put together again.
3. Steel type round or box section.
4. How to connect axle stubs .type of axle to use.
5. Weight. Does the overall weight affect performance .as to say if you over design the frame. Add hubs to axles. Steel wheels .Extra bracing
6. Sourseing all the materials


www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Land-Yacht-Sailing/Construction/Build-a-Landyacht-Lake-Lefroy-Mini-Yacht/
have a read of this thread, make up a list of the materials and see what you can find in Ireland, If you need a substitute let us know whats available and we'll help you there. this design is basically what you are trying to design.
dont feel that your losing anything by building something from plans as a first yacht. just that process will give you new ideas.

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