WA
46 posts
I used to stick a hole in the old skate board and sail around the local marina carpark in the off season.
I was thinking of buying one of these mountain boards with the pnematic tyes and bigger decks to enable me to sail around the local oval.
Has anyone tried this or purchased one of the proper boards?
are the proper boards worth the money.
I see they design them with castor wheels at the front for freestyle it looks like it would get around like shopping trolley.
892 posts
I did this recently to a mountainboard. Mine has external swing frame steering (so it's not like a skateboard so much). The first time I tried it out was in about 10-12 knots onshore with a 5.5m cammed sail. I was able to reach along the beach and back no problems. Easily doing 40+ km/hr which is pretty stupid in shorts and a T-shirt on hard sand. The wind picked up a couple more knots towards the end, and I was approaching the limit of the amount of sideways traction I had available - all four wheels were starting to drift ever so slightly sideways.
The second time out, it was windier, and gustier. I rigged a horrible old flat 3.7 wave sail, and almost did myself a major injury after getting a bad case of the 'swerves'. I ended up rolling both ankles, and twisting my back awkwardly. I was able to sail back to the car, but it sure wasn't fun! A nice stable sail is key to being able to balance.
A board with a positive 'centre' is important because the steering needs to be quite stiff if you're going fast.
The castoring front wheels seem like a good plan as that will allow you to use the sail and mastfoot pressure to steer (like you do on the water) while the back wheels will act like a fin.
I don't think they will 'carve' very well though seeing as there is effectively no rail to engage. Jibing at speed on the sand isn't so good anyway, when you have enough speed on to 'carve' through the jibe, you also have enough speed to lean far enough into the turn that you transfer most of your weight into pushing the wheels sideways instead of downwards.. drifting is spectacular, but not comfortable!
Definitely a good toy, and I've learned to heli-tack finally on mine.
SA
2879 posts
Any links on where to buy said land boards?
WA
37 posts
Hey Exman, was that you I've seen sailing around the Hillarys Marina car park a couple of months ago???
NSW
64 posts
Hi Exman,
You are welcome to borrow my mountain board to try it out before you go and buy one.
I used to use a skateboad on netball courts.... super fast, but the mountain boards on grass are slower and more work, but I guess safer.
I live in Doubleview (one suburb behind scarbs).
Ash
WA
966 posts
I got mine from a windsurfing shop in Qld, I can't remember the name sorry.
Mine is more like a snow board with 2 wheels at the front and 1 wheel at the back. It is great to practice duck gybes and the like. Great fun in 5 knots.
I should do more of it actually.
QLD
213 posts
Longboard plus base on front and an old material learner sail = great times. I have a video of some guys doing all sorts of tricks on an long and short skateboards on a road. I love using mine to practice duck jybes, upwind 360, heli and duck tacks. great practice for when you hit the water..
WA
1109 posts
the mountain boards are really good, i used to have one, they are perfect for the oval, but very harsh on your gear, but make sure you remove the foot straps and get one with the spring trucks, not the skateboard style trucks because the skateboard ones dont turn. if you are wnting to get a good one but for a cheaper price go with this one, i had it and it was great http://kitepower.com.au/catalog/product_16765_MBS_Comp_6_cat_257.html
NSW
11 posts
I made a land-surfer many years ago, basically an oversized skateboard about the size of an ironing board with golf buggy tyres.
It was good fun on the sand, came off a few times with a bit of "sand rash" up one thigh. I have also ridden it on netball courts but theres a big difference in gravel rash and sand rash, have to miss the posts as well!
The only proviso with riding on sand is you have to find a beach with hard-backed sand, otherwise you will get bogged.
NSW
375 posts
www.buhalaboards.com
these boards look good
WA
23685 posts
No all too those are expensive.
Get 2 x skateboard trucks with GOOD rubbers (else they'll be too loose and speed wobble something cruel)
Unscrew the axles
Replace axles with a hex head bolt of same thread. Now the hex part will protrude about 10- 50mm out of the die cast ally truck
Lay a piece of tube (same O.D as the I.D of the wheels you will use) along the truck (laterally) and weld it to the bolt heads.
Now what you have done is basically replace a 6mm ish axles with a 15mm ish axle. (probably half inch actually as most of the wheels you'll find are likely imperial)
Other way to do it if the axles won't unscrew: lay the new axle (pipe) along the bottom of the truck. There will be a gap of about 5-8mm between the tube and the axle. Just lay a bit of rod or a bolt shank in there to fill the gap and weld all three together (axle to rod, and rod to the new tube axle)
mount big arse pneumatic wheels to the axles. You can buy 2 x cheapo sacktrolleys for about $20 ea now and just chuck the trolley.
Now you have trucks with 8" wheels attached.
bolt to your choice of big arse marine ply deck, mine is about 5ft x 1ft.
easy and $100 (tops) not $500
I think there is some pics I posted on here last time somebody asked (about a year ago? )
WA
517 posts
I seen Alberto doing it a fair bit round perth. He had the perfect set up and was doing it effortlessly. Give him a call at windshack to find out what he uses.
WA
1109 posts
yer i have seen in land board in alberto's shop a few times. just PM him to see if you can go in and have a look at it
WA
354 posts
i got a dirtsurfer and a mountain boards in perth if anyone wants them make offers
QLD
7436 posts
Yeah... he misses having someone to belt.
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