Hi All,
Been playing with the idea of building my own land yacht, I did the usual google search and found this website. After looking at all the great creations on here I thought I would go for it. Iv decided to use scaffold pole for the chasis material joined together with unilock items, this way I can completely take it to pieces to fit in the car or van. Im not very far on in the build but do have a fibreglass mast which is 4.16m so im on the hunt for a boom and sail. I also need wheels, iv read on here that cycle wheels are no good so need to find some wheel barrow wheels or something similar. The dimensions so far are 2m wide and 2.6m long not sure if this is ok?Iv added some photo's and any usefull comments or help would be muchly appreciated!Oh forgot to mention I will adding some bracing from the 'axle' to the main tube to stop it twisting, and need to add a mast mount but not sorted that out yet.
Cheers
Jonny
JSKDOG: welcome to the site, I just finished my first land yacht build. It is so new I have not even sailed it yet. My advice, if possible, build a Lake Lefroy Mini using the information on this site. It is fairly straight forward and very rewarding. Take photos and post them as you go, you will get lots of good advice and mid-course corrections. I looked at lots of plans before starting and decided on the LLMini due to its simplicity and track record as a good reliable land yacht. The guys are great and will give you lots of help.
Brian
Hi Jonny
Welcome to this forum Lots of innovative ideas here
I would go along with sabydents comments I have built two LLF minis based on the
plans on this forum and have been entirely satisfied with the results
They will also fit into a small hatchback car for transport
The problem I see with your ideas on using scaffolding type joints on a T type chassis is they rely on a grubscrew to resist the torsion loads and these are considerable on a landyacht You could make your own joints by making them longer
and using a clamp and screw type connection but have a look at the LLF mini
It is hard to see how it can be much improved for a first yacht both in simplicity and performance
G'dmorning Jonny,
There ain't a lot I can ad to the advice so far except that for a first build I'd stick pretty exclusively to the LLF Drawings. If you study some builds you will find that the rear axles will slide out of the main spine and reduce to OA width to less than half of the assembled craft, they then will lay in the seating arrangement which should be able to fit into a vehicle. If not there always Roof Racks.
Study the builds on this site closely. Look at Sabydents/Brians and Desertyanks Builds They have done excellent jobs but I do tell them they are a bit Anal about finish.. Cant have them bleed'n furigeners getting big-headed with their efforts
.
You have made a terrible mistake coming into this web site.. You now are officially a Hooked (Worse than Crack) Land Yacht Builder and they will define your life from here on
Enjoy the learning and join the Banter. I both TP1 and I have exceptionally thick skins but we serve up as good as we are given
Ron
PS; You probably know there are a few clubs around up there in POME Land
Welcome to the forum!
This is truly an international site, and there are LLM's sailing all over the world. I went with the advice given here on S.B. and built 2 of them. I highly recommend going that route if you have access to materials/tools.
I would not be opposed to using the scaff tubing for the chassis, but I think Hiko is right; there is enough twist in the main tube that the sail load can easily lift the upwind wheel off the ground, even with my 200lb ass in the seat. I doubt if the connectors would hold without welding the joints.
If you are against welding, look at the 'manta' site. They use ali plates to hold their ali tubing in place, and are very successful with that method.
Cheers, John
Hey hello and welcome...
check out my build at new sailor in northern Ca.. mine also a mini...not to anal though,just finishing up my sail then all ready
Thanks for all the replies guys. I thought this would be an easy build doing it this way. Im going to drill the clamps through so I can bolt it rather then rely just on the grub screws. I was going to brace from where the mast will attach to the rear axel to help with the torque from the sail. i may go down the mini route at some point as welding is no problem but I thought I would have a go with these bits as they are just cobbled around the workshop. Ill keep updating as the build goes along.
Cheers
Jonny
If you end up ripping the tube or grub screws you could always weld the scaff to the fittings afterwards...
The main torque is along the spine, so perhaps just welding the main spine to the joiners at each end might be a good idea, I'd imagine the other tubes could be made removable with little loss of strength.
Seems like a worthwhile experiment to me, have fun 
You're right Neb', Experimentation will be a learning curve for us all. Remember the original Schrodingers Cat?? It is still about and getting set to be used again.
jskdog, just don't get disheartened if you have a bit of failure at the "T" Joint of at the Mast Step. Those are the Highest Stress Points as the Sail thrusts the Mast Down and Downwind, the torque is from the Mast Step to the Rear Wheels so it comes against both MS and "T". I will state now that the first failure will be at the Spine Mast Step junction, I think both those points should be welded and the Mast step be beefed up as per the LLF Plans. I used 5/16" Bolts at the "T" Junction and as a support Pivot Pin and at the "T" one was Cut Off on both sides of the Pipe 75mm dia x 3mm wall thickness. Yes! Cut off clean like a Guillotine. At the Mast Pivot the other was severely bent (Read some of the Build of Schrodinger's Cat. Just Working Out a Build) In the end I finished up using 3/8" Mild Steel Bolts which seem to be holding. I would also suggest you have a chat with the LLF Mini designer Landyacht/Paul.
Ron
Looking at the chasis Im thinking its definately on the large side, im thinking of maybe reducing the rear axle length to 1.5 from 2.0m and the main spine to 2.0m from 2.5m would this be ok?Im 6ft 3 and 14 stone so "ballast" wont be a problem!
[}:)]
The joints are steel so could be welded but im with you and was thinking of drilling through the other side of the clamp and and bolting all the way through, im pretty sure given a good quality bolt and nyloc nut it would be more then strong enough. I like the idea of being able to put it together without welding and also you could change certain dimensions of the chasis really quickly.
A quick update, iv ust won a windsurfing set with board mast and boom for £1!! so just need a sail, wheels and some rigging. Ill post photo's after iv picked it up.
Cheers
Jonny
Thankyou for all the info, got to say this has to be one of the most friendly and useful forums iv ever been on!
Picked up my £1 ebay purchase today, board mast and sail! The mast is a one piece 4600mm glassfibre by the look of it. Still on the hunt for some good quality wheels now.
Just cut the chasis down to 1.6m wide to 2.0m long it looks a lot better now, i put some grey rods down to show where I will eventually brace the axel to the main spine. I will also add some bracing around the mast step. So far the weight doesn't seem too bad I can easily lift it built up but there is still wheels and rigging to go on.
move the braces in on the rear axleto almost half way.
you are going to need some other support for the mast as i honestly dont think that mast step will stay up on its own
Thanks landyacht, im definately going to brace the mast step it will be far to weak with just a bolt through it. Iv just layed my handson some wheels and tyres but not sure if they are too small? they are 10 1/2" diameter and 3" wide what do people think?
10 1/2" is the full wheel including tyre the actual wheel itself is only 5" diameter.
jskdog,
Those wheels may be Ok for playing in Car Parks and on Tarmac but you will need larger dia to run at speed on the beach, smaller wheels give higher rolling resistance and don't use smaller than 19mm axles. Sysmic make a nice rim and so far I find the one I use on Occum's Razor is performing well.
www.buggykiteshop.com/wheel-spares/rim.html
They aren't cheap but they do look the Ducks Guts. I reckon a pair of 4 x 8 and a single 17" on the front would be the go.. As soon as I can get some sense out of BrisKites I am putting a pair on the rear of the Razor. Failing those a nice pair of Plastic Barrow Rims will do the trick.
Ron
Thanks for the reply Nikrum, I thought they looket a bit small, they are off a new petrol generator in the workshop so wanted to see what they looked like. I think i will go down the barrow wheel route if I can find somewhere over here that sells them not attached to a wheel barrow!
I don't really know where you intend to use your machine but if you intend to use it on the Beach then you should avoid steel rims. Alloy will also corrode so Plastic is the best bet unless you are prepared to MAINTAIN them. Most people just use their gear and leave it to nature.. Bad Move! There are a lot of Land Yachting venues around you GB isn't really all that big so travel shouldn't be too much of a hassle. Europe has a Great Following so seek out Like Minded Fellows and they should help you. Look about the Site, Frogy may be able to help. I don't know what your importation laws are like but there is another option.
Ron
Im really lucky I only live a 30 minute drive from cleethorpes which has a huge beach!They do kite boarding and bggying there too. It will be used on the beach as I dont think there is anywhere else to run one, all the old airfields have ben turned into storage yards round here which is a shame as lincolnshire had loads of little airfields.
I just had a look at Cleethorps.. Hmmm! Yes I ca see what you mean. Barrow wheels should do the trick or at least wheels the same size and preferably Rib pattern.http://www.bfslyc.org.uk/pages/fed_homepage.aspx
www.buggykiteshop.com/wheel-spares/wheel/wheel-400-4.html
I have been looking at your ebay.co.uk the wheels there look pretty sucky. I wouldn't trust them and in some cases they want nearly as much for them as the above..
Ron
I think I may have found some good quality wheels from my local merchants but going to have to wait untill monday to go and have a look. I will keep you posted and get some pics up of them if i decide to get them. Sorted some hi tensile bolts today as well so its progressing slowly. So far the build has cost me £1 and dont think its going to cost me much more!Definately liking this hobby.
