Just a quick post to introduce myself to you all. I am in the process of building a small land yacht for use on some of my local playing fields and the occasional run on the beach. I have posted a couple of pics for inspection of my ideas. I run an Engineering Company based in Brisbane so I am fortunated to have access to most things needed to make a land yacht, the biggest thing lacking is time, running a company, renovating a house and sailing my Nacra 16sq when time allows thakes care of most on my time. I have been playing with this land yacht for a few months as time allows, nearly ready to test it, the sail in the pics is rather stuffed and has been cut down to allow testing for sizes and clearances, I try to convice one of my sail maker friends to build a proper Pentax sail after I have proved that it is balanced and doesn't need to much adjusting. The wheels I have set it up with are 16" bike wheels (I have modified the bearings and axles, will go into further detail later). I have also modified them to carry 100mm disc brakes to make the most of the local parks and sporting fields near my house in Ipswich. Based on some of the discussions about wheels on this site I may change the rear wheels to something else if this proves necessary (only takes removing the slide in axles held with 1 pin in each to remove and change). If any ones interested I can include a few more details in the future, and hope to have this thing moving soon. Once I have it up and running I will take it up to Sandgate and give it a ran aginst Jay's yacht, see what it can do.
Till Later
Corey
I'm glad to read that you have modified the wheels already, I didnt want to be the smart arse to post that that wont work.
I have found in testing such skinny wheels that they will drift sideways each time the sail gains power/speed, giving you a scalloped shape track down the beach. Youve got quite a good sail area there so I am putting money on exactly that happening if the wheels dont collapse.
A set of 8" rims and 4ply ribbed tyres would be an improvement I think.
However, please do the experiment and post results, GOOD or BAD, as this will help others down the track.
Welcome to the wonderful,tricky world of designing and buiding landyachts
there are some really satisfying moments ahead
Corey long time no see , be good to see some action down Sandgate come summer time .As mentioned the only issue I can see you having is with those wheels and maybe the front forks . the amount of side ways load on the wheels especially when the yacht gets up on 2 wheels is unbelievable ,the leward one acts like a centerboard keeping the yacht tracking straight and stopping going sideways,you'll most likly buckle them the first trip out, motorbike wheels or trailer wheels are the go ,they also have decent bearing setups so they are not going to explode at high speeds.the forks cop a pounding when your loaded up as mentioned and you hit a stingray hole (sometimes common at Sandgate but luckily not this year).youshould find the rig easliy handled ,looks good ,see you down there,...
jay
Just a comment on the previous pic......
Aren't wheels wonderfull things and what people can do with them !!!..
