I think this is starting to look better.
I shortened the sheeting block support shaft by 2.5 inches.
I reduced the amount of mast extension by 3 inches.
sheeted in
I put two pieces of plastic pipe6 inches long with a vertical slice around the mast to make the mast fit the mast tube better. The mast is now supported the entire lenght of the mast tube.
Okay wind....blow!
Brian,
To my eye that looks better, I don't know what others will say. If needs must, you could always remove from the front and put it behind the mast to gain a little more forward Rake. Blow Wind Blow. How does it Sheet down now? or is it sheeted down fully??
Ron
Ron:
If I apply more pull on the main sheet I can still increase the downhaul. It is still rigged as per the plan for racing, using a double block. I have a block set up that I use to create downhaul so I can clip my downhaul into place then remove the set up block. This way I will have some downhaul tension even when sheeted out.
Brian
Had an interesting sail session at the sod farm. If I don't have at least 25km/hr wind I don't think it is worth going out...I need a bigger sail. The other day it was pretty good. My mini worked great. My Zooter on the other hand did not fair so well. On the last run of the day the weld holding the mast gave way. It was welded very poorly. Fortunately no injuries.
I spent this weekend modifying the zooter. (photos in a day or so) New weld for the mast step, and frame bracing were done. I changed the mast struts to one piece stainless tubes instead of the floppy turnbuckle rig. I replaced the canvas seat (could not keep the straps from coming loose), with a Fiberglass seat. I welded the frame connections where it bolted together as the bolt connection seemed too flexy and I was worried about bolt fatigue . The zooter no longer comes apart for transport, but it should not be coming apart during use either.
I don't like the steering and I am looking to change it as well. ....considering junking the whole thing and just build another llf mini.
I think the Zooter is built to sell, not to sail.
Brian,
I wanted to say something when you first said you'd bought one, before it arrived.,. trouble is how do you say to someone that they've been sold a Pup/Piece of Crap??? Feelings get hurt and could have driven you away from sailing, Disappointment.. It seems you are made of sterner stuff GOOD. Your last idea was a good one, junk it for spares and build another Mini, will the sail and wheels make the grade? I sespect that the Zooter Manufacturer was trying to take advantage of a few Old Farts that sail once or twice on Tarmac and forget that it is in the shed from there on. From what I hear the Prick is running scared up on the Gold Coast.
RRon
Yeah! Brian
I'll go along with Cisco on that. The harder and smoother the surface the faster in a given wind speed. Look for an abandoned Airfield or one with little use a Large Car park near or at a sporting complex etc. Perhaps a surreptitious Run on one of those Large Highways. Eh! Just a thought
Every time I get near a goodly hill I think of taking the Razor down under Grav' Power
Ron
Another of my son's land sailing video. This was taken at the sod farm near our house. we get to use the land that has had the grass stripped off. It is flat and hard packed, but there are ridges of sod about an inch wide every 2 feet so when you go across the grain, it gets kind of bumpy and the ride is rough.
we were able to sail at about 35kpm with a max speed this day of 42kpm. Tried to do some sliding turns.
You may note that I still don't have my Zooter out. I put a fiberglass seat to replace the cloth one that was falling apart. It looked good, but I forgot to check the height. The seat sat about 7 inches higher. I was rigging my mini and did not check before Mike took off in the Zooter. When he turned, he almost took his head off. Good thing he had a helmet. I am going to put the seat lower, but I am more and more convinced that this unit will be headed for the spare parts bin. Or it will be a dedicated ice boat.
The llf mini seamed to be working better with the new changes. I would appreciate any advice about the rigging
Sorry about the lack of good running shots in the video, but Mike was the editor and one cannot complain too much to artists.
Brian
exccelent!!!!!!. only suggestion would be to pull the boom through the gybes rather than letting it just swing across. you will stuff the sail or damage a boom ,or,mast or sail or head eventually
Great vid. It's kept exciting with terrific editing!!!
That is a fantastic looking craft with paint job to die for.
Nice effort all round guys!!!
Thanks for your feedback everyone. This has been a fantastic project and your help has been invaluable.
I have the bug now, so it looks like I will need to build a new llfmini this winter. I am getting kicked out of the garage for 3 months whilst we do a home renovation. Really, how bad does one need a new kitchen? For what it is going to cost I could have 2 Chook shops!
I am thinking of going with bigger tires to soften the effect of the sod strips. Has anyone put shock absorbers on a mini?
Brian
PS If anyone sees my balls floating around PM me so you can send them back.
Bugger! Brian, you beat me to the Punch Line.. I was going to say "Looks like you had a Right Ball out there" You still got the left one???
Seriously me Old Son The Paint Job suits the operation of your machine "Sails Like it is on fire" and the Editing ------Well Chook certainly got it right. What program do you use??
Ron
Keep them Wheels Spinning
fair amount of grass cover, lotsa ripples, plenty of weight. You were having great
fun and raizing dust.....great to see.
"May the Power be with You"
It looks like the season is over for me. It snowed and it is now always below zero. The lake has not yet frozen over. When it does and we get a warm wind, I will try out the skis on my Zooter and make some for my mini. If the lake freezes clear I may get a chance to put some skates on my landyachts rather than snow skis. If either happen I will post photos or video.
I have re-built the zooter, reinforced the welds, replaced the flexible stays with stainless tubes and replaced the cloth seat with a wooden seat. (I had used a fiberglass seat I had kicking around but it sat too high and almost took Mike's head off... opps). The Zooter a lot stiffer now and I think considerably safer. I got a e-mail from Zooter about a month ago stating that they would ship a replacement mast step to me, but I have yet to see it. It doesn't matter I think the thing is fixed more or less it will do until I get my next mini built. I have two friends who are now interested in building landyachts. Might get something going up here.
