I am new to the forum. I am going to build a mini yacht, since I have only been on a landyacht once for an hour (a blokart in Bonaire) I have no experience. To help me I decided to buy a Zooter, this way I have a tested model to try out and compare to the one I build. Since it is winter in Canada I thought I would put skis on my Zooter to try it out on the lake. I would like some suggestions here is my plan.
I want to use a full length childs ski in the rear, I will make the bracket so it is simular in footprint to a ski boot. This way I will obtain the optimum design benefits of the ski. I think that when turning with the wind, the windward ski would unweight and the leeward ski would be able to flex and turn just like a normal ski turn. For the front I want to use a ski that is about 1/3 the length of a normal ski to decrease the amount of edge grab and lateral force.
Any ideas?
welcome to the forum, sabydent. i've put some thought and research into snow skis also, but haven't done anything yet, but some kite buggiers have. take a look at this thread from power kite forum.www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=15746
From your description of a Zooter
http://www.zootercompetition.com/home.html
One would also assume that the Lake you are going to use is a Frozen Snow covered lake? That should be interesting and this year should be good given the amount of snow that has fallen in the Northern North Americas. I strongly doubt that anyone has tried that here in Aus' as the Hills is pretty Rugged where the snow falls here.
Given the way skis work I think you may have a few problems to solve like;
Ski rolling over when on 2 skis, their design uses that to steer. Me thinks the rear is going to want to turn in that direction.
Keeping the Skis flat on the snow is definitely going to be a problem to solve
Pivoting will only allow the ski to roll with sideways thrust from the wind. which could bite into the snow and spit you out.
You will have a lot to overcome, put a lot of thought into this conversion..
The Zooter looks a bit tiny very much like a Kite Buggy.
www.briskites.com.au/index.php?l=product_detail&p=527
I would suggest that you have a look at building a LLF Mini and convert it to Skates. Plans in these pages.
Anyway Keep us all posted, with pic's .
regards,
Ron
i suspect laying the rear skis over by say 5 degrees with assist with inline stability and keeping in a straight line.
maybe have a look at how a skidoo front lays over into the turn to get an idea of how much the front will have to lay over to cut a turn. it should all work with a little thought. please keep us posted
Thanks, i think I will go with snowmobile skis as indicated. I hope I can find some cheap. My zooter arrives on Monday so I wii get at it as soon as I can. Will post photos asap. I enjoy this forum and can hardly wait to start on ny llf mini.
Go For It Sabydent,
I don't know if it has been tried before but I reckon your next door neighbors may well have tried it (the ones over the boarder). It seems there is always someone over there who is willing to try something crazy or different
They don't have the Darwin Awards for nothing.
How does one wish luck to Land Yachters "Break a Leg" sounds a little rough
Ron
Ron, the term you are looking for is "break a speed record" either your own or world! 
[}:)]
Sabydent
I do hope your Zooter arrives today, I'll keep my fingers crossed. If it is coming from a Canadian distributor, you may be lucky. The Australian importer is now selling Zooters only off his web site as for one reason or another all the distributors have gone. I'm not too sure if there are any left in the USA.
Recieved my Zooter today. It looks pretty cool. Unfortuantely it is -25C today and the ground is snow covered. Will be shopping for snowmobile ski skins today after work, then going to the shop to put my Zooter together. Start the LLFMini build in March. Have an emergency trip to Aruba to take windsurf lessons.
Columbia??
Dang is Customs going to go through you when you go home.. Don't accept no Bent Colombians.
Ron
Actually, Aruba is in the Caribbean just off Venezuela. Should be nice to have a 60 degree temperature change and get some wind. It will delay the start of my LLF mini but in life we sometimes have to make the tough choices.
I was able to order snowmobile ski skins for $50 a pair plus $8 each for skegs which will help the skis track. They are kind of big, so I am concerned with the tourque that will be applied to the small stainless steel steering mechanism. Hope I don't end up with a bent frame and a $1000 lesson in stupidity.
Brian
Boy! Are you ever going to notice the Temp difference coming home Just be sure to keep your Brass Monkeys in a warm place.
Yeah! I had a quick look around Aruba before I made that post. Bogata wasn't that far away so I used Columbia as a reference.. There isn't much room for Land Yachting there but some nice little beaches dotted about the Coast Line to the South.]
So have an enjoyable time Keep the Board off the rocks and go for it.
Ron
Just finished the skis for my zooter. I used plastic ski skins from a snowmobile and welded up a rig to attach them to the axles. Because the bolts for the axles need to be tight, I had to make a bushing to allow rotation. I used two pieces of pipe that fit inside each other, then made a welded washer to keep the inside pipe from sliding. For the rear skis I used angle iron and 1/4 inch steel. For the front I used angle iron (I ran out of plate steel). It all came together pretty good, I am now waiting for the weather to turn as it is -25 C right now. It is supposed to be a balmy -15 tomorrow with 17km/hr wind so I can hopefully give it a try.
Thanks for all your help.
brian
Doooooood! Lookin' Gooooood!,
Yup it looks Mighty Fine to me and those skis? I had my doubts as I was thinking Kiddies Snow Skis..
Main Point is; "How does the Beast function?" and why have you Not posted her underway??
Ron
First thing I thought when I saw it was 'looks like a UFO'. With any luck this will be true for any spectators you get (emphasizing the F part)
TOO COLD To Frikin' Cold Damn! Are you Canadians Soft Ass's or Summit? Get yer Bleedin' Act together Son and get out there 'n' Have Some Fun!!
Ron
I took this rig out to the lake last week, the wind was only 13kpm. I rigged up, got in and sheeted in. I then sat there with no movement at all. The wind was not strong enough to overcome the friction. Fortunately, I was by myself with no one around. This was the only wind we have had since I made the skis. Obviously the weather gods are not smiling at me. Now the snow is going and the ice is too rotten to try it out. Next year I guess. Fortunately, the pavement is clearing so I can go out with the wheels on.
I used to be the Distributor for Zooter in the UK and I discovered the welding is very dodgy making the buggy extremely dangerous. I would stay as far away from Zooters as possible.
