Well after a years delay (lost interest for a bit). I finally got my land-yacht completed and took it out. have had some trials and tribulations with it, first time was becalmed, second time out the sail blew apart but I still got to sail it. Got a fiberglass mast and a 5.6m windsurf sail and this time snapped the alloy mast base. I had two and when I got home I found the broken one was really lightweight compared to the one that snapped.
Second time out even with half a sail it was still pretty good fun and this was with a 4.7m sail and a bit of SS tube as a mast.
I can fix the breakages no problem, however I have some questions I would some help with.
What wind speeds should I be looking for to go out in? Today was 30knots and it was really hairy even setting it up before the breakage. This was too much I'm thinkin
Currently taking it to Raglan in NZ and was wondering if there were any other areas close and if there are any groups or clubs nearby?
Ok! Smokey are you in Auckland?? Go to Keriotahi Beach.. I used to fly Hang Gliders there years ago and it was wide and flat in those days.. Good Land Yachting beach.
Did you beef the Mast base up with a Wood Dowel for around .75m?
I would suggest that 30Kts with a large sail would be a tad on the optimistic side for a small LY it can get hairy on the Pacific Magic at that strength, Paul and Co will advise you on the area required for said sail areas for those wind speeds. Use a Carbon Fiber (CF) mast, Neil Pride 4.6m seems to handle strong winds.
Go through posts in this forum and glean as much info on your subject.
Ron
Hi Ron
Thanks for that, been told my mast is actually carbon fibre not fiberglass as I though. No I had not beefed up the mast stem with a wooden dowel, I will now do this.
The last mast and sail was a 4.6 and it was pretty good (even with a hole in it), the 5.6 was cheap. I got CF mast, the sail in pic, two mast stems, the boom and a windsurf board in good nick for $81.00 (that's NZ too
).
The entire build I have been trying to do on a budget (under $500.00) so far I'm at $680.00 but the fiancees been understanding
I am in Huntly so some distance from Auckland. Raglan is a 40 minute drive from home. Keriotahi is further away. I was hoping for a hidden beach somewhere...
Thanks for reply
Smokey
$81? I wish! I hear of them all the time but am always an hour too late
, usually $100.
Hidden beaches can be a right pain in the but. Ideally you need winds from around 45 degrees to the beach through 90 to 45 in the other direction onshore. The higher the landfall in the background the less likely you will get good winds as the Land tends to steer the usable wind along the beach, in these cases the wider the beach the better and hopefully as hard as your forehead. When you make the Dowel try to get it as near to the exact fit. Here is where I could differ to I made mine from Aussie Ash/Tassie Oak and as long as the lathe would handle (850mm) and about 75 mm should be a rounded taper about 3 or 4mm to soften the end (No sharp edges) stresses. I Araldited mine into place. I used a sanding wheel on my drill to lightly sand the inside of the mast. again I made up a meter long Mandrill to take the shank of the wheel to get the depth required. You will figure it for yourself there. Keep talking and asking you will Cut the Mustard in the end.
Ron
PS; I don't remember the timber types you guys grow there but it should be strong and springy not brittle.
Whenever I go to dry lake & am intimidated by wind, I pull out my anomometer and a little chart from my wallet:
8-9 = 6.9-7.2 sail
10-13 = 5.7-6.2 sail
14-15 = 4.7-5.2 sail
16-18 = 3.9-4.2 sail
20-21 = 3.0-3.5 sail
25 = 2.8-3.0 sail
Hits the nail on the head every time
Must be a real bugger when its gusting non-stop. you'd be constantly changing your sail!
I only have 1 sail so there is no need of a chart.
If my yacht moves with me in it the sail must be big enough.
If the wind speed increases I use more out haul and lean further over the windward wheel. Easy peasy!
Thing was just about jumping into the air when it gusted, before the mast stem snapped.
, usually $100.
Hey! Some times what you don't know can hurt you.. I would be weary of that mast with the Aly Sleeve if it is just butted together, especially if the Butting is in a area under great stress..
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Good Luck,
Ron
Some times what you don't know can hurt you.. I would be weary of that mast with the Aly Sleeve if it is just butted together, especially if the Butting is in a area under great stress...
