hello,
I want to build a 5.6 mini out of okuome plywood and spruce.some of the old style ice boats in north America were stern steerers with the two wheels up front. appearantly this design would spin out and toss the driver on occasion!!!! I built and raced hydroplanes, and have an idea for a transom mounted rear wheel with a drum and pulley steering system.any thoughts on this idea?
thanks
coffeejohn
Tucson , Arizona usa
Having raced hydroplanes you would be aware of how fast your reactions need to be at speeds of 30+mph. Wheel and drum steering would be I think too slow, considering you also have to maintain control of your sheeting. On a larger yacht you might get away with wheel and drum steering.
With mini's you have to be able to release or haul in your ropes quickly and if your steering by hand that makes for a fast flip. If you do flip in a rear steer you are very close to the ground(and therefore injury) being at the tip of a triangle whereas front steer would have you at the centre of the triangle and more ground clearance.
As for tossing the driver out that doesn't happen on our mini's as we use seat belts.
Foot steering also allows you to brace yourself to shift body weight for added control.
Rear steering has most of your weight on the steering wheel while front steering has you weight dispersed between the rear wheels.
This is just my opinion and others may agree or disagree
Rear steering is generally not as stable as front steering Think driving your car fast backwards
Forklifts are very manoevrable but usually travel with the steering wheels at the front when moving fast any distance
as they are more stable that way. I imagine rear steering on a landyacht would be very twitchy More than they already are. I could be wrong
hiko,
thanks for your imput.i was thinking of a pedal steering system vs a steering wheel,so both hands to pull in the sheet.
coffeejohn
I just found a 4 wheel version from seagull of france.2 front wheels wide ,2 back wheels close in back.it must work if they have brought it to market with all the liability issues a company faces these days.any thoughts?
thanks for your imput........
coffeejohn
If you are referring to the Urban model it states that the steering is on the front wheels
I thought you were contemplating steering with the back wheels?
hiko
yes . I was thinking stern steer .i t hought the seagull was interesting with the wide axle up front.
thanks
It would be an interesting project
The centre of lateral resistance , centre of effort, and centre of gravity would all need to be somewhere just behind the front axle So the mast would need to be in front of it and you would need to be just behind it as the pilot makes up the major part of the CoG
Just my thoughts Keep us posted ! 
Hiko,
Sounds like you have a physics background.I really appreciate your input. I have a scirroco sprint land yacht made in Wisconsin,USA.very well built.I love woodcraft , so wanted to try building a landyacht on my own.
Cheers,
Coffeejohn
Physics background? No not really just a backyard blunderer
Building landyachts is a fun thing to do
Plenty of info on this site but it takes a bit of finding sometimes
This might help. some time ago when I was a little bored I scrolled through the history and added all i could find to my class3 build page, If you scroll down the link you will find lots of info,
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Land-Yacht-Sailing/Construction/Class3/?page=8
Maybe it could be updated some more.
aus230,
so many helpful people on this site. thanks for telling me about the class 3 section.I need as much info as possible!
coffeejohn
Select to expand quotecoffeejohn said..
hello,
. appearantly this design would spin out and toss the driver on occasion!!!! .any thoughts on this idea?
thanks
coffeejohn
Tucson , Arizona usa
Ive had a good read of your first post and and wittled it down to those few words that really summarized it. you know it will go wrong yet your busting to build it
Select to expand quotelandyacht said..
Ive had a good read of your first post and and whittled it down to those few words that really summarized it. you know it will go wrong yet your busting to build it
Afghanistan, Iraq, Nuclear Power, GMO Food, I think its an American thing Paul.
sylk,
I don't want to waste my time,cash and risk injury that bad just to see what if.......
I think I will go back to a more traditional concept yacht with one wheel steering up front!!!!!
thanks for all of your comments
coffeejohn
Just build it and you wont die wondering. 
) 
Select to expand quoteChook2 said..
Just build it and you wont die wondering.
Just re read this and that was NOT a good choice of words.
Sorry coffeejohn, I meant if you don't try, you will never know!!!
The Lake Lefroy Mini build is a fantastic place to begin, though a more steel orientated build.
there are some really great slotted plywood machines out there which would b a fantastic project also
Select to expand quotelandyacht said..
there are some really great slotted plywood machines out there which would b a fantastic project also
You have lost me with the slotted plywood construction landyacht.
I googled it and I'm still none the wiser. Can you elaborate for this poor peasant please.
Select to expand quoteChook2 said..landyacht said..
there are some really great slotted plywood machines out there which would b a fantastic project also
You have lost me with the slotted plywood construction landyacht.
I googled it and I'm still none the wiser. Can you elaborate for this poor peasant please.
gizmo found some pics a few years ago of a great kids project . the whole yacht was from ply panels that slotted together
I really like the look of this one, it reminds me of a sulky cart.
It goes very well ! Actually appears to be centre steer like a loader Not seen that configuration before
I think that any force trying to tip it would translate to a turn into the wind.
I also think a lay down version would not work as you could not get enough leverage to steer properly!:}
Whole machine makes good sense to me, 4 wheels to share load, mast well supported, wide front axle resists tipping, easy to steer with the tiller arm. From what I can see there is no reason for it to not have a reclined seat and foot steering. He looked very comfortable and I'm envious of the hard sand he has with wind straight down the beach.
If you're lying down your feet would a lot closer to the front and away from centre of steering pivot therefore much less leverage.
Alsoyou will notice that the boom is sheeted to the upper spine to which the mast is attached and laying down over this would have the sheeting attached through your body very impractical an painful
I'm sure that could be worked around TP1.
I'm amazed!!!
It's really smooth through the turns. Not a hell of a lot of wind or speed shown.
Gotta love this design for being out there and giving it a go.
So how about a timber one, also from November 2009.
"landyacht" you are going to all that trouble to build your new ply seat and look what you "could have" to sail in style here.
Has hand and foot steering, so fantastic for the disabled as well. Just wouldn't want a foot to slip off the steering bar, that would be really nasty.
I love em!!!
Select to expand quoteTest pilot 1 said..
If you're lying down your feet would a lot closer to the front and away from centre of steering pivot therefore much less leverage.
l
In both videos it is sheeted directly by a rope wrapped around a hand. I can foresee a loss of feeling after a long run.And then if you had to let go quickly in a strong wind.
