Got to sail the skinny Mini yesterday. Yes the skinny axles were way too flexible, even with a solid timber dowels glued inside. The amount of heel was nice, but the forward and aft flexing was uncontrollable. Didn't seem to slow it down though. I was snaking all over the place. An interesting ride. Also broke one of my welds for the seat attachment.
Next I can either try a 38mm glass tube or perhaps go to timber planks. I kind of like the plank option. I notice the Seagull Ludic has a plank type axle now.
the ludic is an interesting yacht. it has no chassis, and the twist is developed from the really thick fibreglass seat/chassis. the rear axles are like little fibreglass planks, that fit onto a steel frame in the rear. the actually perform rather well and the only one Ive sailed with paced a LLMini quite well
Suggestion !
When over in France at La Fanqui I examined many home built miniyachts- Some of the realy ingenious designs used two snow skis bolted together and cut as a back axle ! Great idea and very Ludic like.
Alan
Hey thats a great idea I know a place near here where a guy has old snow skis as
a fence! Must have got them somewhere..... Wonder how many holes he has put in his 
Hey- Paul-
there is at least 3 pairs of snow skis at balcatta underneath the old surfboards and windsurfer boards.
I dont know if I will have time to call in to balcatta next break- Anna won a trip to kununurra and I have been told I have to carry the bags.
yes there are , arnt there, ! so how much did we pay
I was thinking of using a nice bit bit of 100 x 25 hardwood decking and shaping it like a mini class 3 axle. Should look nice too. I like working in wood. I will also keep an eye out for some cheep snow skis.
I used 120x25 for a "class 4 " axle , so maybe 100x20. The famous aussie yacht "Wooden chook" used a similar size and was rarely beaten
Replaced the flexible axles with solid steel water pipe. Hiko will give it the next trial to try and brake it. Not much beach here at the moment, hope to get some good tides this weekend.
If it no longer has the wobbly problem, the best test you could do is to get it well up on 2 wheels and drop it hard to see if the rear axles will shock bend from the impact.
. it would probably straighten after if it does bend
ive tried using 40x3mm T6 ally for axles and it was great until that big knock when it would always bend
yes there are , arnt there, ! so how much did we pay
As a test, set the ski on 2 housebricks at the width of a mini. then stand in the middle. If it flexes , but bounces(oscilates) then it will be a bit flexible . If it bends 30mm and sits there then its probably just right.
take a photo. then repeat the test with 2 skis clamped together.
You get very strange looks when doing this in a timberyard
