Kit Land Yachts...

When I was building my LLMini I thought would I have done this as my first yacht?
My first land yacht was a Freeflight "Manta" which came in kit form which I built with a mate in his fathers garage after we moved the caravan out.
At the moment there are 2 sorts of yachts currently sailing around the world, those that are manufactured and come complete and prebuilt and at the other end is the DIY type where you need to do every thing.
At times on the forum it appears that some people struggle with the process of this sort of building of land yacht (as i know i would have also when i first came into the sport).
So what im getting to, is there room in the sport for a kit yacht and if so what level should it be?
I would imagine one that could be built by a father & child maybe over a couple of weekends with only a minium of tools ie. drill, shifter and a screw driver kit.
Bill Finch many years ago tried to solve this problem with a yacht called a Faze5 which was a clamp system "Kit" with most things pre made you just had to get your own tube. And from what I can see is the Club88 was similar in concept of a kit style yacht.

I have previously done a lot of work with industrial design students and often their way of thinking is rather non conformist, actually something they are taught.
Im actually NOT thinking a LLMini kit but some sort of different type of design.. not to be faster or more compact etc,etc but an "IKEA" type yacht so to speak for new commers to the sport.
While the insurance is an inportant factor do you look for that when you buy a wall unit or bed from IKEA?
With the world economic climate at the present there would probably be many small engineering companies in Australia that have the resorces, indemnity and ability to produce an item like a land yacht kit.

I agree. I believe the market is crying out for an affordable "Mini Yacht" that is standardised and easily completed at home with the minimal of skills and readily available "off the shelf" components.

This is quite achieveable as far as the trike goes. When it comes to the mast and sail though it is very difficult to trim the cost while maintaining standardisation.

Kit form is a great concept for what we are talking about but when selling to the general public on a commercial basis, as Hillsy has mentioned, all sorts of manufacturer and public liability issues come into play.

I still think there is a way of doing it though. Cheers Cisco.

There is some merit in this conversation, starter kits, initial contact arousal's,
I have never seen anything in Australia like radio controlled model landys. These were around in popular mechanics eons ago, simple, easy, cheap and they make the initial connection with much needed parent sibling participation. "From little things, big things grow". Could be a good affordable promotional point for schools, the limpet point.
The next step is similar to what happened in the canoe industry. From the original old cumbersome Canadian type canoes " read blown cart " to the Roto moulded heavy duty plastic non destructible' wild man, solo style.
This could be the entry level man carrying capable, less injurious and nearly indestructible, cost effective, have a go matey, starter. No welding skills, just goooo!!!
Chassis in one bit, wack on three wheels, step the mast and unfurl the sail, me hearty's, and your up and racing
Mast and sail $200.....3 wheels $75......Chassis $250......seatbelt $ 30..... profit $100,
am i loopy or what ........ Sorry, ....add disclaimer sticker $ 2

I hope this doesn't start another fight!

Welcome blokart owners into our existing clubs and events for a start. That way they'll get give class 5 a go (and I'd get to give a blokart a go too )

I think things have improved a lot in this area of late and there seems to be much less of an "Us and them" attitude, but there's a way to go yet.

Watch this space - a knock down class 5 might not be far away

Yes it would be interesting. How many Blokart sailors would buy a Class 5 landyacht if it was produced by Blokart?

detailed plans on any class 5 apart from the pacific magic I've found that no one seems willing to help (refer to www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=51373 ).So I gave up on class5 and currently considering a NALSA class#1

I see the reasons for no plans availability in recent years, is that the class is a development class, always has been, always will be. Seagull Promo plans in minute details are on the net, just look, but an "open" 5 would be out of date on the international scene before you could draw the plans, let alone print. In Europe there are changes on a weekly basis by the competitive sailors, that's how they stay competitive.
It's not a lack of willingness to help, it's more "I don't want to reccomend something which will be out of date tomorrow"!
There have been many laudible attempts to have one design within the framework of an existing class in many forms of sport, landyachting, sailing are just 2. I have yet to see one that works outside a small area geographically. NZ was a good example. The Winger was a great yacht and gave rise to good competitive sailing. But the net result was that the standard stagnated where the rest of the world kept going. When the Seagull came back to NZ and lapped the second place yacht in just over 2 laps of a 5 lap race the writing was on the wall. 2 options, join the Seagull squad, or give up, and both happened. Was this good for the sport, there are 2 sides to every discussion! 26" wheels are another example, lots of people gave up when this undoubted performance improvement was allowed, cost being the major reason. Doubled the cost of a yacht almost overnight until people figured how to make their own, by which stage it was too late to get many back!

Gizmo-"iand, What were your specific questions relating to class5"
I tried to get hold of plans for the Promo, Fed-5, Club-88 to compare mast position (distance from rear wheels to mast base), construction styles, material sizes, different ways of adjustable mast rake etc. before committing to a particular design

The "Big Yacht" was a project for tourist rides on Ninety Mile Beach. It was a commissioned design by Ron Given, and a number of us were consulted on how to achieve it. It was funded by the NZ govt tourism initiative (perhaps a scam) and progressed to about what you see. From memory it was going to be a 12 seater to operate in conjunction with the tourist coaches which travel the beach every day.
The "no wind" was the biggest issue which I could see, and how to get it up to a sailing speed. The last consultation which I was involved with was addressing that issue. The concept at the time was a 4th wheel driven by a light weight high speed diesel which was going to be retractable. Very similar to the electric units which we designed and used for the Landyachts at the opening of the Commonwealth Games in Auckland, just on a VERY giant scale.
I didn't hear anything much after that (and my part of the consultancy was never paid), I suspected at the time that someone in funding circles "pulled the plug" on what in reality was a "hare brained scheme" . A number of people earned a fairly hefty salary for 12 months or so though!

I posted this some time ago. My mast is excelent quality.

Hi,
I noticed this post, I have been buying high tensile tube , firstly for gryocopters. airborne trikes and now land yacht masts, for a few years from Bob Kiely
(Light Spars Of Austrlia
6 Horscroft Pl, Moorabbin,
VIC 3189
p: (03) 9555 4622 f: (03) 9555 4965)

Bob still only uses phone / faxes ( as he says he is still using carrier pigions)
Bob has supplied masts for Travis Bartlet(through a supplier) and 2 directly to me.
He tests the tenstile strength of all his tube before he lets it go.
He is a great guy and has had years of experience in making masts .
Cheers
Aus 230

pity we can not get it there.