My first land sailer build! I am brand new to the sport and this is a really fun build. This mini was made from scavenged metal, most of which came off an old weight bench, spruce tree mast and boom and tyvek sail. I would like to express a very large thank you to the folks who run and support this forum. Look forward to learning much more about the sport.
Welcome to the forum Bob. Excellent first build. She is a real spartan racer that one. You really need to fit a seat/safety belt and something to stop your feet from hitting the ground when they come off the steering pedals.
These yachts are good for 50 mph+ and if your foot hits the ground at that speed it will end up behind your ear.
Keep us posted with pics and vids when you go sailing.
Lots of help and advice available on this forum. Cheers.
Thanks Cisco, I will take your advice about the belt and something to keep my feet from hitting the ground. I appreciate the advice and will keep you posted.
Can you tell me anything about where to begin with batten stiffness? The sail construction is fascinating to me and I would love to learn some of the finer points.
thanks again!
Usually battens for land yachts are stiff for all but the leading 10 to 20% of their length. This puts the sail curve/draught well forward which is what you need with a high speed sail.
Have a trawl through the sail making section. Wealth of information there.
You might well have the only land yacht in Alaska but surely there would be plenty of ice yachts there. Might be worth setting the yacht up with a set of blades for winter.
Congratulations Bob love your yacht I agree with Ciscos comments
Get out there and have fun Using and experimenting is good fun
You will get a lot of it for your buck with that
That is an awesome effort Bob!!!!
A total build from scratch. That alone is to be admired.
Love it. You made my week.
Looks like John Deere colors! Think it's cool , the spruce mast! Is the wood green or had it dried!, If I remember isn't there some beach there in holmer?
Make a try on a windy day there
Mini yacht based on the Lefroy plans, has has some small mods since it was built but is sails very well and very easy to build.
Unwilling sailor
Wheelbarrow seat
Class: Lake Lefroy Mini
Design: Paul Day and friends Mini Explorer www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Land-Yacht-Sailing/Construction/Build-a-Landyacht-Lake-Lefroy-Mini-Yacht/
Mast: 5M
Sail: 6.5/7sq M
Location: Sydney (sailing on North coast)
Built by: BillNSW
Build notes: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Land-Yacht-Sailing/Construction/Lake-Lefroy-Mini-Mini-Explorer-build-NSW/
Maiden voyage: