Hello everyboby. Been a long time since an update but here one is. After spending about a month without appropriate weather to paint, this weekend I finally finished the seat. Mast is a two-piece scrapyard special for $15.00. What do you think of the conservative colour? Figured I can get another 5 kmh due to the red
Time to cut up a sail...
Looks great Lachlan. They will certainly see you coming.
It sort of reminds me of that mean looking trimaran "Mooloolaba Fire Truck".
Maybe "The Brigalow Fire Truck" would be a good name for this one.
Sorry Hills, sails will be recycled sailboard/windsurfer though i'll do my best. I think the mast is fibreglass, it looks fairly old and has an alloy band around the join on the lower section. I dont know anything else, haven't even put a tape measure along it. Good to see you spotted the paintwork Paul but I've simply tricked you. Lowering the resolution and size of the images has blurred some bits, I promise it looks nicely bright red with a couple of good solid layers of paint (on the parts that aren't covered by padding at least) .
Thanks for the encouraging comments.
Hi everyone. Just thought I'd finish this build thread off with some images and some thoughts about the project.
Below are some images from a recent holiday to Port Fairy (Vic) where I had the chance to do a little sailing. Had a blast dodging Kelp and seaweed and blasting down the beach. Sailing gear on the shopping list for the future is a pair of motorcross type goggles and a helmet.
The yacht handled beautifully, as far as I can tell having sailed only two other landyachts. I really like the steering setup, which was as per the plans (should have done it that way first time round). You know that Paul fella and comrades are some smart cookies.
Having the seat rest on the 'spine' of the chassis really helps for strength, and helps with the confidence (ie: less likely to break apart, or feels that way ). After a couple of flips onto its side I can say the seat did turn out strong enough (for now) and cheap 6mm 5ply from Home hardware appears to hold up to the rigors of sailing. I also like the seat backrest angle, although I have to do the seatbelt up tight as I push my body rearward a little too much. I must be getting excited and kicking outwards a bit
There are some decent beaches near port Fairy to landsail up and down. The best being Port Fairy itself but I found the wind always came parallel to it, so I did a bit of driving and found two beaches at Killarney that were better orientated. The two beaches are pictured above, both have vehicle access (boat launching access) and the best being the furthest east from the Killarney beach access road.
Other than that I think you all have read the story before. Great little yachts that feel a lot more exciting than their size suggests. Get out there and build one yourselves!!!
great to see a yacht getting dirty. the yacht looks to be sailing and flexing jussst... nice. do you feel that youve properly christened it now youve got on a beach
Yep! Not so much due to being on a beach but this was its maiden voyage, been sitting in wait for a good few months unfortunately. Work has also been keeping me too busy as well.
We no longer have access to an appropriate paddock to sail in and the saleyards have a lot of stuff around to mess with the wind (that and at least 5 days per week it can't be used ). Been searching for a new venue close by, will have to go for a drive sometime and ask around the farming properties with nice paddocks.
Great to hear you have had a successful "maiden voyage" Lachlan. Was there any blood?
An LLF Mini built to plan certainly rewards you for the effort you put in.
My first sail in mine at Yeppoon two years ago put a BIG grin on my face. Cheers.
No Blood or injuries, you would have heard about that . The only incident was the slightly less than pretty gibe + spin, spin, flip I conducted (aftermath pictured above). I remembered the rules and kept my arms and legs inside the vehicle (aka. frozen still while wondering what was going on ), and only came out with a seat full of sand and a slightly bent front seat mount.
Hopefully heading up to NSW when the weather cools and wind picks up (hopefully)and will be taking the mini's. Be good to get out before that again though.
Good stuff Lachlan Hope you get many more days with your two minis
I hope to have two minis up and running shortly so others can join in
the fun at once
Great stuff Lachlan!! Looks like you've done an excellent job!! Great pics too!
Have you given it a name now?
No name has come to me yet. Any ideas?
Red Rocket seems appropriate to me but a little unimaginative, I think I will finish the build off with a big Sticker/stencil of the yachts eventual name down its sides
Little Red (the name of a band though)
Hellboy - I just watched the movies a couple of days ago
Firefly - Im a fan of the show
HIKO,
You've hit the Nail on the Head Lachlan has no choice now. It will for ever be thought of as the "Bendigo Firetruck" unlike Robin Hoods Trya????
Ron
or "Red Hot"
or "Wheelin rouge"
or "khmer rouge"
or "Crimson kart"
or "Scarlett fever"
or a great name I was on a ski boat once - "Shi-tot"... but that really has nothing to do with red :(
Hell's Bells! Hiko,
What have you done??? It is just as well this wasn't an exercise in Nuclear Fusion... This would be one good explosion.