Hey! Im not familiar with land sailing, but I would like to try It. I came across the plume kart on line, can someone tell me more about It. I like the idea that It folds up.
It's very deferent from a lot of the minis I've seen on this forum photos.
I like to build something similar to the plume kart.
Well then MrOket
Looking at the site and pic's of the PK I would seggest it is designed around having fun and perfoirming in Light to Medium wind strengths. I would also say that it is not a performance machine for competition purposes. All in all if a bit of fun and learning is all you want it for then sure. Keep this in mind a LLF Mini is constructed properly could be all things to all comers and is a fairly simple build. Keep talking and keep asking we will get you there yet.
Ron
It did very well at the recent Mini world championship (2nd, I think) and others were high up in the results. People I know who have seen them sailing say they go very well - probably quicker overall than a Blokart and with excellent handling. The Plume factory has an excellent pedigree. My concern is how vulnerable your arsecheeks are to large lumps in the ground!
Only the front wheel is small, the rears are 400 x 8 like the LLF - there is also an option to use 'Bigfoot' wheels. Seems a nice package, and good to see something which picks up the good points of a Blokart and tries to move the game on, rather than directly copying.
Don't know how easy it would be to homebuild something similar though? An LLF would probably be a better start?
The Plume is a nice piece of kit, I would prefer a larger front wheel . Did very well at the worlds. Miniyacht Class Group
www.facebook.com/groups/101582223220316/files/#!/groups/439120376133960/445637748815556/?comment_id=445639375482060¬if_t=group_comment
Other Miniyachts ,
www.char-a-voile.com/www-uk/ludic.html
minilandyachts.co.uk/specs.html
www.char-a-voile.com/silence.html
www.x-sail.com/
www.windcar-mexico.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=15&lang=en
www.spike.com/video-clips/2iqxkv/kwikat-landsailer-flying-on-2-wheels-beside-ocean
www.plumefactory.fr/yachts/1-plume-kart
wind-chaser.com/
www.vkart.fr/Details.html
www.landsegler.de/sail-kit.htm
www.windreamer.es/
www.blokart.com/#MapFrame
www.windline.net/sirocco.htm
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Land-Yacht-Sailing/Construction/Build-a-Landyacht-Lake-Lefroy-Mini-Yacht/
www.rinox.es/
sailkarting.blogspot.com/p/sailkart.html
just had a look at the Plume home site. They seem to have put a great deal of thought as to what a buyer may require to become interested. seem to have most bases covered. I tip the person who takes out the aussie franchise will do well. It also seems that it would publish landyachting well, probanbly lift interest many fold. 
as an off the shelf item I suspect that the name Plume is french for air current = willy willy here or dust devil, rebadgeing would need to be "ROO" or "SKIPPY" for the aussie market , from the bag that holds your feet in. That's its weak point....cloth rot, i give it an eight........
Thank you everybody for info, I usualy dont do forums but I wanted some thought on the plumekart. I'd would only use the kart for fun around my beach area or parking lots. I did have questions about building one but I like to tinker with projects.
I also have concerns about seating and bag skirt for the feet, I was thinking of changing the hand steer to foot steer. For whatever reason I wanted something different then a blokart.
MrOcket
No you are thinking, foot steering is the way to go as it leaves the hands free to deal with Sheet Rope and cameras 'n' such like.
If you are going to build I would suggest that (After having had a closer look at the Plume site) a LLF would be a far simpler built as the rear axles are a detachable affair and the front steering and wheel could be developed to be the same. The seat can be built from fiber glass and Ply. The wheels are cheap enough if you look around. To my eye the disadvantages of building a plume are all the extra trussing and reinforcing. I suggest that having the Mast Step as high as they do will reduce the efficiency of the sail by raising the center of effort.
Designed correctly I don't see why a LLF should be much over 4' long fully packed and ready to travel..
Paul/landyacht have you given a design for this purpose any thought?? Most people can do Roof Racks but a trailer is another Ball Game..
Ron
PS; Looking and thinking on it, I think a LLF could be more compact when folded for travel.
if you were on the tall or heavy side ,I would be concerned about the little front wheel on the plume, in soft banks it dug in easily and relied on having body weight well back to prevent tripping.
the front fork was a brilliant carbon fibre molding ,however and rather ingenious steering set up, it was the only set up like it.sorry I dont have a photo.
the folding mechanism was rather good as well ,very compact when packed. the whole yacht was rather a light package,with some relly well cut sails in the range
I reckon this number from Seagull is worth a good look.
www.char-a-voile.com/silence.html
You know DY, when it domes down to the wire any LY Manufacturers that is worth it's salt should be quietly watching for innovative ideas. Shoot! Seabreeze is the place for that.
Ron
The Airtrack already has foot steering - the tiller is just to assist push starts I think. Still, lots of hardware placed to make a mess of your squishy bits though.
Gizmo,
That little experimental is basically the Bees Knees, sure it has a couple of minor problems but they are easily cured. I like the basic Chassis and seating arrangement but a couple of tweaks and there could be a viable, cheap to build unit to have a lot of fun with. If the builder of that unit is watching then they should take notice. With the Axles removed and fastened into the seat along with a 3 piece mast and rolled up sail the whole shooting match should fit into the back of a family hatch back or easily on a roof rack. Looking at it I should say a unit such as that would weigh in at around 20-25kgs. 20 minutes should see it on the ground rigged and ready for fun. Hell Occum's Razor takes me all of about 15 minutes to drag out of the Rodeo and ready to sail, I do not have to remove the axles from it though..
Ron
OK! So are we the only Wimps in the World of Land Yachting?? Where are the Seat Belts??
Oh! Speaking of Seat Belts I found a site in the States that Have the Porsche Lap seat belt with the Flap/Aircraft type Buckle for less than $50 I fitted one to Occum's Razor about 3 months ago.. Just a point of interest. The site supplies the restoration people.
Ron
PS; Just thinking of that foot steering set up, I would suggest that the extension tube be cut a lot shorter and if required it could be the short length with a 6" extension internally to fit into the Mast Step mounted piece. I also think the Tiller could be dispensed with, I may never happen but if one crashes and his/her body shoots forward there could be a nasty hole left in ones softer parts. A Seat Belt might help prevent this as well.
Nothing wrong with tiller steering I actually personally love it (a lot of people don't, but don't dis the idea until you have tried it), But importantly if you do want to go that way make sure you make the end of the tiller safe with a ball like a gearstick knob.
And for those screaming that it is unsafe, I've seen lots of leg injuries from the foot pegs on the steering setups particularly after a crash.
And its not nice to remove a person from a yacht with an enclosed body that has crashed, the pilot has slid forward and gashed their leg on the foot pedals. Yuk.. blood everywhere 
Thats why in the LLM we use a thin enough tube for foot steering that will bend rather than the ankles breaking. It worked for me! 
The person with the gashed leg was using a seat belt.... But the seat was very reclined like most yachts these days, a lap seat belt for a reclining seat is virtually useless you just slide down through it in a sudden stop.
If people are to use seat belts please make sure that they will be effective and not there just to satisfy club rules, over the years I've nearly seen 2 people drown on a land yacht because of poorly fitted belts. And I've seen on other yachts using a snap clips or a climbing carabiners as the clip.... why!!!! I just shake my head with disbelief.
So Gizmo,
Did you turn about so you didn't actually see them drown??? Hmm. Interesting turn of Fraze[}:)]
On the seating subject.. That is partly why the seat in Occum's Razor is shaped a bit like a Chinese Soup Spoon. The Scoop shape tends to hold ones butt in place.. I also was caught by the Seat Belt Conundrum. The wind tipped OR on its side and left me hanging there almost helpless, luckily I managed to get enough lift with my toes to take the pressure off the Seat Belt to release myself (Tribulations of a lone Pilot) Now the Razor has a Porsche type Flap style Seat Belt.
Ron
Nikrum hanging like a Bat in the belfry. I'd like to see that. Ha ha, sorry Ron.
Reckon it's dozens of times that has happened to me, having 2 wheel competitions on a 2 marker beam reach course. It's great fun with a stiff sea breeze. You're only allowed to have 3 wheels on the ground within 10mtrs of a marker both approaching and leaving.
I really do like the tapered fiberglass axles on the "Airtrack" or is it one piece? They would be great on our rougher surface here.
It's a really snappy bit of gear.
Thanks IPKSA for the list of yachts. Some interesting reading there Alan.
!Cisco
It is not the Brand that counts it is still the fact that you CAN still get them. They are the same as Light Aircraft buckles but smaller and not as expensive is all I am saying as well as the fact that they are simple and virtually will not jam, not even for your poor OLD fingers.
Chook, Bats in my Belfry?! What're you, Crazy?? Never have been any up there, it is too strange for them even. Cripes! I often wonder, (Talk about a Daley Exhibition), what the hell I am doing up there it is that strange.
Ron
