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[Greggy1964]

This is my collapsable landyacht project, the idea is that it 'takes apart' for transport to the beach avoiding the need for a trailer.

The longest piece is the back axle and the whole thing will fit in the back of a small estate car.



The back wheels are 'twist and go scooter' wheels exactly like the transport trailer wheel seen in the back ground.

The axle tube is extended to allow a thin steel cone to be welded to it and the rim, this is because the back wheels take a massive side load generated by the 5.5 sq m sail as the tyres grip the sand and generate forward movement - very fast forward movement

They are extremely strong if a tad heavy.

The back wheel axles are angled in toward the centre line 20 degrees up from horizontal to avoid side loads on the roller ball wheel bearings and is a clever way of thus avoiding destroying bearings not especially designed for side loads

Wheeeeee

More images will be forth comming if there is enough interest

[Big Ada]

Due to some very serious accidents involving Land Yachts on some Beaches, a lot of Authorities wont allow them and Insurance is VERY high.

Len.

[Greggy1964]

Hmmm,

The only one I know of was the poor lady that walked into a race and sadly was killed

You would not walk onto a formula 1 racing track while a race was on, the race was clearly marked but for what ever reason the woman chose to ignore the signs.

Class 5 yachts can reach upwards of 60 mph and so walking in front of one is not wise

The poor pilot was tried for manslaughter but thankfully acquitted.

Accidents pound for pound are quite rare but it just takes one highly publicised incident to create a knee jerk reaction I'm afraid and your right, insurance is high.

My local authority allow me to sail mine as we have an area designated for kite buggies and landyachts but the rules are the we have to give way to pedestrians.

[getemuphigh]

Those steel handle bars would cause some real damage it they hit ya...ouch...

[Greggy1964]

My land yacht ain't got no handle bars . . . . . ?

Do you mean the two bars either side of the front wheel?

They are for my feet, I steer with my feet while my hands are busy with the sail sheet,

On a windless day I'll rig up the mast and sail and find a suitable guinea pig (daughter) to sit in so you can see the setup.

The diagonal brace bars to the top and bottom of the mast support tube brace the mast to the back axle triangulating everything in making it a strong frame.

Your bum is in the seat and your legs pass through the triangular frame to the foot pegs either side of the mast tube.

The tabs at the ends of the foot bars prevent your feet slipping off the ends.

When sat in the thing your knees are bent and your feet are braced against the foot bars all the time pushing your bum into the back of the seat.

This arrangement pins the pilot into the landyacht, though a lap belt is optional if additional pilot security is required

When you climb in, because of the low ride height and the mast brace bars to hang on to, it feels quite cozy.

Equal pressure on both feet keeps the front wheel straight and unequal foot pressure causes the front wheel to pivot on its bearing allowing turns

Here is a photo of the land yacht executing a left turn, at a low speed this gives me a turning circle of about 10 feet.



You can see in this photo just how much the back wheels cant in toward the centre line, this serves to increase axle width thus stability and save wrecking the wheel bearings with the huge side loads generated by the sail.

At speed, the slightest movement of the front wheel either side of centre will put you in a sliding turn which is great fun!

The front wheel pivot is slanted 30 degrees up from horizontal (you can see the bolt head just behind the tyre), the centre line of the pivot bolt passes through the ground 1" in front of where the tyre touches the ground, this gives me Castor allowing me to keep the thing straight easily at speed much how a shopping trolley wheel works.

If you are unfamiliar with land yachts, it takes a while to get the idea as most people learned to steer a bike with handle bars (imagine a cross between flying a plane steering the rudder with your feet . . . . . and a sailing dinghy where you control the sail sheet (rope) with your hands).

Its totally alien at first but after half an hour buzzing up and down the beach it becomes quite natural

[Greggy1964]

I can't get motivated on the pine bed project nor the wood lathe project today

So here are a bunch rigged land yacht photos for your pleasure  



Rigged and ready to roll



stern view



Boom and main sheet detail, this rig is set up for my Class 5 Land Yacht and the two pulleys unused on the boom are surplus to requirement here. They would be removed if I were to use this rig in anger.



Main sheet out rigger detail and back axle together with an inside view of the starboard rear wheel.



Front wheel and mast support detail, this better shows the foot peg steering arrangement and the front axle pivot point. The foot pegs are canted upward and inward because they are so designed to keep your feet in place.

A foot comming off at 60 mph would be a bad idea, but this set up prevents it



No ginuea pig pilots were on hand for the photo shoot so this is a pilots view using the narrators feet.

Its quite snug sat here and the mast support bars give a feeling of security



Full right rudder.

Found a willing pilot though Simba here isn't really configured for landyachting, 10 out of 10 for enthusiasm though!



Access to the cockpit is achieved by stepping up to the ship windward side and stepping onto the seat. With both feet planted on the seat you can slide your backside down the back of the seat while your feet slide towards the steering pegs at the bow.

Engage feet on steering bars and gather up the sheet to set sail for the prevailing wind direction and we're off!



Laid over for de-rig. mast head facing up wind. This keeps the sail pressed to the ground and is the safest way for removing the sail in a blow.



Sail removed ready for rolling up.



Sail with two piece aluminium mast tubes.



All packed and ready to go home.



Sten view packed up.

This land yacht is a one of a kind as it was designed by yours truly.

As she is an experimental prototype, I haven't bothered with painting yet and the rust you see is due to the ravages of salt water from the beach I sail on

Being all welded tube steel she is quite heavy and is at her best in a good blow, hence the 5.5 sqm sail normally used for class 5 ships