Clemco,
Is that bolt below the cables to adjust the steering rake. That would make thing a lot simpler to do some experiments with. I like the idea of having a little suspension maybe something for me to try next year, I guess it would help stop sail shake to.
cheers
vic

I have been reading these comments on cable steering with some interest especially the one from Blake on the Rocket steering above.
If there is one thing very good about my Rocket it is the cable steering so I will run through it.
First the cables are 1x19 yacht rigging cables which have minimal stretch tensioned with rigging screws until they twang.
Second the cables closely follow the line of the front spar so that when the spar bends it has minimal effect on the cables. This is a feature of the Rocket design
Thirdly the tensioning up takes practically all the play out of the pivot points
unlike a rod setup.
Fourthly the cables are always in a straight line unlike a rod which when pushed
or bounced up and down unless very stiff /heavy will bend, introducing steering
issues.
I know of no other system that is as good or light and very rarely need to adjust it

Finally the suspension pivot point setup on my rocket is in front of the steering
pivot so has no effect on the cables. It has other effects but not directly on the steering


I feel cable steering often gets a bad rap but when we consider aircraft have used the system successfully for years we need to look elsewhere for the reasons for bad steering

Last version of my first landsailer (we called them sailcars). This version was the product of several years of light air the next year it blew really hard and everybody took their yachts home in pieces. The stayed rig was a disaster really. It put astounding downforce into the mast step. Originally built with hang glider parts...two other, smaller,

landsailers were built from the leftover parts as it evolved. Fed 5 in the background.

Hi Blake
You have some interesting shots of yachts there Thank you for posting them
The springs in your query are short pieces of carbon sail batten
Two each side seems about right I really dont get out often enough to properly test
some of my theories unfortunately

Crazy wheels let you walk away from the yacht and not worry about it sailing of without you. You can leave the sail sheeted so it doesn't flap and the yacht swivels into the wind. Rarely, in a really strong direction-shift puff a yacht will blow over, but then I have seen a lot of tipped over yachts right themselves and sail away. The axles of the crazy wheels point at the contact point of the front wheel. The disadvantage is the sail stays up being toasted by the sun.
Blake

I have never seen that crazy wheel idea before
Different surfaces - different solutions US 246 looks like a quick yacht to me

Maybe you could post some close up pics of the crazy wheels, maybe a sketch of the design .would be much appreciated. Great example why this is a great site.
cheers
aus230

Interesting seeing different ideas
Looks like to me that French one doesnt have any layover on the steering so the front wheel would have to be very strong/heavy to resist the side forces
Maybe all the carbon offsets that

Frame of aus230

Different "Devils" different design. No wonder I'm having a hard time figuring out what is the latest version.



These photos are from this year's worlds 2010

CLEMCO,
Re Your post 10/12/010 6.13AM.

Front Suspension. You mention a Nolathane Bush in the Pivot of the steering..
Looking and thinking I feel that as good as it appears to be it could be streamlined. I am not knocking your build at all but hope to add to it's beauty and simplicity. Have you ever thought of using something like a Truck Leaf Spring Bush as long as can be bought. Surely the Damping effect of the Nolathane?? Circular Sandwich would serve the same purpose as the leaver system and Inner Tube. You may well have already tried this style but than again maybe not.
I doubt a Land Yacht would flog a bush like that as hard as a truck underload would.

Ron

I also find it hard to figure why there would be such a difference everyone says so
so it must be right One thing I have noticed with this sport though is small differences
compound up into large differences The rich get richer sort of thing

Nikrum said...

CLEMCO,
Re Your post 10/12/010 6.13AM.

Front Suspension. You mention a Nolathane Bush in the Pivot of the steering..
Looking and thinking I feel that as good as it appears to be it could be streamlined. I am not knocking your build at all but hope to add to it's beauty and simplicity. Have you ever thought of using something like a Truck Leaf Spring Bush as long as can be bought. Surely the Damping effect of the Nolathane?? Circular Sandwich would serve the same purpose as the leaver system and Inner Tube. You may well have already tried this style but than again maybe not.
I doubt a Land Yacht would flog a bush like that as hard as a truck underload would.

Ron

Hi Ron, The Nolathane bushes are not in the pivot of the steering head but in the pivot of the suspension. Yes it is a leaf spring bush from a Suzuki 4x4. You could be right though, it may be all that I need and I could dis-guard the pivot which could be causing the some of my cornering problems. Less is indeed more when building landyachts.
The two bolts welded either side below the bushed area were to attach pulleys for the cables to run through. They made the steering really heavy and I found I didn't need them anyway but have not yet got round to cutting them off. I am seriously thinking of changing it to a solid rod system like I did on the mini.

blake52 said...

That was Bill FINCH, AUS 11 with the astoundingly fast PM at the 2002 Worlds. The boat stayed in Nevada, but isn't nearly as fast without Bill piloting it.

Thats how I feel about my Rocket I think its astoundingly fast but not with me aboard

Hi Blake.

I like the look of those devil yachts. I got the idea from a pic of one of them to build aus230.
Couple things have changed since then. How is the mast step now attached to the front wheel tube, it looks like it must swivel inside the seat and have some sort of suspension attached below the mast step.

The wheels look like they are aluminum, I scoured the world trying to find out where they where made, no luck so I ended up making my own. Is there an address somewhere, just in case someone wants to buy some. I will be sticking with mine as they are quite lite and have had no problems with them.(once I sorted out a few problems with the first set)

Cheers
aus230