I am new to this but I want to build my own land yacht.
I have done alot of readings here but as I understand each situation is personal.
I want to build something similar to this one:


The questions are as following:

1. The sail - is it just enough to buy the windsurfers sail of appr 5, 5 square meters an use it, or it needs any modifications?

2. The mast - What height should it be the mast in general?
Can it be same height as sail height or should I shorten the windsurfers sail when using windsurfers mast?
If it doesn't fit the windsurfers mast, what diameter and wall thickness should it be of the mast tube? What material is the cheapest to use, alluminium or glassfiber?

Hello and welcome, Most of the yachts on this forum are built from steel mainly due to cost and availability of the tubes needed, also steel suits the DIY person for welding.
I hope you have had a look at this thread that has the plans and instructions to build a Lake Lefroy Mini Land Yacht, which would make an ideal first yacht, all the bugs have been ironed out and is the culmination of many years of designing and building of land yachts.
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=33825

If you were to go the Aluminium path you would need to use a higher grade of material than standard alloy, there have been yachts built from Aluminium scaffold pipe which is a high tensile alloy.
Have a look in the "landyacht register" at a yacht I built many years ago called "Wildfire" this was scaffold pipe and the joins were custom steel clamps that could be adjusted.
The "Manta" yacht was also made from alloy but was aircraft grade used on hang gliders.

Yes, I decided to go with LLF mini project as a sample and as it is quite simple and we get the same result, we sail. :)
I just added 10 cm to each side of rear wheel axle and added 20 cm to the centre spin length as I am 202 cm tall. I hope this is not to bad?

Just to be sure - the mast step angle should be 10 degrees to the cnetre spin (80 degrees from center spin) or ?

Should I use the exact 60x2 mm tube for the mast tube?

What height should it be 25 cm or 30 cm or 50 cm?

May I use same 60x2 mm tube for a centre spin or should I use the 53 or 55 mm tube?

I used 40x40x2 mm RHS for the rear X member and 35x35x2 mm RHS for the rear axle extensions. Not needed such dimensions or it is ok? Or should I change to 35x35x2 mm fot X member and 30x30x2 mm RHS for a rear axle extensions. The reason I choose the bigger dimensions of RHS is my weight 113 kg.

The rear seat support - should it be 45 degrees or 60 degrees?

Most of time it is quite windy up here on the beach. What size of sails should I use for such landyacht if I go with the heavier construction?

Thank You.
And about the mast - the mast step angle should be 10 degrees to the cnetre spin (80 degrees from center spin) or ?
Sorry for being pesky, but it is better to ask few times instead of making mistakes :)
And sorry for my English, actually I am not from UK. I am from Lithuania, but I did not find my country in the list updating my profile :)

Just finished 2 frames:

This Mini is for me


And this one is for my son, with a bit mixed colors :)


With all respect, thanks to Landyacht.

One more question:
What distance should be between lower part of sail and frame?

Wow nice job nice looking sails too They deserve special care if you are going to modify them

My son was pushing me every day, did You do it, did You do it? :) My gf was angry on me I have spent one week in my garage after work :)
The pic from AUS 230 would be very helpful.

Two more questions:
May I use the aluminum handle as a boom?
What diameter of rowlock would be perfect for 52 mm mast?

Those frames look awesome! I love the paint job

With your sails, just bear in mind that monofilm (as your lovely newer sails are made from) is harder on a sewing machine than dacron (as most older sails used to be made from).

You may have issues when trying to punch through multiple layers of reinforcing plus monofilm... Some people have done it but go easy, and don't use your gf's expensive machine! (or at least don't do it when she's looking )

Will be interested to see how you go.

vjs said...
[brWomen allways need all Your time :)

you could always build a third landyacht so your girlfriend isnt left out

sn said...

vjs said...
[brWomen allways need all Your time :)

you could always build a third landyacht so your girlfriend isnt left out

Sure I will, but at first I would like to finish these two :)
Yesterday I messed up with making the seat, wrong measures - thrown out 15 GBP.

grliynch had this idea, it way be worth considering, just leaving area off the bottom to get your area right , say 4-4.5m

I should point out that I haven't actually tried this yet!