Oky said...

Hi Greg
Just thought i would throw my 2 cents in on the subject

I own a Blokart and have done for the past three years, as you have all ready found out they are fantastic to sail and so easy to set up, as BeeGee said the transporting of a blokart is so easy, they pack up so small, no tools, no trailers or anything like that, just throw them into the boot of the car and your off sailing,
I have taken mine on the plane twice now with me back to work in Dubai, never a problem, just had a bit extra in luggage cost.
I recently purchsed one of the new 5.5m sails, they are absolutely fantastic in light winds, i have sailed my Blokart in 4knots of wind on the beach where previously i wouldn't of tried with my 4m sail,
I have sailed my 5.5m sail in carparks with the blokart guys at the Gold Coast and have had just as much control as on the open beach, the carparks are definitely different to sail in and require more attention, but to me, that is one of the great things about a blokart, there ability to turn in such a small area allows you to sail them in many different places,

Greg if you are after some good bang for your buck, the Blokart certainly offers you that, i can't speak highly enough about them, i had a couple of warranty issues when i first bought my machine, I contacted them and Blokart fixed things straight away and i have never had a problem since, in 3 years i have spent under $50.00 on the whole machine, not bad for someone that has a constant fobia toward maintanance and who has let many friends and newbies try out landsailing for the first time,
I don't know the actual figures but i do know there are thousands of Blokarts out there in the world now which to me is always a comforting fact to know that others feel the same way i do.
I find the best way to get good infomation on something is to talk with the clubs, they soon let you know good from bad and how it all works, have a look at www.blokart.com.au go to the clubs section and give some of them a call. they will inform you of State, National and International race events for Blokarts.

Hope this helps
Cheers
Brian

it would appear that landyachts lake lefroy would do the the job and not cost a arm and leg (eg $ 4000 plus ) and as you are in a rural area i thought cost would be a issue

Im here and listening. Earning my 'Stalker' status

I haven't been sure enough of anything so far to comment but was waiting to see what was conjured up. Most important, as Landyacht mentioned, to your landyacht choice is figuring what the sailing surface is likely to be and how big? The lake looks to be a great spot for a venue if smooth enough (notice I didn't say flat )

Im based in Bendigo so would be happy to trip over every so often to sail if a venue were present. Not much sailing going on at present as Im building and studying. I like the bigger machines myself.

P.S. if you were going to bulk order materials (eg: alloy for masts, wheels, seats, etc) I may be interested in enlarging the order. A landyacht isn't hard to build at all, just takes a little time (and of course money). I'd personally build a set of yachts, lowers the capital investment required and people WILL want their own machines sooner rather than later if historical trends continue As was also mentioned, getting people involved in construction is half the fun sometimes.

InlandSailor said...

Please keep the thoughts coming?
How much would it cost for materials to build a "Pacific Magic" and get it onto the track.
Are mast obtained from traditional marine spar sources?
Sails from sailmakers?
Parts from BIas and Whitworths etc?
Tubs/pods are sourced from where?

Greg

Hi Greg,
You guys are in a very interesting position here. Your sport and recreation has been made impossible to pursue because of a government policy decision. Forget about drought, (from the point of view of your sport and recreation) don't even mention it.

It is a government policy decision that has deprived you of your sport and recreation. Are you catching my drift???

The Sport and Tourism departments of state governments are awash with funds allocated to sport and recreation for local communities. There is hardly a shire in Queensland where at least $250,000 has not been spent on building a skate bowl and BMX park. The Qld govt even built a track here in Bundaberg for radio controled model dirt cars.

If you tell your appropriate Victorian government department that they have deprived you of your water bourne sport and recreation, but that they could restore that by providing you with an equal sided square mile or ten (go for the max) of laser levelled dry area for your club and general landsailing use and replacement of your water yachts with land yachts, I believe you will get a result.

Re blokarts:- They are the only standard land yacht readily available in numbers in Australia at the moment and therefore the only instant fleet. Wholesale price of a Sport (powder coat steel) model with 4 metre sail is around $2,500. The stainless Pro model is around $800 more. My personal preference is for the Sport model as they are less prone to bending. Any metallurgist will say the same thing. However if the karts are club owned, due to human nature, maintenance will be lax so stainless karts may be the best option.

The usual blokart dealership requires purchase of three blokarts for the initiation of the dealership and sale of ten blokarts per annum for the continuation of the dealership. Your club could hold the dealership. Check with Phil Coulter at www.blokart.com.au on the Gold Coast who is the guy blokart sent over here to be the national distributor for them.

Disclaimer:- I am not connected with blokart in any way. I was a blokart dealer a few years ago. I own two blokarts and believe they are great machines. I believe they are a safe entry level to land yachting suitable for novices, children and experienced sailors. Rule No.1:- Never ride any land yacht without wearing a seat/body belt!!!

If you go down the track that I have suggested above (ie a government decision has deprived you and your fellows of the ability to follow your chosen and established sport and recreational activity) you just might get your yacht club off the water and ON the ground quicker than you think and funded by the gubment.

Don't feel any guilt about that either. If you can pull that one off you will have done the sport a huge favour by setting a precedent of legitimacy, recognition and funding. Also you might just turn you lil' ole' dry lake bed into one of the land yachting meccas of Aus. If you don't ask, you don't get. So ASK!!!!!

Cheers Cisco.

Thank you all for your replies, it is a little overwhelming.
More questions, some raised by others from the club who are following this "informatiom gathering" exercise.
1 Why are LY all trikes?
2 Why aren't of the shelf components used IE Laser radial 4.7 sails and masts used?
3 Simple rigs, why no traveller to help reaching/ running?
4 Modern cats use spinnakers and snuffers effectively, why not LY's? Edit The concern here is light wind days.
5 What 2 person or crewed LY's exist?
6 What other designs for tracks exist? [Have seen NZ photo].
7 Would an oval horse trotting track work?

Cheers

Greg

Hi Greg,

One thing you need to ask your committe is, do they want to be part of a new dynamic sport that has changed the way people go land sailing, a sport that can be packed up in the boot of your car, taken all over the world to race events, have back up parts when/if needed, be part of several clubs in Aust?
If the answer is yes then get into Blokarting, yes there may have some shortfalls in Blokarts, but I am sure you can sling mud at anything if you look hard enough!

On the other hand if you want to be part of a landyatching group that has a lot of infighting (ALSA), call off National event & take their bat & ball a go home (ALSA) ,continue to build landyatchs looking for the perfict one, then build/take advice from these so called experts.

The thing that I find so funny, is that if Blokart are substandard to landyatchs, why do the have 25 + at a state event, & 50+ at nationals.

My thoughts..
RS..

Rocket Ship said...

Hi Greg,

One thing you need to ask your committe is, do they want to be part of a new dynamic sport that has changed the way people go land sailing, a sport that can be packed up in the boot of your car, taken all over the world to race events, have back up parts when/if needed, be part of several clubs in Aust?
If the answer is yes then get into Blokarting, yes there may have some shortfalls in Blokarts, but I am sure you can sling mud at anything if you look hard enough!

On the other hand if you want to be part of a landyatching group that has a lot of infighting (ALSA), call off National event & take their bat & ball a go home (ALSA) ,continue to build landyatchs looking for the perfict one, then build/take advice from these so called experts.

The thing that I find so funny, is that if Blokart are substandard to landyatchs, why do the have 25 + at a state event, & 50+ at nationals.

My thoughts..
RS..

i have not seen where any one has stated that blokarts are substandard to landyachts,but it has been noted they cost a lot more.
also the infighting with in the blokart group may also be just around the corner ,who knows.
another point also is your attitude towards other landyachts all you are doing is stirring trouble for your own gains .and just for the record i dont sail but take a keen interest in the sport as well as model landyachts

Gee guys - this is getting a bit heated - no need to knock each others yacht to promote your own style. You guys are not all lined up against the wall like little boys [}:)]

Inland Sailor and his mates (and hopefully ladies and children too?) have a great opportunity. I am sure coming from their unique background they will bring their own unique flavour to their *new club*.

Importantly we will all have another place to visit and can expect more visitors at our events.

At Lake Lefroy on a local club level we have more social sailing than racing (hard to get everyone together for racing due to rotating shifts in the mining and related industries). When we do have a few of us we all race together blowies, minis and 5's. The minis and blowies are comparable so after a race we seperate the scores out to place the 5's and then the others are scored together. Interestingly at times the blowies and minis beat the 5's - pilot skill

When we have a regatta or visit other clubs there is usually enough yachts to race seperately - or take 2 yachts and race in both classes.

Most importantly our club welcomes all types of yachts and pilots and level of passion.

As others have illuded (or put rudely) formal assn's are either still forming or in need of a bit of an overhaul. However landsailing in Australia (in all forms) is not that big - so we all get on with it and go sailing whilst the rest is still getting sorted out. More has happened on the landsailing front with new people hearing about getting into the sport and more communication since this website has been going than in many many years which is great for us all.

Cisco <Re Passion. There is enough passion expressed here to rival the most exotic honeymoon suite. Tends to be a bit "blokey" though. Haven't you got any sisters Promo Girl??>

Passion? yes Cisco - testosterone? definately, common sense?....mmmm

actually Cisco most of the girls just could not be bothered with reading about the merits of using this type of welding rod over that type or this type of bearing or that. What we want to know is what colour does it come in[}:)]

play nice now boys

cheers Susan

Thanks Suzan
for quitining the guys down. As we know at Lake Lefroy we just about have every thing imaginable sailing on the lake, except for a bit of friendly banta I think we all get on extremely well. I think all classes should work for the betterment of land sailing and offer advice (It dose not have to be excepted) I personaly have not taken everyones advice but I certinaly have excepted it in good faith. I have been in plenty of clubs over the years and they all have little problems from time to time, but with good will we got back on track. Guys please talk up land sailing as this site is probley one of the most active in the world (I have tried to find others with not much luck)

Keep Sailing
Cheers
AUS230

well with this much wind and some of the dribble in this subject , I think wevejust about filled your lake to the minimum 20% capacity

Oh well, at least now you've seen landyachting/blokarting in all its glory

Kite buggying is the next section over, might pay to check that out instead!

Well listen to us!! If I wasn't already in the sport I'd be giving it a wide berth!

Who knows, I'm yet to see a single blokart or even hear of the existance of a single blokarter here in SA. I was seriously thinking of getting one a while ago but you sound just like us. I don't think there's any difference.

Ha, that's not Phil C is it?

I believe Blokarters have tried to work in with and be part of Australian landyachting without much success or help from those driving Landyachting in Australia,maybe thats why we are starting to seen this division if we are not careful Blokarting will be a stand alone entity which it is more than capable of doing with areas of growth available.

Kody I think up here in QLD we're just to laid back, relaxed and enjoying ourselves to join this "heated discussion".