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.

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?

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........

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.

I reckon this number from Seagull is worth a good look.

www.char-a-voile.com/silence.html

Don't forget the Beachrunner Micro Race www.beachrunner.net
Wolfgang Z7

aus230 said...
Nice experimental mini from airtrack, I like the adjustable mast post. NANO

Nice

Now add foot steering instead of a tiller, and You're close to a LLM! Center sheeting is a nice touch, and the adjustable mast looks a lot like your's, Aus230

Looks like they've been spending time here on sea breeze to me. Good on them!!!

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.

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!

And why we use seat belts(so you dont slide forward!)

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 said...
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

Ron,
This seat belt buckle is the simplest I have seen. It is the earlier blokart buckle and because of it's simplicity I believe it out classes any brand name buckle be it Porche, Mercedes or even the current blokart buckle.

Even my arthritic fingers can get it undone by lifting the flap even when it is under tension from my ample beer gut.

!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