Alright guys, I have done plenty of reading up on your expert advice, and study of plans, drawings and pictures - but the time has come to start asking the stupid questions.

I am contemplating my first build and in the hope of keeping it cheap, I want to use materials at hand.
Let's start with the aluminium mast of a 16ft Windrush catamaran, complete with boom and sail.
Why am I not seeing any variation from the windsurfer mast you are all using?
Has anyone seen a stiff aluminium mast used successfully on a land yacht?
Any hints on how to stabilise it without the use of stays and standing rigging?

I am not too phased by building to within class specs and I will colour outside the lines where I see fit but I do want to build a yacht that works. There will be plenty more questions to come, look forward to advice from the most fundamental concepts right up to steering angles (all in time).

Hi guys
I'm new on here and finding all the information fantastic. I can't get to bed before midnight, catching up on all the posts! I'm just gathering materials to start building a LL mini, thanks for the great plans.
A couple of questions -
I will be doing most of my sailing on beaches. There's talk about moving the mast forward, is this the way to go for beach use?
Also mast rake - hoping to use uncut windsurfing sails, is mast rake at two or three degrees the right option?
Thanks for any replies