Super lightweight and really strong!
Can be installed on just about any yacht.

Stay away from fiberglass and carbon fiber to prevent getting splinters.
The boom OD dictates the gal tube ID.
If you use pins, use clevis pins.
Removing whatever coating the boom has can be a PITA (usually neoprene or rubber glued on).
I use a couple razor blades and acetone. The covering is nearly impossible to get off composite booms. However, you don't really need to remove it if it is in good condition, just get (or make) appropriate sized U bolts or ???.

The hammock can be made out of several different materials.
Polyply
6oz dacron
ripstop nylon
cordura and others.

I bought a new replacement "mat" for a trampoline. The type you see in peoples yard and sometimes you can get it free just for removing it from their yard. My 14 footer yielded 6yds of material.

The finished edge should be a double fold seam, this gives the grommets a lot of material to hold on to. A single fold seam will fail.

The finished edge should be at least 2in smaller than the inside of the frame. If you lace the hammock over the top of the side rails, it effectively raises the seat, while lacing it under lowers it. Can be finished on a home sewing machine using a ball point size 18 needle and v69 bonded polyester thread. I sed 550 paracord but just about any decent small rope will work.

Grommet spacing can be spaced at 4-6". Use a good grommet that has several teeth, not just three or four. Stainless is best but brass is cheaper and easier to install. Requires a special tool for installation.

Can I please suggest that people stay away from using 'soft' (fabric) seats on land yachts .... Putting your spine that close to the ground without protection is just stupid and asking for problems.

Just saying (there have been several accidents in the past)

No offense to Gizmo, but really?!?!
Blow carts, manta's, Sirocco, seagull and many others have hammock style seats.
This is a very viable option for landyacht seating. Recycled, available practically anywhere, super strong, ultra light weight and east to make.
All the other related injuries don't keep people from building landyachts. Compared to some of the rickety, shaudy seats I've seen this is above and beyond acceptable.
I have sailed in some pretty severe conditions for two years and never had an issue and don't anticipate any, just like any other sport.

If you have or can get the materials, I would not overlook this option!

Here are some real life photos from back when I built mine.

Really???? Maybe I should try and find the pictures of the young lady that had her side split open when she hit a rock on a beach that was covered with seaweed......
Somewhere around is the pic of her side prior to the 20 odd stitches being put in.
Blokarts have a metal floor pan as the lowest point.

Please keep in mind that building 'Junker Land Yachts' de-value the sport in the public eye....
It cost virtually no more to build a class spec land yacht.

There are plans out there of most classes that have been developed over a long time and many hundreds of yachts in evolution..... why does everyone think that with their first or second build their will design will better than the others developed over time?

Couldn't agree more with you gizmo.

made lots of yachts and many mistakes along the way.

The the simplier the design the better. Class rules are great because you can compare apples with apples.

Int mini5.6 is great class to experiment however I have found the original LLM more fun, more competitive, and easier to build than my complex mini 'charcoal challenger'.

plans are great, pictures are also good. If you can't draw it you can't make it.

Kaonoana just make a yacht you want to sail. Just make anything. It takes a while to figure out what works for you.
Give you soft seat ago. Its all learning however I would question the use of SHS for the spine of your yacht but it like looks strong enough not to break.

The seat looks nice and light weight. Even if you only run the back half in fabric and front in ply.

The problem with running your mast right at the front is the complexity and additional weight of your steering components.
have a little look at my mini "frogs legs"

have you considered adjustable mast rake for running smaller sail..? The JHS base is the easiest and moss simplistic to build and retrofit to any yacht and will give you many sail options.

will you be running centre sheeting or rear sheeting..?


make it, break it, make it again

my2c

Ben, Center sheeting with horizontal blocks.
What is so complex about that yacht in the picture?

The whole frame is under the pilot, only the seat back is exposed.
People get injured every day, I'm not concerned. It's a solid, safe design.
Good thing the Wright brothers built what everyone was building. Or how about Howard Haupt or Terry Fulbright? Both experts and legends in the sport.
I don't think my yacht is any better than any other but it was mine.
Specs don't make it any more or any less a landyacht.
Class specs are for complying with class rules. This is not a I5.6 mini.
This yacht was no junker but a javelin.
This was a boom seat post Gizmo not a ridicule post. you have given me solid advice in the past that I have implemented to success but I guess that's the risk of going public with ideas, good, bad or otherwise.

Everyone wants pics of build projects but tend to be scrutinized and criticize because they don't fit inside of one box or another.

KO

Hi all I have to disagree with some of the assertions put forward above
I have a yacht that has a windsurfer boom frame soft seat that does not put anyones spine at risk as it has a ply footwell that extends under the chassis to the back axle and the seat is above this There are other minis around like this also

I also have a mini with the mast step just behind the front wheel that still has the llf style foot steering which is very simple.
The steering shaft passes through the bottom of the mast step

I have put photos up on this site of these but they are gone now.

I dont believe all of us build these yachts because we think they are better than what has gone before We just like to tinker with our own ideas One of the attractions of landyachting for me
Paul Beckett the Blokart designer sailed one of my yachts one day and told me he fully understands this
just saying

The quote from Gizmo,
"Please keep in mind that building 'Junker Land Yachts' de-value the sport in the public eye...."

What devalues the sport is showcasing the injuries or pointing out the potential for injury.

Blood and gore will keep more people away than a poorly designed yacht!

Select to expand quote

Gizmo said..
Please keep in mind that building 'Junker Land Yachts' de-value the sport in the public eye....
It cost virtually no more to build a class spec land yacht.

That's crap Gizmo!!!!! Why knobble new ideas??
99% of my sailing is in a "Junker" for my own personal enjoyment. Now that's up over a logged distance of over 17,000kms in the last 2 years. (Havent included the 5 hour log from last Sunday.)
The 1% is when I have to travel very large distances to compete with a 5.6 mini that complies.
My yacht is put together to suit where I sail and altered on almost monthly basis. I know a whole lot about what doesn't work and enjoy the challenges.
Why must it comply..........to limit the amount of fun to be had? All good if your have a perfect sailing venue that a standard mini can use?

How bout some photos of your recent original designs mate!!!!

I'll start a new thread on my third build that I'm just finishing up.
Looking to start a wind skate but really want to do a Fed 5 but could use a little more info.