Kickstarter

Thank you for your Interest in The Land Yacht

The Land Yacht is a 40 foot sailing vessel, designed to roll gracefully across the desert. 

Remember: Kickstarter is ALL or NOTHING! No cards are charged until the goal is reached! So don't wait to pledge, if you would like to donate now or in the future, take the time to pledge now so that our goal is reached! Funds are not withdrawn until the project goal is reached!

Built on a 1962 Dodge 2-ton truck, it has a ketch rig placed on a flat wooden deck, supported by an extended 40' steel chassis. The ketch rig consists of a taller main mast supporting the head sails and a main sail just back of the front axle, and the smaller mizzen mast supporting the mizzen sail just forward of the rear axle. This lowers the center of mass while maintaing a high amount of sail area, reducing the righting moment and increasing power and maneuverability.

Wings made of steel and netting, supported by the two masts, allow crew to move their weight out-board while assisting a hydraulic ballast system, to help counter the lack of a keel. They also provide a comfortable hammock-like seat to view the desert rush beneath you.

Time permitting the cab will be split and the passenger compartment, along with all cables and linkages, will be moved behind the mizzen mast.

The entirety of the standing and running rigging is taken from a single similarly sized sailboat. Reducing cost rather than building a new system and simultaneously ensuring sync throughout the rig.

We believe that with roller furling headsails along with the vehicles existing brakes and two-speed rear transmission, our Land Yacht will be able to stop and maneuver under limited sail in ways a traditional sailboat has never been able to.

In addition, by retaining the original 400hp diesel, which could be converted to vegetable oil, The Land Yacht will have robust electrical capabilities for lights, sound, and the hydraulic ballast system, as well as the ability to motor under its own power. 

The vessel is designed to be trailerable so we may easily move it from Nimby in Oakland, California where it is being built, to the Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada home of an expansive playa and constant winds.

This Kickstarter's aim is to raise $5,000 for construction of the vessel this August 2011. By including used rigging and an existing vehicle we are lowering the cost of the Land Yacht as well as illustrating our commitment to the sustainable ideals that this project is born from. With the vehicle already purchased, the remaining costs include the sails, running, and standing rigging, rent while we build it, transportation to the playa, and material for creating the deck and ballast system. 

For some time we have planned and dreamt of a sailing vehicle this size on the playa. Silently and effortlessly cruising across the desert. A sail powered transportation solution that until now has never been attempted at this scale. Not just a technological endeavor but art that serves to highlight our society of petroleum and missuse of natural resources. A transportation alternative that requires patience, skill, and planning.

With sound and lighting engineers as well as a custom furniture designer involved in the project, we intend to provide a comfortable and modern experience, that we feel, will compliment the new but natural and familiar feeling of sailing across the playa.

The Land Yacht is designed to be simple and rugged, insuring this first built iteration of the design proves to be a lasting and informative prototype.

As rewards for your generous donations we are happy to offer numerous custom designed bags and accessories that we feel are in line with our environmental and sustainable mission.

In addition to limited custom screen printed t-shirts and prints, we have designed wallets as well as tote bags, zippered pouches, and key fobs all made from recycled Dacrcon. The material being taken from the used racing sails of our sail boat. The Dracron proves to be durable and unique, as well as environmentally positive, as the bags and accessories are nearly 100% recycled material. Designed and built at a local San Francisco custom messenger-bag and backpack manufacturer, they are both functional and stylish.

Thank you once again for your interest in the Land Yacht, we would very much appreciate your donation to help us make this incredible vehicle a reality. If you would like more information about The Land Yacht, please like our page on Facebook, or follow our blog.