Is this lake too small to sail in? Approx 0.3miles x 0.8miles

looks kind of tight...

Not for an Opti.

Ask the F18 guys. They'll understand about being too small. And tight versus loose. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Depends on how fast the boat is, and how much you like to tack/jibe.

Dave

Something like a Hobie Wave would work on a lake like that. On a Formula20+spinnaker, you will be continuously tacking and jibing. An old Hobie 14 would be the right length, but they turn so poorly (unless you use perfect technique) that you might not enjoy it-- this is common with older, shorter boats. Newer, shorter (16feet and below) boats tend to turn easily even if the skill level is not perfect. Also, check the depth-- if it is shallow, get a boat without daggerboards and make sure the boat has good reputation for rudders that kick up (eg, hobie is generally good, but old mystere have a poor reputation)

I could probably use the tack/gybe practice. It's a man-made rectangular pond/lake, and I think the depth is 10' or greater (they're touting the community for waterskiing, fishing, etc.) It's got a "Lake House" like a clubhouse for those using the lake.

For the price of a house there, I'd probably be better off just draggin the boat to the beach.

Anyone with a designer's eye want to develop somethign I can attach to a trailer enabling me to DRIVE the trailer? I think this may be the way to get around the "no trailer parking at the beach". If I'm driving the whole thing (i.e., it's not hooked to a car, bike, etc), it wouldn't be a trailer, right?

Maybe some sort of modified uni-cycle that I can attach to the hitch end and put a seat on the main beam of the trailer? It would look goofy....

Didn't that guy, Victor P.(long Russian name) have his custom Orca on a small pick-up? No trailer, hulls came past the doors, climbed in and out through the top or some such? 'course, I still drank in those days, so maybe not.

The Pug utility vehicle, formerly made by Che Tech and now by Feterl, is a 4x4 articulated machine that's powered by a ~20 horse Kohler engine. The engine and transmission are in the front half, ie, ahead of the hinge, and CheTech used to offer an option which consisted of the front half married to tandem axle utility trailer. I don't see why similar wouldn't work with a cat trailer. As for your one-wheel idea, it's pretty common in rural China for "trucks" to have a single front wheel with a small motor above it. So it's been done - and you can dooo eeeeeet! We want pics tho.

good luck

I've always been told that size doesn't matter.

A lot of the bigger mobile augers on farms are hydraulically driven off one wheel to move between bins, to save you reinventing the wheel you will probably be able to find one of these with a bent auger that you can salvage the drive from
regards

Good points, although I was contemplating something like a salvaged moped. Don't need it for highway speeds, just the 9 mile cruise to the beach. Top speed around 40mph at best.

The key is that the beach cops would probably say it's a trailer unless the drivetrain/steering were somehow integral to the trailer itself. Hence making it fit over/around the trailer tounge in a unicycle type arrangement.

So I'm not the only one thinking about this? I remember Victor's vehicle. Very creative guy. Is he still around?

Remember that story about his Orca V at Delray Drag ( I think)... the one that started with "My crew and myself are okay..."? Classic read there....

You need this

that's my commuter car. Gets 0.001 miles/gallon

<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

then: YOU ARE THE CAUSE OF GLOBAL WARMING

Global warming is a FAD <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> like the F16

Which reminds me. At elevation 6', I'd better get a boat soon, or I will have no way to get to work!