Here is a link to in informitive thread on launching kites from boats. For anyone attempting to try this awkward way of launching, this thread offers a lot of tips. Much of the info is applicable to drift launching also.
One poster says he has been running his kite school for over a year from his Boston Whaler! That I'd like to see.
http://www.kiteforum.com/index.php?page ... tton=forum
Kite launching from boats - thread from KiteForum.com
Moderator: MK
Interesting. That's the way I do solo launches. It only works on beaches where you can wade out at least 200ft from shore.
I sort the kite out on land (you have to make sure it's right. There are no second chances like you might get with a helper in the water) I wrap the lines on the bar as perfect as I can. I also have placed my board onshore where I will enter the water. I also use a board leash so I can hookup back into the wind carrying the kite and bar without having to deal with the board.
When I wade out at least 2 kiteline lenghts from shore (about 200ft), I check to see everything still looks good. I take another look and make sure there are NO new folks entering my launching zone. I lay my kite face down in the water and start to unwind my lines. You need to keep enough preasure on the lines so the kite doesn't flip over but loose enough so the kite trails out downwind. The better you have collected your lines on the bar, the better success you will have.
This is a critical point in the launch. As the kite floats downwind and you are paying out your lines if you think somthing is going wrong or you have screwed up your lines. You MUST drop the bar, grab one of the lines that has been paying out and pull in a few meters. At least enough for the kite to flatten out. You will have to walk the ball back up to shore and start over again.
When everything works right (I have not had a failed lanuch in about 20 tries - a few were sketchy) You will find that the kite is in the normal relaunch possition dead down wind. Do your normal relaunch technique for your kite and sail off.
The reason I wrote this is because it might work fine from a "floating kite platform" It would eliminate the need for launching from crowded beaches. I was thinking a few days ago if we could get a bunch of kiters to pitch in an buy a "kite beach" on some lake. I think it might make more sence for kiters interested in this to pitch in and buy a "kite launcing platform". Land is expensive and full of liabillities.
In my youth I used to drive a "platform" for sailors at Minnetonka Yacht Club. It was sort of a home made pontoon boat with the helm in the middle of the boat. It also had a simple outboard motor installed midship.
I think it would be alot cheaper to manufacture or buy a platform then buy lake shore property. We could use some safety bars around the motor and helm so lines wouldn't snag.
I'll try to sketch out some ideas of a "Moblie Kite Platform"
Just some kite thoughts...
- Eric S
I sort the kite out on land (you have to make sure it's right. There are no second chances like you might get with a helper in the water) I wrap the lines on the bar as perfect as I can. I also have placed my board onshore where I will enter the water. I also use a board leash so I can hookup back into the wind carrying the kite and bar without having to deal with the board.
When I wade out at least 2 kiteline lenghts from shore (about 200ft), I check to see everything still looks good. I take another look and make sure there are NO new folks entering my launching zone. I lay my kite face down in the water and start to unwind my lines. You need to keep enough preasure on the lines so the kite doesn't flip over but loose enough so the kite trails out downwind. The better you have collected your lines on the bar, the better success you will have.
This is a critical point in the launch. As the kite floats downwind and you are paying out your lines if you think somthing is going wrong or you have screwed up your lines. You MUST drop the bar, grab one of the lines that has been paying out and pull in a few meters. At least enough for the kite to flatten out. You will have to walk the ball back up to shore and start over again.
When everything works right (I have not had a failed lanuch in about 20 tries - a few were sketchy) You will find that the kite is in the normal relaunch possition dead down wind. Do your normal relaunch technique for your kite and sail off.
The reason I wrote this is because it might work fine from a "floating kite platform" It would eliminate the need for launching from crowded beaches. I was thinking a few days ago if we could get a bunch of kiters to pitch in an buy a "kite beach" on some lake. I think it might make more sence for kiters interested in this to pitch in and buy a "kite launcing platform". Land is expensive and full of liabillities.
In my youth I used to drive a "platform" for sailors at Minnetonka Yacht Club. It was sort of a home made pontoon boat with the helm in the middle of the boat. It also had a simple outboard motor installed midship.
I think it would be alot cheaper to manufacture or buy a platform then buy lake shore property. We could use some safety bars around the motor and helm so lines wouldn't snag.
I'll try to sketch out some ideas of a "Moblie Kite Platform"
Just some kite thoughts...
- Eric S