From what I understand, that's the tricky part. The current 'boat type' kite sails have to be reeled in and out. If they drop the kite into the water while it's flying, they have to reel it back and relaunch it. The kiteboarders have some kites that are inflated with air and I believe they can be more easily water launched but getting them properly oriented without swiming to it can be difficult.
Just for the record there is a couple of Yahoo groups that discuss constructing these kites and a free program you can download for designing your own kite. (www.foilmaker.co.uk)
I am thinking about making one at some point.
The kites used on water for the guys with the surfboard, wakeboards etc., generally have a leading edge spar which is pumped up like a bicycle tube. This is so they stay afloat if they touch down. Normally they use a kite which is proportionately too large so they are a bit overpowered. A friend has one and he tells me that after a session of kiteboarding your Abs are pretty exhausted.
There are lots of kite makers out there. Ozone I hear is one of the better and Naish (Robby Naish of windsurfing fame) makes them. (his company) His dad was pretty heavily into Hobie Cats in his younger days.
Anyways the web is full of info on them.
I am buying a cat or I would be buying a kite for kitesking and or boarding. Can't have everything! Am buying some new living room furniture. Gotta be fair!
This saturday is first test/practice on 'burner with the 2400 sqft kite.
I will also be bringing my on-board tracking system (Ham radio hooked to a gps) to transmit our position in real time to the internet. To monitor our track, use the following link:
I should also mention that the tracking system is NOT reliable as an emergency locator as many things need to go right to get the signals out to the internet. Please don't hit the panic button if you see us "stop" and never move again...it's almost always a loss of the uplink for whatever reason.
I still wasn't totally turned off from the kite thing and was still willing to give it a whirl...but naaahhhh...on a cat or windsurfer, you only get wet if a gust like that grabs you. I'll leave the flying to birds and airplanes.
Following our kite test some weeks ago, we decided we needed more time to work our a few problems we had trying to get it to fly out in front of the boat. We were unable to get it out from the shadow of the huge mainsail, so it was not as stable as it needed to be. Owner (Bill Gibbs) will be testing more in the future...
I've been helping our local einstein with his kite powered cat project. Can't reveal any design details but we had a lot of fun on the maiden voyage - here is what I posted on texascitydike.com
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Then Paul Webster turned up with his experimental kite powered cat. This is a project that Paul has been sweating for over 2 years, with a lot of hard work (and a fair amount of money) in it. I can't give away any design details, but I can describe the maiden voyage in two words - Ye Ha !!!
The kite-cat was dropped of the trailer on the sand at the water's edge, and the giant kite was stretched out in the sand with the help of all the curious spectators (which by this time inluded Tommy, his son Chris, Todd Gardener and John Warner). As soon as the kite was inflated we shot of the beach into the water like a drag racer! I got to steer whilst Paul controlled the kite. We made it out close to the range marker in less than 3 minutes! Every time we headed up and the kite hit the power zone it was like turning on the nitrous. Paul adjusted the kite and called orders to head up or down wind.
We then attempted the first jibe. This kinda went ok, but I didn't turn quick enough and the kite got very low to the water. When I headed up and the kite hit the power zone it buried the hulls and flung both of us into the water. As I was leaving the boat I grabbed the sea anchor - just as well cause with the kite not yet fully deflated the boat began to take off without us. We clambered aboard the turtled craft and began whooping and exchanging high-fives. The whole voyage was recorded on video by Paul's friend.
At this point I should point out that the chase boat hadn't shown up because the skipper was indisposed, so we were now reliant on my Hobie 18 SX for rescue and recovery - crewed by Todd G, Tommy and John Warner. They recovering the two of us and the kite. We left the kite-boat to drift while we off loaded folk back on the beach. Todd, Tommy and I then headed back out to right the stricken craft and tow it back. Well we never got it righted, and we found out the hard way that Hobie 18's make crap tow boats - it took around 3 hours to crab in against the wind to Curl's. Absolute top work by all involved in the recovery - especially Tommy who got a few knock's and bruises in the process.
Wow! Can't wait to see some details! I never thought about it but I bet it is nearly impossible to right a turtled catamaran without a mast on it. Perhaps some sort of system could be used to flood and sink one hull and then refill it by pumping in air? Perhaps this pumping capability would only be on the chase boat?
I was thinking the same thing about the two guys who went out unprepared in an off-shore gale on a Nacra 5.5 only to crash and burn and require coast-guard rescue (see previous thread).
Kite sailing is actually a lot of fun. Once you master control of the kite, which is best done on land with a smaller model, it adds a whole new dimension to wind-powered sports. Harder, to be sure, but really exciting. It also translates to winter use with skis or a snowboard. Of course you need to be proficient with this gear, too, so you don't end up crashing into stationary objects, but the potential is there to keep you into wind-powered activities year 'round with a minimum of extra gear.
I was thinking the same thing about the two guys who went out unprepared in an off-shore gale on a Nacra 5.5 only to crash and burn and require coast-guard rescue (see previous thread).
In reference to the accident I have read three different news reports on that accident and all three give a different story.
However... You essentially have a 17 year old boy, no helmet, family watching, conditions way beyond his ability. Guess what would happen if you did that on/in any vehicle.
I have a faint recollection of the time when "testosterone ruled".
Kites like anything have to be refined by thoughtful designers with a strong inclination towards erring on the safe side.
The newer kites have depowering systems that dump the lift when you release the control bars.
I'm developing a small Cat for kiting, it's steered with the feet like a kite buggy. First trials promissing... See it on the site www.kite-cat.com Any comments welcome, John
I believe Peter Lynn's was a buggy with each wheel replaced by a float. I was told the turning cicle was very large. This one with normal rudders attached to foot pedals is very responsive in turning, and with a good pull from the kite, it leans back and really takes off. Hope to have some video on the site to download soon. John
Thanks for your interest Alan. I've just bought a Naish ARX 9.5, 7.5 on Ebay to use with the Cat, as it has only been tried with foils so far. Except the time with the Slingshot 13 in a wind which meant it was overppowered. As soon as I have tried it with the ARX, will post some details. All the best, John
for the record ... I am in the process of learning kitesurfing and it is an absolute BLAST! One caviat: it is dangerous. No playing around; please if you consider buying one and "winging it" ... spend the dollars and take a lesson from a professional ... I know that you think it is not applicable to learn to "ski / surf" as "I will be using this on a boat". Just to get used to the dangers and power of this extremely large beast ... take a lesson and save a live (your own and/or a bystander). These kites, inflateables or foils can dive at 35+ mph with 600 lb test lines at anywhere from 10 to 30 meteres (30 m is advised for learning) and can cut of a digit or two before you know it is looped around something. The flip side to the danger is the raw power when you dive it into the power zone. As someone above stated ... start small to figure it out. Several manufacurers make smaller foil versions to learn (but still very powerful) from around 1 square meter to about 5 square meters ... NOTE these "smaller" kites still pack a wallop and I would recommend just "tea bagging" or dragging around in water to learn. Take a lesson and try it out ... Very addicting and gives a new level to light air fun ... instead of plodding around in 8 to 10 mph .. you can plane / gybe / jump in same wind.
