1st attempt to launch from a boat: Kite 1 Brent 0

[rider1200]

Always wanted to launch from the boat so last night I talked a friend into helping me try. Forecast said SW 10-15 so I'm thinking calm water & light variable winds.

I hooked the untangled lines up to the kite in my yard, folded the kite in 1/2 sideways to the lines (so they're the same length). Then I wrapped the red line enough times to flag the kite, then wrapped the rest of the lines. I didn't figure 8 them thinking it might help me unwap quicker and I put the wrapped bar next to the outermost spline and rolled everything up (all splines inflated).

To my surprise a little stormcloud brought huge winds from the NW...and some 3 ft waves! I got far enough away to find managable winds and went at it.

I figured the bridal would be tangled so I was very careful unwapping in the beginning but it all came out nicely. I got the kite blown up and the lines 1/2 unwrapped with no tangles so I placed it in the water downwind of the boat with the leading edge down & into the wind and started upwrapping the lines. I was getting excited until the boat started drifting downwind faster than the kite! I'd already let out too much line and the next thing you know I was under the boat with a mask untangling the lines from the prop (in 3 ft waves). Luckily the boat wasn't running and I had no damage to the lines but I ran out of both wind and daylight.

Anyone have any experience with this? Or is anyone dumb enough to come next time? The guy I got to come with me doesn't kite and this is only my 1st year. I hesitated a few times worried holding only the red line would cause the kite to cartwheel and tangle...I might have been ok if I'd just let it go but the wind was pretty strong and I had my 15m.

One thought is to use an extention cord holder or ski line wrap (that orange "H" thingy) hoping it'll do a better job with the lines b/c the crap on the bar won't be in the way. Another is a turbolauncher built for just this occasion but this article from 05 says the Best bar won't fit in it: www.ikiteboarding.com/kiteboarding/articles/review-turbolauncher.aspx#

I'm even debating wrapping the red line separate from the other 3 for added control when drifting it from the boat.

[edg]

I'm looking into boat launching too. This is some information I have read.

We launch from boats all the time. Last year when my knee was blown I was the designated boat driver and since I refined this, I bet I have done 30 or more launches with no aborts.
The best way to keep your lines organized is to, starting from the kite, stuff/wind them into a five gallon bucket. Start far enough from the kite to allow you to pump the kite up without pulling the lines out of the bucket. Tie a rabbit ear ( the direction so that the bar end of the lines will pull the knot out) to the handle of the bucket so that when you are handling the whole thing in the boat you don't accidentally pull the bottom of the pile of line. Then just wind the lines into the bucket and throw the bar on top. The winding will naturally change direction a few times and stuff. Just go with what the lines want to do. To launch:
The driver or helper is holding the kite like you would carry it across the beach. (hold leading edge, concave up)
The kiter hooks in and then get the boat moving a little across the wind. Kiter bails into the water, put the boat in neutral.
The lines will pay out of the bucket and the rabbit ear should just pull out leaving the bucket in the boat. When they are out I have always been able to drag the kiter/stop the boat easily standing in the boat holding the kite. You should be arranged thus at this point: Kiter in water, lines straight and perpendicular to wind, boat driver standing with kite in launch position.
The boat will drift downwind into the perfect launch position...let er rip.

If you aren't going too far in the boat you can pump up on land.

Jeb

and this is where I got it.

www.nwkite.com/forums/t-4721.html&highlight=boat+launch+bucket

[rider1200]

Thanks for the input! I'm going to try to bucket next time get a chance.

I emailed Turbolauncher asking if it'd work with the 08 Best Bar and this is what I got:

"The Turbolauncher works well with all bars that do not have a stopper ball on the lines.
Yes it is also possible to use the Turbolauncher without ever unhooking the lines."
The Best Bar has a stopper ball right? I think its the thing I debated removing on the thick lines between the bar and the power/depower straps. I don't see myself ever using it and it takes away from a few inches of depower.

[edg]

I know a lot of people that took them off but for me I like the stoppers B/C they keep the bar within easy reach after I eat it. ( I ride 06 Switchblades) I have access to a boat and a sea doo on Cayuga Lake that I will be launching out of when there is enough wind.

ED