Hello,

New to the forum, I am trying to make contact with other kiters and groups working deep water setups from boats. I have been learning to kite for the last 2 years at several coastal locations that I travel to for work. Now that I know how to fly the kite and ride the board, I am working on different ways to inflate the kite on the boat, rig the lines in the water, and drift launch. It may sound like alot of trouble, but once you get riding, it is great because I usually have the whole lake to myself.

I would definitely like to share ideas with any other deep water kiters out there, and if you are anywhere near Kentucky lake (Paris Landing area) and would like to kite with us, let me know. We have developed a fairly good and safe technique for launching here and would be glad to share what we know. On the rare occasions we get good winds here, it would be great to get a group together for a good downwinder. I have a facebook group at Kentucky Lake Kiteboarding if you want to check out some pics and videos of what we are doing. Looking forward to hearing from anyone interested in the topic.

Hi Lake rider. Been teaching from boats for over 10 years now and it is no hassle whatsoever. Am working on a mini video clip to make it easier to understand and will post a link once done.
We launch from the boat and stay on the boat. bring the kite up, slip in the footstraps and launch direct.
this way you can stay pretty dry a whole session if you don't wipe out during your session : )
nico

Thanks Nico

Sounds like you do things the way we would like to. I haven't had the best of luck putting the kite in the water first, but hopefully that will get better as we get better at line management. The 5 gallon bucket method has been the best way we have found for the lines, then swimming the bar out 90 degrees from the boat. Haven't tried a turbolauncher yet, but some type of device like that seems like it would help with reeling the kite out downwind from the boat.

Yep the gadgets can helü a bit. I tried and tested them all, but still prefer the gadget free system as you are not in trouble when you don't have them with you.
N

Nico, do you find any particular type of kite is better for drift launching from a boat?

eg. I'm guessing a 5th line kite should be one of the easiest.

I would think you would need a Time Manager at the very least for rigging on a boat.
http://kitelauncher.com/

We haven't had any real problems drift launching with 4 line kites other that when he wind quits on us. I just use the board to plane some resistance in the water and grab the right or left trailing edge line.

We usually anchor the boat into the wind and inflate the kite on the engine cover with a D ring and strap securing the kite. We rig the lines on land and coil them in a 5 gallon bucket that has bungees to hold the bar and a small board that keeps the kite ends organized.

Wow stylish boat.
Just got to finish my event (Kiteival) and will work on that clip showing our technique.

here some links to some of the event pictures

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... =1&theater
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... =1&theater .
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... =1&theater

Nico

Is "That" Nico ?


I Really MISS surfing .


Nico[/quote]

Bille

What's the reason for the bucket instead of just coiling the lines around the bar? Seems to me like you're more likely to have a tangle in the bucket.