Kiting by canoe

[ricki]

http://www.kiteboat.com/gfx/closetomolokai450x.jpg
From: http://www.kiteboat.com/

This idea has been out for a while, but I came across a summary recently and wanted to put it up. The summary is at: http://memetician.livejournal.com/122486.html

and some stills and videos follow:

http://www.kiteboat.com/gfx/KOAEatMe300.jpg
From the Red Bull Fly By. There is a video clip of the canoe and riders being yanked repeatedly skyward at: http://www.kiteboat.com/documents/KOANaishKiteCanoe320.mov


http://www.kiteboat.com/gfx/flatoutside300X.jpg

There is a nice video clip of the guys hauling butt in a demasted cat via kite at: http://www.kiteboat.com/kb_videos.html

[bryanleighty]

There's a guy here in St. Pete that kites on his canoe all the time.. looks like he is having a great time .. definitely an option in this sport for anyone that might have physical limitations to ride a board.. or maybe just someone looking for something different..

[toby wilson]

Yeah, the Kite-yaker!!!

[Rodan'sWings]

There is a race called the Everglades Challenge. its a race to the everglades and back from Fort Desoto using human, wave, and wind powered craft. The craft must be launched by one person, by hand. some racers have used kites with kayaks/canoes in this race. The boats used are really interesting, one guy used a Hobie 14 modified to be a row boat when the wind dies....he must have been a Gorilla. I wish i could find out who the guy that raced with a kite is. Anyways, the site:
http://www.watertribe.com/Default.aspx?ucPtr=HomePageMain.ascx

[KITEBUM]

I have a Peter Lynn kiteboat that I got in the mid 90's and it is great fun. It's like kiyak you sit on and steer 4 rutters with your feet, it's not the buggy adaption. Very relaxing and you can be cruising in almost no wind at all since you get the best results when you are under powerd and keep the kite high. It also has a dry well area that you can put gear in so long trips would be no problem, well wind permiting.

[ricki]

I have a Peter Lynn kiteboat that I got in the mid 90's and it is great fun. It's like kiyak you sit on and steer 4 rutters with your feet, it's not the buggy adaption. Very relaxing and you can be cruising in almost no wind at all since you get the best results when you are under powerd and keep the kite high. It also has a dry well area that you can put gear in so long trips would be no problem, well wind permiting.

Thanks for the word on this. I have been thinking the PL kiteboat or others like it might present a viable option to kiting for guys that have been injured and need just that bit more of rehab before going back at it. I have met quite a few kiters with leg injuries dying to get back out on the water. Some push it too far too soon and end up set way back. How fast can you get going in the thing and still maintain some control?

[KITEBUM]

To be honest I haven't tried getting any real speed since I have only used it in very light winds. Once the wind picks up I am on my board. I did however get an awesome run in when the winds were about 5 knts, SUPER light, using a 9m Quadrifoil. It is truly amazing how little wind it needs to get going. It is just like buggying only on the water, same feeling. I don't see this model very often which is odd since it is more practical than the buggy adaption with the three pontunes. This is a mono hull and would work perfectly for some one with knee/physical issues and or handicap. I think I'll take it out this weekend and see what I can do about a speed reading for you. Back in the early 90's we used to take a stack of stunt kites or a foil and a inflatable two man raft and crank down wind. One person kiting and the other steering with an ore. Great fun especially in some waves. Be creative and most of all have fun.