ricki
04-29-2005, 04:18 PM
I came across an intriguing new product at the Islamorada Invitational 2005, the Turbolauncher.
http://kitelauncher.com/images/gallery/gallery_25.jpg
The Turbolauncher website ( http://kitelauncher.com/ ) listed the following advantages:
"Their are many advantages to the new Turbolauncher to help get you out there enjoying the wind and waves quicker.
Safety launching system-ensures quick,tangle free line run-out
An effective and safe kite launching system for use from shallow water, beaches that are to small to set up your lines or rocky, sharp areas that may affect you by catching on your lines. This is the time to use the Turbolauncher.
Line management system-keeps lines tangle free with easy to use line separators.
Line storage system-safely stores lines in "ready to go" mode all the time, giving you Turbolaunch time when you get to the beach!
SIMPLY CONNECT YOUR LINES AND GO!"
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/1_G.sized.jpg
A "loaded" launcher sitting on a kite.
"Minimize space required for rigging
Minimize time required for rigging ( pump and go)
Low cost ( much cheaper than reel bar)
Small, light weight and user friendly design.
Great way to store your bar and lines
Ensure a safe and quick kite launch next time and every time with the Turbolauncher."
I was walked through "loading" of the Turbolauncher at the Invitational as you can see below:
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/2_G.sized.jpg
Setup, slide the chicken loop line ABOVE the bar through the back of the unit.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/3_G.sized.jpg
Get it all in there. It is kind of like stuffing a goose.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/4_G.sized.jpg
Next, wind your lines around the barrel of the Turbolauncher.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/5_G.sized.jpg
When you have about 15 ft.of kite line left to go, cleat off the lines.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/6_G.sized.jpg
Now bring the lines over one at a time and down into the slits.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/7_G.sized.jpg
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/8_G.sized.jpg
Then cleat off the excess.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/24_G.sized.jpg
And you're good to go.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/25_G.sized.jpg
Pulling things out to get ready to attach the lines to the kite. The Turbolauncher allows you to pay the lines out straight back. This is good for more confined area kite setup. I understand that some foil pilots have been particularly taken with this aspect, being able to do straight downwind launches. You can use this for line management but you still need to maintain an adequate distance from hard objects during launching.
So that's an overview of this new device. You need to practice setup with the device and your kite launching assistant to go over things carefully. Be sure to visit the website and checkout for News and tips for use HERE (http://kitelauncher.com/news.php).
I understand that they intend to sell from the website and perhaps through retailers in the future. The retail price is anticipated to be around $65.00 USD per unit with a discount for orders of two or more units, plus shipping. ( http://kitelauncher.com/ )
http://kitelauncher.com/images/gallery/gallery_25.jpg
The Turbolauncher website ( http://kitelauncher.com/ ) listed the following advantages:
"Their are many advantages to the new Turbolauncher to help get you out there enjoying the wind and waves quicker.
Safety launching system-ensures quick,tangle free line run-out
An effective and safe kite launching system for use from shallow water, beaches that are to small to set up your lines or rocky, sharp areas that may affect you by catching on your lines. This is the time to use the Turbolauncher.
Line management system-keeps lines tangle free with easy to use line separators.
Line storage system-safely stores lines in "ready to go" mode all the time, giving you Turbolaunch time when you get to the beach!
SIMPLY CONNECT YOUR LINES AND GO!"
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/1_G.sized.jpg
A "loaded" launcher sitting on a kite.
"Minimize space required for rigging
Minimize time required for rigging ( pump and go)
Low cost ( much cheaper than reel bar)
Small, light weight and user friendly design.
Great way to store your bar and lines
Ensure a safe and quick kite launch next time and every time with the Turbolauncher."
I was walked through "loading" of the Turbolauncher at the Invitational as you can see below:
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/2_G.sized.jpg
Setup, slide the chicken loop line ABOVE the bar through the back of the unit.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/3_G.sized.jpg
Get it all in there. It is kind of like stuffing a goose.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/4_G.sized.jpg
Next, wind your lines around the barrel of the Turbolauncher.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/5_G.sized.jpg
When you have about 15 ft.of kite line left to go, cleat off the lines.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/6_G.sized.jpg
Now bring the lines over one at a time and down into the slits.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/7_G.sized.jpg
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/8_G.sized.jpg
Then cleat off the excess.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/24_G.sized.jpg
And you're good to go.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album94/25_G.sized.jpg
Pulling things out to get ready to attach the lines to the kite. The Turbolauncher allows you to pay the lines out straight back. This is good for more confined area kite setup. I understand that some foil pilots have been particularly taken with this aspect, being able to do straight downwind launches. You can use this for line management but you still need to maintain an adequate distance from hard objects during launching.
So that's an overview of this new device. You need to practice setup with the device and your kite launching assistant to go over things carefully. Be sure to visit the website and checkout for News and tips for use HERE (http://kitelauncher.com/news.php).
I understand that they intend to sell from the website and perhaps through retailers in the future. The retail price is anticipated to be around $65.00 USD per unit with a discount for orders of two or more units, plus shipping. ( http://kitelauncher.com/ )