No wind & it'raining? bored? Build a wind powered boat

kochease · Since 03 Jul 2008 760 Posts In Ft. Stevens, OR Opinionated

I thought this was cool and interesting project wind related and a hell of alot better than a nwkite topic on Morals of free enterprise....lame..... Let's get nwkite back on track and about what we are all here for, kiting. Enough with the winter time lame topics and bring on nwkite summer. Yes yes i know that includes a million what gear to buy threads and my kite is better than your kite garbage.

Been discussing with Micheal about his wind powered boat for a few months now. The design is simple and the project sounds like it would be fun to do. He is starting off with a 3m Airush inflatable trainer and made a new bar. All his progress and info is on the forum: http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/boat-design/kite-power-boats-boats-powerd-kites-43570.html

Here is one of the post. Thought I would share. Someone who has more time than me should try it.......

#1
06-18-2012, 08:42 PM
4wings
Junior Member

Join Date: Jan 2012
Rep: 10 Posts: 13
Location: SPI-RGV, TX
Kite power for boats - boats powerd by kites
I want to start this new thread for everybody interested in the possibilities to power his boat ( sail or power or kayak ) temporary by a traction kite as they are used by kite surfer.
Main reason is that there are a lot of mysteries in this field where two sports are so in line and still so far apart ... I hope as many people are willing to chip in, ask questions , leave ideas for others to chew in as possible ...
So far this topic is buried in other threads and often hard to find.
For the last 7 years we follow the development of traction kites and played with the thought of a kite sailer - which we started last year in winter feel free to take a look at http://www.kite-sailer.com.
This initial post is a combined mix of answer we gathered in this field and links to help you understand some aspects - but I assume it is far from perfect ....
The kite - are sold by square meter area - in high aspect and low aspect ratio ...and you can compare them to your sail area or HP -
In one of the threads here you find the formula of 1 sqmeter kite = to 2 HP on engine in best case scenario or 1.5 hp in normal conditions ...which is quite accurate to estimate the size of kite you need to power your boat - as you know your HP
Kite lines - please see : http://http://www.kite-sailer.com/cb.html where we combined the core of a long discussion in a kite surfing forum - you can apply this knowledge to your boating application as well as there is no change in the physics ...
The control bar - which would allow you to steer the kite is the link between the end of your kite lines and your boat deck - the guys at http://www.kite-boat-systems.com/ have a ready made solution for you but feel free to copy our design if you desire so ... since it is a more or less straight forward approach
Most current kites are 4 line kites -
2 Power lines ( which actually come into one line at the end and are attached via chicken loop to the kite surfer in the surfing application ) which carry the main load and 2 steering lines on a bar - which carry lower load but still can do harm.
I believe most common misconception is that you buy a kite and get going - as such please get a trainer kite first and play on the beach to get a idea about handling , power window and forces ...
We used a Airush Supra TI Inflatable Trainer Kite which is a 4 line kite and gives you a good feeling ( just throw the bar away and use any other bar even a broomstick with holes and lines in it would work better)
Once you got a grip determine the size of the kite you need - for a touring kayak the trainer kite will work great - hold in mind if you overpower the boat with the kite - you reduce your downwind possibilities as in the moment your vessel will reach wind speed - the kite will fall from the sky.
Learn how to water start your kite which is relatively easy and the often seen obstacle of getting the kite in the air is less of a problem for recreational boating than it is for the commercial guy's which want to launch while under way.
I hope I could get this ball into rolling and remember don't be ashamed of not knowing only of not desiring to know ..please ask questions
Safe sailing
Michael
http://www.kite-sailer.com

keithvoncoyote · Since 13 May 2011 49 Posts The Gorge

Some one with investors has also put some thought into this...

http://www.skysails.info/english/