kayak

scartch · Since 10 Feb 2008 11 Posts

anyone know if anyone has successfully used a kite to power a kayak???

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 2708 Posts Gresham Videographer

Alex from Florida did it at Rufus this past summer, but he also got a $250 ticket for not wearing a life jacket. Retarded! It took a REV 15 to get him moving good, while we were on 11s.

There's a quick clip (@ 2:15) in my nwkite2007 video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1o4p5o2UPQ

colby · Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:53 pm

incredible movie Adam Exclamation

kss · Since 24 Apr 2006 265 Posts pdx Obsessed

yeah sweet vid man! now let's get some more of that warm weather back up in here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tstansbury · Since 06 Jun 2006 340 Posts Mosier and P.C Obsessed

I think peter lynn made some kite specific kayaks and the guy who crossed one of the oceans had some sit on top kind of boats.

backtoCaLi · Since 15 Mar 2008 11 Posts

I've done a few sea kayak trips in Baja over the years and always bring a trainer for those downwind days. It works really well as long as you have a ruddered boat to help with direction. also saw Dan Gavere a few years back trying to kite with a whitewater boat......not the ideal setup.

moondog · Since 15 Aug 2007 14 Posts white salmon

I kayaked with a hobie pedal kayak this year in baja. The secret is the pedals act as rudders and it also has a rudder. The other secret is make sure it is a 2 man so the man in the back can work the rudder. I kayaked 9 years ago without a rudder and was upside down in 10 seconds

groundclown · Since 12 May 2007 23 Posts

would not recommend it.

I have used my F6S pyranha play boat. it has very hard channeled rails, and fin mounts, so I used the fins from my G-flow. It is very hard as the skirt pushes the harness up to your pits(PFD makes it even worse, didn't use). the boat gets loose on transitions. the worst thing was that once upside down, I had to swim all 3 times out. not much fun trying to hold on to your boat, relaunch, and then drag 45+ gallons back to shore. was dumb enough to send the kite a few times. small airs, no control, painful landing. twice at lyle, I was able to drag in upside down and get to shore. Would like to try it on an out rigger with a rudder man.

jonathon

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 269 Posts Obsessed

i am pretty sure there is a fairly long tradition of using traction kites to power sea kayaks on downwinders. perhaps not a normal part of touring, but when i was getting into kites all my sea kayak buddies had either done it or seen it done. my understanding is it can be done solo, although of course it will be easier with two people. the rudder is key.

a playboat, even one with fins, is a pretty different animal from a touring kayak.