New Age Trawler/Motorsailer; Kite assisted PowerYacht

[masalai]

Fanie, How is that for brainfarts?

[catmando2]

Originally Posted by juiceclark

If this works out well, we'll try my neighbor's 48' powercat next with this type of deal:
http://www.kit-cats.com/kite/KiteSailPowerboats.htm

I will be very interested to see how that goes as I am again looking at this option for my 50ft cat that I am building.

How do you think it will go with the fixed blade props?

Dave

[FAST FRED]

How do you think it will go with the fixed blade props?

How does any sail boat go with 2 sea anchors being dragged behind ?

FF

[Fanie]

How does any sail boat go with 2 sea anchors being dragged behind

You may no get on the plane, Fred

[Fanie]

Hi Mas, ever since you bacame grumpy grampa you cad has deteriorated something terrible You have to take extra classes especially before you start your own boat

[masalai]

I thought a quick sketch and scan to get it to you before you had a chance to turn your computer off on your way out to go fishing? and as you can read in another thread??? my main toy is down still with motherboard/ram ? defects in manufacture still......... and am using backup notebook with minimal grunt to work up any CAD package.... and I have been in "withdrawal" soo long I have forgotten how to do cad - - - U know - part of the ageing process - the memory fileing system gets corrupted by distractions like boats, booze and sex....

[eponodyne]

Originally Posted by masalai

the memory fileing system gets corrupted by distractions like boats, booze and sex....

THESE THINGS ARE NOT "DISTRACTIONS!" THESE THINGS ARE THE MAIN EVENT!!!!!

[masalai]

Ok, - - - - their importance starts to over-ride all other considerations in a desperate bid to fulfull ones destiny, to have fun, and procreate, as much as possible - as one gets older one becomes more desperate to "cram it all in".....

[brian eiland]

...saw this discussion on another forum...

Originally Posted by Gary

What I am curious about however was your comment that the boat really needed a fair bit of breeze before the kite could be flown by amateurs (sorry, pros) .

Is this a design flaw ? in the kite or the crew ? inherent in the nature of the beast or what ?

Should I not be able to leave the Cape Verdes, put it up and just keep an eye open for St Lucia on the horizon ?

That appears to be more of less what the Germans(edited) are claiming for that odd half spinnaker half parachute thingie.

Enquiring minds would like to know

Pretty much what I expected, too. Figured if I didn't go, they might fly it and stuff it up even worse (would have been difficult), with no one there to give the other side of the story.

Outleaders need about 8 knots apparent to fly. This is often available up high, but not at alunch height. Once you know how to fly them, it is possible to launch them on more of a reach, which allows the apparent to work in your favour. However, until you get to this stage, it is much easier to launch and fly them downwind, when apparent works against you.

As long as the kite always saw 8 knots apparent within 30 degrees either side of ddw, you could hoist it at Cape Verdes, cleat the lines and not worry about it until the other side. What I like about it for shorthanded sailing/racing is that, although it is more likely to fall in the water if the wind changes, it is unlikely to do any harm, just being towed along by the retrieval line (shorter than the flying lines) until you wake up and re hoist it. This compares with a caught aback and/or flogging spinnaker, with the potential to drop the mast and/or capsize the boat.

Remember that these are first generation kites and there is still a lot to learn, particularly about launching them, line handling ( I have a water driven line retriever which works pretty well) and retrieval. They weigh considerably less than a spi, but are heavier than necessary for light air, when a gossamer version with windsurfer kite lines would fly in lighter air. The lines and kite at present are sized to lift the boat out of the water, which is extreme. Given that the drag of the lines is the biggest performance inhibitor, then lighter lines will make a big difference.

If you can organise a J24 or similar sized boat, I will bring my 40 sqm across to Sydney next time I visit (or anywhere else I happen to be visiting) and show you how it works.
regards

rob

[rob denney]

G'day,

I posted the above after an abortive attempt to fly an Outleader kite on an 80'ter in this years Sydney Hobart. The abort was nothing to do with the kite.

The offer at the end applies to anyone who is interested in kite technology.

Also, if anyone has any questions on kite powered boats, I am hapy to try and answer them.

regards,

rob

[brian eiland]

There are a few other 'kite' discussions over here, postings #161 thru #165...
...including

Originally Posted by Sabahcat

Just got a reply from Kit cats in regard to their kite sail and even suggested they join the kitesail discussion here.
Reply to the email

Strange, I was just looking at it.Yep, still there

http://www.kit-cats.com/kite/KiteSailPowerboats.htm

http://www.kit-cats.com/kite/300%20m...ite%20sail.htm

[eponodyne]

Wow, they sure gave up fast.

[masalai]

backwards it seems as the sites are still open....

[brian eiland]

Here's a interesting digression

So this Dutch artist has created a beautiful propeller-driven skin-on-frame trimaran that only goes directly upwind, without human crew, and set it underway in the western Pacific.

A fascinating project; be sure to check out the construction photos. Some interesting ideas, to be sure, and good for her for actually getting the thing built and launched.

Sailing Directly to Windward

[peter radclyffe]

Originally Posted by brian eiland

Here's a interesting digression

So this Dutch artist has created a beautiful propeller-driven skin-on-frame trimaran that only goes directly upwind, without human crew, and set it underway in the western Pacific.

A fascinating project; be sure to check out the construction photos. Some interesting ideas, to be sure, and good for her for actually getting the thing built and launched.

Sailing Directly to Windward

which materials cause the least environmental damage to produce for boatbuilding