So today after sailing lessons, we used the boat to “test drive” our contraption. The kite flew very well on just 4 knots under motor, but we had to tweak the lines a bit to get it to fly horizontally. We discussed that the kite can only be flown while we’re going upwind, but that still gives us lots of leeway. The reel performed very well, especially the two speed handles. As you can see, I’m in the process of lightening the reel by drilling holes. We’re still working on the parallel linkage. We put the camera out front and the leverage caused the entire assembly to tilt too far forward. We need to find a way to get the camera centered along the bottom member to address this problem.
We’ve only got a couple of more days for design and testing until we have to disassemble this monstrosity and put it in our checked luggage. Wish me luck! Today is more camera mounting fabrication and I’m making a tail to stabilize the kite from “hunting”. Overall, it was very successful.
-- You can't control the wind, but you can trim your sails
7 comments so far
hardwoodflooring
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202 posts in 2921 days
#1 posted 11-24-2009 10:11 PM
pretty cool.
-- hardwood, South Carolina, http://www.palmettohardwood.com
OhValleyWoodandWool
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970 posts in 2844 days
#2 posted 11-24-2009 10:32 PM
That really does look like a cool contraption. do you have a use for this or is it just for giggles?
-- "All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then Success is sure." Mark Twain
CaptainSkully
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1483 posts in 3282 days
#3 posted 11-25-2009 01:43 AM
Actually, I do skippered charters, so I might be able to add pics/video of customers’ charters for a small fee. Also, one of the schools I teach for wants video of a class on a small boat. This may just be the ticket there too. Regardless, the pics & video will be priceless. Sailors have a very difficult time getting pics/video of themselves on a boat because it usually requires another boat. Whenever two sailboats are going in the same direction, it inevitably results in a race, so everybody’s busy racing, not taking pics/video of each other.
Yes DaveR, I’m all about anything ever made by Pacific Seacraft, especially if it’s a Crealock!
-- You can't control the wind, but you can trim your sails
CaptainSkully
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1483 posts in 3282 days
#4 posted 11-25-2009 02:33 AM
We actually got some clear video of the transom of the boat and our wake. The camera weighted down the parallel linkage more than we expected.
-- You can't control the wind, but you can trim your sails
Napaman
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5526 posts in 3801 days
#5 posted 11-25-2009 07:04 AM
SWEET…will this be handheld? or will you be able to rig this up to the boat? would a longer pole…like a fishing pole give you a different angle on the line that you can change the slack with??
either way figuring it all out is part of the fun…
good luck on your trip…hope to here about it…
matt
-- Matt--Proud LJ since 2007
studie
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618 posts in 2871 days
#6 posted 11-25-2009 07:23 AM
FFFFFantastic love my kites out in Washington st Westport ect but that just blows me away Ha Ha!
-- $tudie
studie
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618 posts in 2871 days
#7 posted 11-27-2009 03:31 AM
My Revolution Kite has 4 lines & is like a R C car in the sky! Too many lines for the risk of drowning a fine camera. I wonder about a 2 line setup tho as you could wander left and or right. Wake-boarding with high power kites is popular & also dangerous but what a way to go!
-- $tudie
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