Delta force kite winch

scottnorby · Thu Oct 16, 08 10:09 am **Delta force kite winch**

When I first moved to the coast in 1991 I went through a long winter of being bored waiting for the swell to drop to surf.
Kiteboarding didn't exist and I was experimenting with using a tarp and a skimboard to race down the beach at Beverly beach and roads end (my first downwinders) Picture a tarp parachute with twine tied at four ends ----meeting at a bar. I ate a lot of sand and the tarp just spiraled out of control as I got dragged.

Still imagining the concept of wakeboarding with a kite I hit up a few kite guys and asked if anyone was interested in making a pulley system (grinch) using a Delta kite (pure lift) for the engine.

Simple mechanics. Wind pulls the delta up which pulls the rope through a pulley.
Seems like the pull could be governed so that it went a consistent speed and filtered out the gusts.

seems like 500 foot runs would be possible?
And I saw Deltas that were so big they could lift a car.

Pull the delta back down with leverage and let 'er rip again.

May be something someone wants to revisit?

hamlindp · Thu Oct 16, 08 10:15 am

Sounds cool, but you'ld still need a winch to retrieve it.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Seems like it could work, but there's going to be a ton of upwards force on the pulley. What would that be secured to?

Then the last part. If there's wind, why would we not just be kiting? Very Happy

scottnorby · Thu Oct 16, 08 10:19 am

...I was thinking of having another car drive up the beach while pulling the kite back down....drop off the rider.

Delta grinch would be hooked to a truck.
Yes a lot of upward force.

We have a lot of winter days on the coast that are too gusty to kite but would be really fun for this.
Waves on the inside section for kickers everywhere.
Could potentially ride 12 months a year.

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Couldn't you just get towed on your skim by the truck

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

Yeah, seems unnecessarily complicated to me. Either use a truck to pull yourself for miles and miles or just use a gas powered winch. You use so little gas it doesn't seem worth the hassle to implement the kite idea unless u're gaining something going that route. We plan on bringing our winch to the coast sometime for the waves.