Bmwbob - 8-4-2013 at 05:19 AM
OK. This happened on Saturday, the day before my 00-Wind report.
The local Blokart dealer has an odd working schedule, so this was the first opportunity for us to get together.
Winds were 15-20 mph, and pretty much straight down the beach. This meant that upwind travel would be a series of VERY short tacks across the hard
pack.
We got there and started to set up. The Blokart literature (provided to me after the session) says that for my weight (175-180 pounds) the proper sail
is the 4.0 meter one for 10-20 knots.
The dealer says that he is a "speed demon", and wants to use the 5.5 meter sail (the largest one they make) if that's OK with me.
Hey, what do I know? He's the expert, right?
We get the thing set up and he wants me to jump right in and go. I ask to see him sail it first so I can get an idea of how it's gong to act. He does,
and lt looks OK.
So, it's my turn I put on my helmet (which he says I really don't need), but forego the seat belt at his advice.
Off I go upwind, zig zagging along at a slow pace.
Turning back downwind, (the wind had slackened somewhat), it moved along pretty good. I was glad he had the optional disc brake on it as the main
sheet wasn't long enough to allow me to totally depower.
I stopped where we started, and he encouraged me to keep at it.
Back up wind I go, a bit faster this time as the wind had picked back up.
When turning back downwind, the main sheet shot out to the end (it was tied off to the port mast brace) the sail sprang out to 90 degrees (full extent
of travel), and before I could get the kart fully turned, it pitched me over.
I laid that one off to my failing to turn quickly enough, or perhaps turning the wrong way, so I righted the beast and made another effort.
BIG mistake! This time I got pitched HARD forward and to port. Without being belted in, I slid forward and my left leg was pinned between a couple of
the tubes, applying HEAVY pressure on my ankle, with the full force of the wind in the sail trying to remove my left foot.
I got free as quickly as I could and righted the kart once more. Turning it nose to wind, I picked up the front wheel and hobbled it back down to the
starting point.
After inquiring as to the extent of my injuries, the dealer noted that the second flip was caused by some fouling of the mainsheet during the first
flip. Well, maybe.
SUMMARY:
Upon review, the following factors were determined to have contributed to the accident and injuries (exact extent of such injuries as yet to be
determined):
1. Direction of wind unsuited for safe operation
2. Lack of experience for the operator
3. Sail size too large for wind conditions
4. Failure to use available safety equipment (seat belt)
5. Length of main sheet insufficient to allow sail to rotate far enough around the mast to fully de power when running downwind.
Moral of this story: do NOT rely solely on the advice of "experts" when it's YOUR butt in the sling! And, do not assume that YOU will be able to ""get
away with" something just because the hot shoe guy can! :-(
Bob
pokitetrash - 8-4-2013 at 06:59 AM
Wow, sounds alot like my learning curve. You wont be disapointed after you get the hang of it. As far as sail size, you got bad advice regarding sail
sixe in my opinion. "Speed Demon" may like to go fast but you can actually go faster with the 4m sail than with the 5.5 when trimmed properly--the
bigger sail slows you down from surface area and drag but you have more grunt and the potential to be easily overpowered as you found out the hard
way. I ALWAYS wear a seat belt. been pitched hard a few times myself. Could get ugly without one as you saw. If you flip wearing the seat belt, you
rarely get hurt unless you put your arm out to try and stop yourself from tipping which is a reflex but can break an arm so tuck and go with it if you
roll. Normally you just look goofy hanging almost upside down piling up ungracefully after you undo your belt 
.
BTW, what was is rationale for not using a seat belt?
Bmwbob - 8-4-2013 at 07:13 AM
Yeah, this hasn't totally put me off from the Blokart.
To his credit, the guy made me what seems to be a good offer on the rig. It is the stainless steel one with a 4.0 and 5.5 sails, mast protectors, disc
brake, and the Shadow (sidecar) kit.
Carol has already said that there is NO way I'm getting her in the sidecar (which as I understand is only usable on pavement or a dry lake bed), but I
wonder if the added rear axle length wouldn't help make carrying a wheel lower a bit easier. It might have just been being over canvassed that made it
so easy to carry a wheel while only going about 3-4 mph.
I'll be back in touch with the guy after I heal up. I don't want to come into JIBE limping!
Bob
Bmwbob - 8-4-2013 at 07:19 AM
Oops. Missed the seat belt query.
I don't recall that there was any actual rationale for not using it. I think he made some comment about the current conditions not creating a
situation where I would be likely to need it, but I don't recall the exact words.
I do want to say that I don't consider the guy to be a jerk at all, just perhaps a bit imprudent.
Please understand that my perspective for making such comments comes from my background as a first jump skydive course instructor where bad advice
meant DEAD people, so I'm perhaps a bit more sensitive to this sort of thing than the next guy would be.
Bob
pokitetrash - 8-4-2013 at 07:24 AM
I'll have mine at JIBE too, we'll ride together for sure. Yea, if you are fighting heeling over in low speed, your definately overpowered. Not sure
about the shadow. I think you should be able to ride a passenger on hardpack sand no problem. That's where you would go up a size on the sail and the
ballast of a passenger should keep all wheels down. Heeling a blokart is fun when you get the hang of it, you should be able to ride with one off the
ground for as far as you want to. Not as efficient though and not as fast because you spill more air off your sail. It's just cool!
Bmwbob - 8-4-2013 at 07:42 AM
I think the Blokart would make it possible for me to ride without endangering other folks when the population is higher at the beach. Needing only to
keep about a 7 foot wide space for your wheels instead of a 107 foot wide swath to include the kite is an advantage.
While I was static flying the PB 4-8, I had a guy on a bike ride under my lines a couple of times. Then, a woman came out and watched me for a while,
then laid down right where I could plant the LE right on her face (probably had her lawyer on speed dial!).
I finally gave it up when a family with small kids erected an EZ-Up tent inside my radius.
Even then, there's would have been plenty of room to sail a Blokart on the hard pack.
I can't imagine these space requirements for buggying are unique to my area.
Is there any real answer other than the obvious (go somewhere there are fewer people)?
Bob
Bmwbob - 8-4-2013 at 11:43 AM
Hey, Pokite,
I emailed you some questions about the Blokart...didn't want to get too far afield on this thread.
Bob