First session out in the Kite Iceboat on Budd Lake, NJ yesterday. A few DN iceboats, iceboarders, a kitewinger with an iceboard, and a buggy on blades flying an NPW.
Ice was soft and bumpy with presure cracks and a few holes to watch. Surface is going away fast. That may be it for the season here. Time to head north.
The rig was smooth and stable and sailed better then I had expected. Winds were light @ 5-15mph. I played it safe and put up the 6m Gin. Was hanging with the DN's on a broad reach, but had nothing to show upwind. Should of went with the 11m !! Those DN sailors would have been cutting off their masts and buying kites today

Ok Jimmy you know I want one !!! That's awesome, looks really lightweight. Hoe does it steer..? Couldn't tell cuz you were looking up when you turned. :bigok::bigok:

I just can't break that kite fixation habit. The Gins are so sweet
Had to really work the 6, might have had a nice park and ride with the 11 with power at hand.
You called it, the only issue I have to work out is the slow steering. Didn't turn as fast as I needed and would plow the runner. The plan is to add a little more rocker to the runner. And maybe replace the steering cables with a bar and add stops.
Otherwise it was a good first outing.

Well done James good flick

Ingenious well done

Very nice. I like the simple disign. I think the steering will always be an issue do to the long (blade) base. But if the cables are slack at all then rods will fix that.
Looks awesome in any case and real smooth ride. Did you have a GPS to get a speed?

Well done Jimmy on the Iceboat and the video! Very Chillaxed...

I wonder if the length of the ice boat wouldn't cause it to turn slow to far away from the back ski to make a tight turn but it does look awsome!

Nice vid. Looks like fun! The 11 would have been "funner."

Quote:

Originally posted by thanson2001ok Nice vid. Looks like fun! The 11 would have been "funner."

...and funnier if it yanked me out of the seat. The seat has a nice lip to hold on the upwind side.
This thing doesn't slide around like the buggy. It holds it's ground. If something gives, it's gonna be me. Future plan is to attach the CL to a snap shackle to the boat between my legs moving all the pull to the center of the boat. With a leash on the shackle pin.

@ Roc, Started working on a steering rod tonight. GPS was sitting in the truck since WW last fall and batteries were dead. I'd guess 30-35mph. Nothing spectacular, but any day cruising around with a kite is good fun. I still have alot to learn and every time out is progress with the a few "Ahh Haa" moments.

If do hot wire in have your connection just a tad forward of your center of gravity(for you and the boat combined). This will allow the front of the boat to follow the kite if it all gets lifted. When things get funky its slightly more comforting going forward than backwards.