Thought this might be a good topic of discussion - if it hasn't been brought up already....

There was an article in Kiteboarding magazine this month in which they discuss the pros/cons of each method.

Unfortunately, it was only a page and there was no 'clear cut' decision on which is safer. They kinda left it up to the user to choose depending on the conditions, etc. Rigthly so, I guess.

So you do launch hooked or unhooked and why?

i like to launch hooked when the winds are favorable but when their gusty or really fast definitely unhooked i just clip in with the leash.

I always launch hooked in so I have depowerability and if something goes horribly wrong I can pull the QR.
Also I have the kite fully depowered (bar out strap out)
Oh yeah and I have a climbing harness with a carabeaner on it so its kinda hard to hook in once it's launched.

Ditto that on the climbing harness. The biggie for me is the strop pulley on the handles...and the handles themselves I guess. It'd have to be a well orchestrated thing to launch unhooked and then clip in making sure the pulley is running on the strop.

yeah i always launch hooked in... i think the unhooked launches were from the old days with no quick releases etc. there's really no reason not to be hooked in these days!

I always launched hooked. But to avoid releasing the chicken loop which is a pain to put it back on a FS, I sometime wait after launching to put the chicken loop finger clipped in.

Quote:

yeah i always launch hooked in... i think the unhooked launches were from the old days with no quick releases etc. there's really no reason not to be hooked in these days!

I always launch hooked in as well and was really curious why with modern quick releases, there are still times when you would be better served to launch unhooked. Granted I know that if s*&t hits the fan, quick releases aren't perfect and nothing is as fast as the ability to 'just let go' (i.e. unhooked) but if winds or conditions are that crazy that would require launching unhooked, I just surf or do something else.

Surely, there are other reasons to launch unhooked, otherwise why would they put that article in a May 2008 mag (question directed to all forum members)??

I usually launch hooked in on my depower kites with the trim strap pulled pretty far in (at least halfway, but depends on the conditions). I launch my fixed bridles unhooked to check out the conditions, then hook in the strop. All my kites, fixed or depower, are rigged to release via a modified Wichard 2673 shackle on the harness spreader bar.

krumly

What mods did you make to the Wichard?

Macboy -

Go to the thread "Crossover bar for fixed-bridle foils" in the Kites and Accesories forum. About halfway down page 2 you'll find attachment to pics and links to similar setups.

I use a Wichard 2673, nothing else. There was an opinionated discussion on a thread under buggying that was started as a response to NPWfevers home-brewed QR. Zloty has had good luck with a Wichard piston shackle. I won't use one to attach myself to a kite, as I have had one jam on a foresail on my sailboat (and I do take care of my equipment), and figure that alone is reason enough not to hook my body to one. And you'll find plenty more reviews on Kiteforum that specifically cite release issues with piston shackles vs. the 2673 shackle. Enough rant.

Look at the pics: you'll see 1/2 of a SS ring TIG welded to the shackle where I have a loop for my leash QR pin. Some complain about the bearing on the bail not spinning well, and have hacked it off and TIG'ed on a Harken or some other ball bearing swivel. Yeah, it doesn't spin so well, but you can spin it around pretty quick by hand to untwist the leash if it doesn't follow your bar when you spin it.

I like the set-up 'cuz I can still use a normal chicken loop under the shackle when I'm using someone elses kite.
The Loos closed thimbles are my preference instead of a chicken loop and d-dick. Very strong, wears well against the shackle bail, and releases clean. And doubt you'll find another way to get the bar closer to your body (helpful for small arms when you fly kites with long throw like Arcs).

How are you liking the Access XC?

krumly

Loving the Access but still have much to learn about it. I've found that I've got to get used to two things - the control (or lack of control) offered through the depower bar compared to handles, and the sliding action of the bar which had me powering up without realizing it - not that it mattered but still.....

I was out with it for about 30 minutes today and got a good out and back run but right in the middle I had a little wrestling match with it as she decided to yank me sideways ; ) Almost made me cry for the Brooza instead but I figure I better learn this thing. Sure seems powerful and far more agile than I expected. There's no "off switch" like the brakes on handles afford so it's a bit intimidating but I'm making out okay. Only pulled the primary release once : )

solo launch -depower rig= hooked so you can sheet out and use the system otherwise unhooked it's full on.

solo launch - 5th line rig (trimmed depower)= unhooked ideal winds then hook in trim it and go. heavy winds, if you can not do it unhooked you need a smaller rig or you are demonstrating the smaller brain problem. which can occur in all of us.

assist launch (what a luxury) probably makes your brain smaller but all the above still applies

Macboy -

A local kiting instructor says"kind of like in life, if your in trouble, letting go a bit helps." He was referring to the beginner's tendency to pull the bar in when they felt overpowered, rather than let it out. Could also refer ultimately to "pull the safety" too, I suppose.

Never flown an Access before. Can you set the trimmer such that when totally sheeted in the kite will backstall, and totally sheeted out, it totally depowers (front stalls, or at most just pulls to support it's own weight at the zenith)?

Guess I'm drifting off topic...

krumly

I'll take it to another topic - I'd like to learn more.