mechanical winches when flying falcons to the kite

[Falconry Equipment International]

Does any one use a mechanical winch when flying falcons to the kite?

[Hawkmaster]

No but I would love one that is not too over priced.

[Falconry Equipment International]

I am trying to get miy design made in the far east, at bthe mo they sell for nearly £350.00 & that's w/out the drill, but if I get enough orders( I need prepaid orders for atleast 100 I should be able to do the same product for about £100, weighs 50lb, can steak it in ground, interchngaeble spools etc etc. deluix model on trailer that akes all other kite gear for under~£400
regards
J

[Hawkmaster]

Damn that is a far cry from what I have now that cost me £32 and can also have the drill fitted.

[Falconry Equipment International]

Yeah paul, but these are built to last! had mine nearly 10 yrs now, and have sometimes flow up to 8 hawks a day to over 1,000' on average over 10 yaers if I have used it 3 times a week for 2 hawks, thats 3,000 times I've used it, got through numerous spools,(including Aluminium!)line etc .winds kite down from1000' in about 1 min
regards
J

[Hawkmaster]

Mine is about 8 years and now needs the line replacing and takes about 5 minutes to roll in on the floor and that kills me, so that would be great.

For that amount of birds it is great I just find it hard to spend that kind of bread of something that will do it too, just not as fast. But if the price is right then it will rock I am sure.

[Gos212]

I bought a 12v Winch for £38 off ebay, the kind which has a hand held remote control. I removed the reduction gears and connected the rope drum straight onto the motor.

The kite pulls the line off the drum OK when its going up and I added a bolt through the drum to act as a brake. I mounted the winch onto the bumper of the Land Rover.

It will spool 1500ftin less than two mins. The only problem is when you're bringing the kite down so quick it pulls it back into the wind behind you. Ive got to wait until the wind carries it down wind again.

I did this cos basically I'm a lazy git and couldn't be ar**d doin it by hand !

[Hawkmaster]

Would be good to see photos if you guys have them?

[Falconry Equipment International]

Will take some in the next few days , however tried to upload a pic to my profile & even reducing it down to the min it is still 10 times too big. `Any help would be gratefully accepted
J :lol: :rolleyes:

[Falcons7]

I got one given when in the gulf in November and its great although a little bit slow which isn't that big of a problem and I'm sure I can speed it up a little.There is a bigger one for sale out there for £180 and they romp in but you need heavier line for fast winches as in wind the strain on the line is often bad enough without trying to bring it down at worp 2 .I need to use a winch as I often do several falcons to the kite ,this year possably 6 although I intend to use 2 lures at any one time .One pheasant and one partridge or equiv.and space them about 150 ft with the bigger wing the lowest and the plan is that falcon 1 will take the big lure and leave the other lure for the next falcon.It sounds like a plan but we all know about ''best laid plans''

[Morb]

I made one, cost about 5 bucks, it uses my cordless drill as a power source. It's not as elaborate as J's it has stakes to stick in the ground, I used it last year and it worked really well.

[Shaun Byrne]

Like the idea of using 2 lures F7, never thought of that, am going to give it a go on Sunday.

[Pete Smith]

Falcons 7,
Have sorted out a system that you are talking about for flying several falcons in succession to a kite without bringing it back each time.
Basically if your missus has the type of "coat hangers" that have plastic clips on the end you're away.
Remove the clips at each end of the hanger and attach 1 to approx 1 to 2 metres of 300lb test braid etc.
Next to the clip you attach a light weight lure via a sampo snap and split rings etc. (They need to be light as your going to take 3 or 4 up at once).
The other end of the braid has a tiny caribina which slides down the kite line.

The lures i use are a light weight version of NF's "Marlin lure" idea, but i use a single large kilt pin to ensure the food stays firmly attached.
If your going to be flying in strong winds it's a good idea to attach a series small strong fabric tags (one for each lure) to the kite line to clip the lures to.
The tags need to be wedge shaped, with the "Sharpe" end facing the kite this prevents the carribina's snagging when sliding down the kite line.
The principle works OK for male female Perlins, the 1st lure encountered on the way up is the 1st to be taken.....so far!

Regarding controlling the rig up and down, I've converted a Qualcast cylinder mower to do the job, the cylinder blade at the front has been removed and a Acetal spool installed, a few other mods were needed. Basically it can retrieve a kite fast enough to snap 100lb test line if your stupid enough, the whole unit is heavy enough not to be pulled around easily once the kite is up....and if your a lazy git you can drive it across flattish ground with the engine running.

[Falconry Equipment International]

Falcons 7,
Have sorted out a system that you are talking about for flying several falcons in succession to a kite without bringing it back each time.
Basically if your missus has the type of "coat hangers" that have plastic clips on the end you're away.
Remove the clips at each end of the hanger and attach 1 to approx 1 to 2 metres of 300lb test braid etc.
Next to the clip you attach a light weight lure via a sampo snap and split rings etc. (They need to be light as your going to take 3 or 4 up at once).
The other end of the braid has a tiny caribina which slides down the kite line.

The lures i use are a light weight version of NF's "Marlin lure" idea, but i use a single large kilt pin to ensure the food stays firmly attached.
If your going to be flying in strong winds it's a good idea to attach a series small strong fabric tags (one for each lure) to the kite line to clip the lures to.
The tags need to be wedge shaped, with the "Sharpe" end facing the kite this prevents the carribina's snagging when sliding down the kite line.
The principle works OK for male female Perlins, the 1st lure encountered on the way up is the 1st to be taken.....so far!

Hi Pete,
sounds intersting, but can't quite see how this works. Can you do any picks? I have been toying with the idea of line climbers ( both mechanical & collapsing mini kites?) but not got round to it yet, better get me finger out cos come august I shall be kiting 5 hawks :roll:
Regarding controlling the rig up and down, I've converted a Qualcast cylinder mower to do the job, the cylinder blade at the front has been removed and a Acetal spool installed, a few other mods were needed. Basically it can retrieve a kite fast enough to snap 100lb test line if your stupid enough, the whole unit is heavy enough not to be pulled around easily once the kite is up....and if your a lazy git you can drive it across flattish ground with the engine running.
Pete,
been also thinking along these lines for several years, again done nothing about it! Again you got any pics? ( sounds a lot easier ( simpler than my contraption :wink:

[Pete Smith]

Screamin Jay,
Let me know how you up load photo's and ill give it a shot.
Pete.

[Falconry Equipment International]

Pete , gawd now your asking me something technical, prob best to ask the mods, but if I remember if you go to post something I think it says do you want to add photo/ attachment or something like that??? hope this helps