[jim]

Kiting from a boat is really easy and safe and gives you access to some great spots. Just takes some planning.
First, a shallow draft flats style boat is nice for getting onto those grassflats. I have a 24 ft carolina skiff with a jackplate to allow you to run in shallow water.
Anchor off the stern, using an anchor for a larger boat(I use one for a 28-30 foot boat, chain on anchor is a good idea to help it set)
To your boats bow eye(that you use for trailering) attach via a bowline knot 4 ft of stout line ending in a caribener style shackle, let this hang in the water until you need it. Pump up the kite on the bow of the boat, and when done attach the shackle on the line attached to the bow eye to the leading edge bridle of the kite, flip it over wingtips down, and let it drift off the bow of the boat.
At home you have laid out your lines to be tangle free, and index them in correct order onto a foam block with slits cut into it so lines will stay in the correct orientation. there is a product called the time manager that will do this but why pay the 20 bucks. If you have kids no doubt one of their toys will suffice!
Attach your lines from the rear of the kite, and walk your lines dead downwind until they come tight. You are carrying with you a small kayak anchor with a small line about 3 feet long ending in another caribener shackle. you attach your chicken loop to this caribener/ anchor and pull it tight.
Now walk back up your lines verifying they are all straight(bar is upside down for this setup downwind)
If your lines arent straight undo them and hook them up correctly.
You are almost done...
At this point your harness is on and you are ready to go , board is within easy reach on bow of boat.
Unhook caribener from chicken loop, walk bar back to boat, hooking chicken loop to caribener that held kite(you unhook the kite , keeeping a hold on it, and hook the bar up )
Walk kite to edge of wind window, and set it on its wingtip(fully depowered)-this only works for bow style kites-kite will just bounce on its wingtip waiting for you. In windy cond it will jump around and surge back and forth.
Get back to boat quickly, keeping an eye on the kite. The kite will pull pretty hard on the boat thats why the bigger anchor.
Hook in, get kite to neutral and then undo caribener from chicken loop and off you go.
For landing ride up to boat, depower kite hook caribener to chicken loop, land kite on its wingtip and then unhook yourself. You can take a break this way and kite will wait for you. if done just walk up most upwind line until you reach the kite and then you grab it and derig.
This sounds like a real pain in the ass but is really simple once you have done it a few times. Much safer too than launching and landing from shore.
Hope this helps!