does anyone have any input into the use of the gojoe
thinking of getting one but would be interested in what
others think of them
thanks
If you can upwind body drag you don't need one, but it does make the board stand out and get blown down wind so recovery is quicker.
They do look bad, IMO. So you would cop some flack. But if you can see some benefits for yourself and don't care what others think go for it.
I agree with waxman They do make board recovery easier particularly if you are not confidential with the upwind body drag. Much safer than any leash system but not fool proof, You can make one out of an inner-tube for a wheelbarrow. bolt the handle of the board around the tube inflate the tube. Look in waveslaves photo's you see the one.
IanR means this thread: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Homemade-Go-Joe/
I think embarrasssing is paying for something that you can make for free. Go the inner tube, you'll only need a "go joe" for a week or two then you're good enough without it.
the only time it could be kinda usefull is if you were kiting in a river and the wind blows against the current.
so if your board was getting taken out to sea the go joe should bring it back up stream to you or just slow it down as it gets taken out to sea, which would give you more time to get it.
If you cant body drag to recover your own board you should not be kiting, did your instructor who gave you lessons recomend it?? no didnt think so, otherwise he hasnt done a very good job of teaching you the basics. 
but if you kite in a place with "severe" current issues then i retract my statement.
I might have to do that here in Maui and film what people say ;-) get a big enough one that I can sit on it while riding.
Boards can get stuck in current and be taken upwind faster than you can body drag so this could help, also in a bad crash where you have some trouble getting the kite to relaunch it could help you keep an eye on the board and track it down easier, body dragging in deep water in 30 knts can make it difficult to find your board.
So use it if you think you need it, not everyone can afford to loose a $1000 board or have a spare. More time on the water is what it is about so do whatever it takes to keep riding.
Hi guys thanks for all your coments being only new to the sport i have had plenty of guys retrieve my board for me .
And find that i spend more time looking for my board and trying to body drag upwind than riding,I think i will give it a go and hope to enjoy more time in the water with my board than without it.
I think being in the water with only a kite after crashing and loosing my board would look more gay than the go joe its self.
If your having a hard time finding board have your kite pull you out of the water. You can then look for it
thats like dragging a inflatable shark behind you
go joes make it near impossible to rescue someones board for them.
I don't mind picking up a stray board and taking it downwind of a noob who has come a gutsa, left his board a mile behind him and is goin to crowd the area making a nuisance of himself for the next hour trying unsucssesfully to drag back upwind.
but if i see a go joe, i just leave it and laugh at the noob.... our local is cross off, the board just floats out to sea
