PHREERIDER - 15-3-2010 at 09:41 AM
Here's my first impressions on the PL Charger 12m.
I am at 200 lbs. on a 140x42 SK sprint.
conditions where 20-30mph gusty offshore from the West 12-3pm.
http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.as...
The Navigator Bar and lines are solid up grade. I went with extension (3meters) and will leave them on for all the kites. The loop is nice and
beefy with simple pull slide release. The DD is attached to the loop from the side very stable. The swivel is very convenient and keeps the safety
line and main twist free. Regular flushing with fresh water is the order of the day to keep it going. The bar grip is nice with increasing diameter
toward the center. It has the typical adhered cushy foam with WRONG WAY written on the backside and PL on the front. The clam cleat adjuster is easy
to use works well and the ring keeper is nice to keep it tidy. The main line stopper is an excellent feature actually discovered this out on the
water after about an hour. The Y connector design is new with the safety line on a slide ring on a front line and it worked perfectly. The bar
width adjustment feature is simple to use and def came into play with kite sensitivity adjustments. In general the bar is solid gear folks, def all
good.
Charger 12
First time out I set the center strap pulled in half way and wingtip half way as well. The wingtip bridle has a front line 3 knot selection. I
started with the knots furtherest from the kite. The rear adjustment is within the bridle system and selected the knots furthest from the kite.
Fill and launch quick and easy.
Handling was quick! Very quick ( the bar end adjustments were set to the outside) . the turn rate on this 12 is way faster than v10. the bar
pressure was light and an improvement for sure. Very sensitive and mad quick!
The ride and power. The workable window is smaller than my v13, more like the v10. Very powerful deep in the window. Effortless to place the kite
back for a jump and place it exactly where you want it in the blink of an eye. Plenty of height and float on the jumps on the heavier gust. Up wind
was good but it would not hold closer to the edge especially in the lighter air and was very easily choked. I could hold my position with the other
riders in the rotation but it took a tremendous amount of kite work. Thankful for the quick turning speed! In the gust it was fine but i was
underpowered in the lulls. Autozenith was good as usual. No real current or break issues to work around and in general kept up with the crew and
spent the usual time on top. The first 3 hours at the settings mentioned for this kite would be like a faster turning v10 with maybe a fraction more
power.
At the end of the session did a few water relaunches both sides. It required very little input mostly rear line tugs with a pump on the main once it
opened. No problem there and to my surprise the kite was not even damp when I landed a few minutes later, nothing like fresh!
I'm definitely gonna do more time on the CH12 with some tweaks on the tuning, breaking through the surf with current will be a real test.
Very anxious to get the CH15 out!
BeamerBob - 15-3-2010 at 10:49 AM
Best review I've heard Phree. I look forward to hear about the effects of your tweaks and especially when you take the 15 out with this higher
turning speed.
PHREERIDER - 15-3-2010 at 01:03 PM
thanks BB, having fun.
got on the CH 15 Sunday and had a nice go. in steady 20mph+ either is doable but 15 matches my weight. the CH 12 completely wicS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-d
out still requires a bit of work. but 15 is park and ride. i really suspect the CH19 to be a super power in 15-20mph.