Power Kite Forum

Water Re-Launchable

hondamon - 28-10-2011 at 06:57 PM

Does anyone have experience with water re-launchable kites? On land, are they as good? Do they actually work well on water? Do you lose a little on land and on water because it is "the best of both worlds?" Thanks!

Kamikuza - 28-10-2011 at 08:39 PM

If you mean LEI then - yes. Fine. Yes. Not really. No problem :lol:

Wind is wind so there's no problem there ... foils versus LEIs? Can you live with the quirks of each or either? Then take your pick ... personally, I still think foils are where it's at :yes:

Bladerunner - 28-10-2011 at 09:10 PM

There are many kite designs that are water relaunchable.
LEI come in a few designs and most are relaunchable on land. LEI is fine on land but better if you don't crash too often.

Twin Skin arcs are also water relaunchable + good on land.

I think you are actaully asking if you give anything up with a closed cell foil over an open cell one? I personally prefer closed cell even on land. They don't crumble as easy in lulls and generally hold shape better. The drawback is mostly in slower pack up.

Just like with LEI newer foils relaunch better off water than old ones did.

hondamon - 28-10-2011 at 09:26 PM

God I'm sorry. I meant water re-launchable foil kites, such as the HQ Neo II. Thanks Bladerunner and Kamikuza for making sense of my question. :) What do you give up with using a re-launchable foil on water as compared to an LEI?

bobalooie57 - 29-10-2011 at 06:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by hondamon
What do you give up with using a re-launchable foil on water as compared to an LEI?




The PUMP! lol ... sorry, I just had to do that!

Kamikuza - 29-10-2011 at 08:04 AM

Good one bob :lol:

Well there's the rub, hondamon ... like bob said you give up the pump :) And leaking valves, holes in bladders, blown leading edges. You trade those for possible bowties, front-stalls and a slower turning kite. But you get a more powerful kite for a given size too, generally ...
The bigger considerations IMHO are things like launching, landing, leaving the kite on the beach ... dealing with stuff like that is USUALLY easier with an LEI unless you have competent buddies or a larger launch area.

Bladerunner - 29-10-2011 at 12:16 PM

When closed cell foils came out water relaunch and air retention wasn't the best. This turned many off right away. They saw LEI as a better option for self recue + more likely kite to relaunch.

Better valves and zipper have greatly improved closed cell . Better shapes + bridles make some auto relaunch now. Self rescue is also much better. So some of what was wrong has been fixed.

I know that I went to soft kites because I look for a kite that is forgiving of my mistakes. Sort of a " you have chosen to make a move that may result in a crash ! Cancell or go forward ? " button . Instead of a fast page change and your off !!!! Newer soft kites have amped up to near C kite responce but I'm not sure that is what I am after .

hondamon - 29-10-2011 at 01:53 PM

Thanks! Any suggestions on which water re-launchable foil? Im only curious for now. Just ordered up a 9m Frenzy, and it'll be winter soon so no plans yet for a water re-launchable foil. :/

Feyd - 29-10-2011 at 03:42 PM

"Slower turning"? Hmmm, I would agree in most cases that the foils are slower than LEIs Kami. But based on the complaints that the Charger is too fast and too turny I don't know that slower turning is really a bad thing.

I'm obviously partial to Arc (Twinskin Peter Lynns) a 13m Venom2 would be my first pic for an gateway kite. My next choice would be some flavor of Flysurfer like a Pulse.

I've had limited expirience with the likes of the NEO by HQ. I've only flown the the NEO 1 and hated it. Some people love 'em.

hondamon - 29-10-2011 at 03:49 PM

Is the Charger the only Arc by Peter Lynn for 2012?

Kamikuza - 29-10-2011 at 06:14 PM

Sorry, I was thinking Flysurfer ... arc is fast but an LEI user would moan about the bar pressure.

Feyd - 30-10-2011 at 05:07 PM

No Honda, the Phantom 2 is due to be released as well.

Bladerunner - 30-10-2011 at 07:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Feyd
No Honda, the Phantom 2 is due to be released as well.


Up until the Charger PL usually had 2 choices of arcs in the line up. For the moment you only have the one choice.

I'm pretty sure the Phantom II may come out in 2112 but I wouldn't be holding out for early 2112? Isn't he LEI line supposed to come out 1st :puzzled:

kitedelight - 30-10-2011 at 10:58 PM

Any suggestions on which water re-launchable foil?

mmm, you don't have tons to choose from...
HQ neo (1 and 2), matrix
flysurfer unity (pulse1 and 2), psycho4, speed3 (and older models of the same name of course)

and you have the Peter Lynn arcs, not exactly sure of all the models that go on the water but the venom, synergy, and Chargers do for sure.

To state the obvious, if you plan to do tons of water riding, don't discount LEI either.

hondamon - 31-10-2011 at 02:03 AM

Valuable info. Thanks!

Feyd - 31-10-2011 at 03:32 AM

The only Peter Lynn Arc that wasn't designed specifically for water was the Scorpion. (to the best of my knowledge)

That said there has been no lack of people riding Scorps as water kites. Not sure what the exact difference is between Scorps and the others. Same valves, Same zippers(?) etc.

I do know that mine never held air when on the ground as well as the Venoms or others. Maybe there was a difference in the seams?