Power Kite Forum

PL Vapor 16 vs Ozone Yakuza 17 vs anything else: low end

loco - 17-5-2012 at 05:00 PM

Hi everyone,

Still looking for the best possible low end upwind power to pull me on the water or snow. Happy with nonrelaunchability and happy to use handles.

Also, I like lift. As much lift as possible. But the primary desire is to be able to stay upwind in the lightest possible breeze. Current light wind machine is my FS SA2-19 which has been great, but better would be nice.

Thank you for any help.

John

BeamerBob - 17-5-2012 at 06:08 PM

Wow, never heard this one before. If you are going for more low wind ability than your SA, you gotta go with the Vapor. Anyone ever tried it on water? It's stable enough you can probably avoid getting it wet.

stetson05 - 17-5-2012 at 07:34 PM

I think I saw a video of Rip on the water with a vapor a couple of years ago. The vapor had a better bottom end then my s17 regular fabric but I dont know if it is much better than a silver arrow. Have you looked at the S3 21m? saw some video with it flying in sub 2mph winds.

loco - 17-5-2012 at 09:30 PM

The S3-21 is a pretty nice kite with improved and much better bridles but no improvement in low end over an SA2-19. I've had a great time with that 19, but was wondering if an efficient, high aspect open celled kite might outperform it in minimal winds. I get great performance from my Blade III's and would really like something along the lines of a 15-16m Blade. The 10.5 Blade III is a very impressive kite.

arkay - 17-5-2012 at 11:02 PM

vapor is open cell, so that'd be a bit nuts to take out on water for real.

lunchbox - 17-5-2012 at 11:43 PM

I've got a 16m Vapor and that thing is a beast. Soo much power. I have thought about taking it on the water as well, but with the waves we have here, I don't think I'm quite ready to do it...maybe on a really small wave day!

I also have a FS Speed 2 19m. I took it out a few weeks ago on a very light day. Blowing from about 6-9mph. Used my 9ft longboard and had a blast. I weigh about 220lbs with all my gear on and I was able to somewhat hold my ground. Could not go upwind however.

I'm guessing under the same conditions (longboard), that I might be able to duplicate that with the Vapor in a steady 5mph...maybe 4-6mph as well! I would probably use handles in such light wind to work every bit of power and range from that kite.

Another light wind situation would be a Vapor and a SUP. Haven't tried that yet but maybe one day.

Gotta say, I'm pretty impressed by the Speed 2 19m in light winds...I love how it drives forward and wants to keep driving forward, but IMHO, the Speed 2 is no match for the Vapor in extreme light winds.

HTH...OBTW, I haven't ridden the new Yakuza's but I have heard they don't have quite the same power size wise as the Vapors.

Good luck and let us know how it goes...

loco - 18-5-2012 at 06:58 AM

Thanks to all for your thoughts.

indigo_wolf - 18-5-2012 at 10:54 AM

Apologies for the thread veer....

Quote:
Originally posted by arkay
vapor is open cell, so that'd be a bit nuts to take out on water for real.

PKF, kites, nuts, and various states of mental well-being :puzzled:

Sorry.... that just made me laugh a little bit on the inside.

Open cell depower on the water.... 4 meter, to boot. :wee:

And yes, it's a PKF member. :o



ATB,
Sam

bigkid - 18-5-2012 at 11:40 AM

here is a pic of the 16 vapor unable to fly as I go by with my 13m Century, just saying.
guess I need to shrink the pic. will be back.

DSC01524.jpgA.jpg - 59kB

bigkid - 18-5-2012 at 11:47 AM

this is a few seconds later

DSC01532.jpgA.jpg - 65kB

arkay - 18-5-2012 at 01:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by indigo_wolf
Apologies for the thread veer....

Quote:
Originally posted by arkay
vapor is open cell, so that'd be a bit nuts to take out on water for real.

PKF, kites, nuts, and various states of mental well-being :puzzled:

Sorry.... that just made me laugh a little bit on the inside.

Open cell depower on the water.... 4 meter, to boot. :wee:


Sure you can do it... I'm not disputing that but it's really a novelty. You don't get the right lift from most kites designed for land sports. Likewise I can take a track bike down a mountain. Might do it once to say I did it, but really? If you want o fly on water and you are already looking at >$1K kites, might as well get the right stuff.

BeamerBob - 18-5-2012 at 01:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by arkay
Quote:
Originally posted by indigo_wolf
Apologies for the thread veer....

Quote:
Originally posted by arkay
vapor is open cell, so that'd be a bit nuts to take out on water for real.

PKF, kites, nuts, and various states of mental well-being :puzzled:

Sorry.... that just made me laugh a little bit on the inside.

Open cell depower on the water.... 4 meter, to boot. :wee:


Sure you can do it... I'm not disputing that but it's really a novelty. You don't get the right lift from most kites designed for land sports. Likewise I can take a track bike down a mountain. Might do it once to say I did it, but really? If you want o fly on water and you are already looking at >$1K kites, might as well get the right stuff.


Arkay you need to go back to the OP. He has a SA 2 19 (the right stuff) and wants lower wind capability and isn't concerned about relaunchability.

loco - 18-5-2012 at 02:21 PM

I've had my SA2-19 for nearly 5 years and it's been a great, amazing and fun light wind kite. I know that these things don't last forever, and am considering what will be my next ultra light wind kite. I use a depower version of a Blade III 10.5 and 6.6 most of the time when I'm not using the SA2-19 and I prefer open celled nonrelaunchable kites. Aside from the one obvious inconvenience (not relaunching) I find open cell kites preferable to me in many ways. Plus, I love to kite and I want to be out on the water any time it is possible, even in the lightest of winds.

These responses make me very interested in a Vapor 16. Thanks for all the ideas.

John

jellis - 18-5-2012 at 03:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bigkid
here is a pic of the 16 vapor unable to fly as I go by with my 13m Century, just saying.
guess I need to shrink the pic. will be back.


Makes you wonder who that was in the back ground with the vapor and an
extreme buggy? Oh wait ,does he has a pink skirt on? Is that Monty?

ripsessionkites - 19-5-2012 at 12:46 AM

doesn't look like a vapor ... based on the colours. its dark grey = Reactor II

csa_deadon - 19-5-2012 at 05:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by ripsessionkites
doesn't look like a vapor ... based on the colours. its dark grey = Reactor II


For some reason that looks an awful lot like my old 10.8 RII.

If that was the day Jeff had his 13m Century on 60m lines
then that's my old RII.

arkay - 19-5-2012 at 09:35 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRwZ07Zv_LQ

arkay - 19-5-2012 at 09:35 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRwZ07Zv_LQ