Power Kite Forum

How short can I go?

B-Roc - 8-4-2015 at 05:26 PM

In an effort to exploit my ever so neglected FB quiver for street kiting purposes, how short do you think I can make the lineset for a 1.5, 2.5, 4 and 5.5 FB kite if flown on a 60cm 4-line control bar? I can't fly them off the bar or at least I couldn't fly the 1.5 as the bridles were too short and it put an unnatural C-shape into the kite which made it produce very little power. Ideally I'd like them on no more than 10' lines so I can take advantage of smaller parking lots. Think that is too short? I'll be cutting good lines to make smaller length sets so I don't want to waste a good product to make a bad one. Thoughts?

ssayre - 8-4-2015 at 06:40 PM

Hopefully you get some answers from people who have tried it, but you might be able to experiment with some ordinary nylon string from the box stores and try them as a 2 line kite on different lengths to try and get a feel for what you want. For that matter, you could probably use dacron to make the sets which is much less expensive the dyneema/spectra since you probably won't be looping and it would be short enough to not have much stretch. Just a thought in case you get little feed back. Let us know what you find out. I wish I would have tried my fb's for streetkite before I sold them to compare. Since my 5 meter lineset has only 3 lines, I'm faced with a similar dilemma in making a short lineset for the peak. I only have 1 (4 line) 20 meter set left which I'm having a hard time convincing myself to chop up.

riffclown - 8-4-2015 at 06:55 PM

B-Roc, U2U me your address. I'll make & send you a 10-ish foot set to try out. (I already have the power lines, just need to make a brake set to match. I have a bit of raw material).. Just mail'em back when you're done..

B-Roc - 9-4-2015 at 04:47 PM

Thanks riffclown. U2U sent. Just let me know when you want them back so I don't take advantage of your generosity.

If there is anyone that can comment on whether or not they think 10' of line is sufficient for an upto 5.5m foil please feel free. I know I won't be looping it but I want to be able to turn it without scrapping pavement and I don't want riffclown to go thru the exercise if its not going to be fruitful. Thanks

riffclown - 9-4-2015 at 06:26 PM

Lines are already fabricated. :) I'll get them out this weekend. Consider them a gift and paying it forward.. No need to return them..

FYI, They will make decent extensions if they don't work out as regular shortlines for your purposes. Main lines are approx 300#, Brakes are 200#

volock - 9-4-2015 at 07:08 PM

I've done 10-15 foot (3-5m) for short lines. Can't say they're too short, but gusty inland wind means they don't work well for me often.

B-Roc - 9-4-2015 at 07:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by riffclown  
Lines are already fabricated. :) I'll get them out this weekend.


Thank you. Happy to pay for postage if you want. Just let me know via u2u.

Streetrider56 - 10-4-2015 at 07:29 PM

I use short lines sometimes and works well for me. Kite turns quite quickly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXUjwnXh2Bw
Edit: this is a 4 m pansh in a 15 - 20 mph wind.

Bladerunner - 11-4-2015 at 11:31 AM

I loved the sound of your tires on that last run. Good choice to let the music stop.

ssayre - 11-4-2015 at 12:46 PM

Was that a pansh legend?

riffclown - 14-4-2015 at 12:31 PM

Hoping you get your lines today. Let me know what you think..

B-Roc - 14-4-2015 at 04:52 PM

Wife reports that lines arrived today but I won't be home until late tonight. New longboard wheels are arriving from Alaska on Friday so work, wind and weather permitting it could be a great weekend. Thank you!

ssayre - 14-4-2015 at 05:22 PM

Hoping it works well for you. What type of wheels? Can't wait to find out how it goes.

B-Roc - 14-4-2015 at 05:32 PM

Rainskates Mega Tsunamis 85a 72mm round lipped free ride / slide wheel with Mercury built-ins for bearings.

B-Roc - 15-4-2015 at 05:48 AM

checked out the lines this morning. Way nicer than I expected. Is that colored hollow core fishing line? I like the feel of it and wonder where you bought it. Also, on the braided ends, did you secure that with a stich and then melt the ends. Pretty clean. Thanks much!

riffclown - 15-4-2015 at 11:37 AM

It's Muzzy Extreme Bowfishing line. The brake lines are just the line back spliced and stitched for slippage as you indicated. I wanted to reduce drag on the brake lines as much as possible. The Main lines are 150lb Venetian Blind cord sleeved with the Muzzy (knotted and shrink wrapped)

Muzzy by itself is 200# I use it a lot for sleeving my flying line ends.. The normal red/black & white in sleeve kits are boring to me..

You can get it from Amazon or Bass Pro Shop among other places. I'm told Walmart even carries it but I've not seen it there..

Streetrider56 - 16-4-2015 at 12:41 PM

Ssayer
I think it is. Got it as a freebee with another purchase. Came used with a blown cell.
Flies pretty good though. At that time only had extension lines for the venom 2 and home made handles.

Tnx Blade. Sounds awesome cranked pumped through a good amp and speakers.

Cerebite - 16-4-2015 at 02:05 PM

to take the conversation in more of a scientific direction;
A significant factor to consider when going to short lines is that you need to have enough line to make a downloop with the kite without hitting the ground. Your mileage may vary, particularly if you are used to flying kites at "boarder" elevations rather than at "buggy" elevations. To that end I try to not fly any kite on lines less than double the long axis of the kite. With NPWs due to their shape one can use much shorter lines for a given size hence their popularity for short line and off the bridle flying. For the 5.5m that the OP mentioned in the first post [the OP :P] I would not go shorter than 10m lines but his 1.5m could probably be done on 1m lines [remember that the flyer is c. 2m tall]. After a lot of downloop crashes and tip brushes with big FB [8 -12m] on 20m lines I reached this conclusion [stupid but trainable :)] and switched over to using 30m lines on them.

Streetrider56 - 18-4-2015 at 07:36 PM

ssayre - 2-5-2015 at 06:22 AM

So B-roc, have you had a chance to try out your fb's on short lines yet??

B-Roc - 2-5-2015 at 07:28 PM

Only once and the conditions weren't ideal so not a fair judge of the situation. This is one of my busiest times of year at work so I won't even have a chance to touch a kite for another weekend or two. Will post back after I give it a fair go.