Power Kite Forum

Is the Peter Lynn Arc dead?

Feyd - 7-3-2017 at 07:15 AM

I haven't looked at the Peter Lynn site in quite some time. Now that they have released the Aero, I went to the site to check it out. Clicking on the kites tab, no more Arcs.

I can't say that I would be totally surprised that they stopped making Charger 2s. Or that they would abandon arc designs even though they do have a lot of merit and could probably be produced in an updated version. But would there be a market?

I dunno. But I love arcs, had a lot of good times on them as have others. Sad if they are going the way of the dinosaur.

markite - 7-3-2017 at 07:40 AM

I know with the 2017 kites starting to roll out (introduced the Aero) they have discontinued the existing Charger 2 and I believe there may be something in the works for the Charger but maybe Marijn could drop some hints?

Overall it feels like there was a big drop in arc purchases compared to other kites and development- Still like using my arcs and a fair number in the air in my area for winter and bugging....when we can even get out (suckiest winter ever!)

I keep wondering if it would make any difference in the larger arcs adding the short mini ribs along the trailing edge if it would speed them up at all - tempted to try on the 22.5

Unk - 7-3-2017 at 07:42 AM

I will look forward to my new Aero in 10 years time :lol:
Until then I'll be flying my dino arc :D

flyguy0101 - 7-3-2017 at 07:47 AM

Agreed- Admit I am probably a little bit of a dinosaur but given my infrequent flying 3-4x times a yr- I cant think of a more "friendly" kite design that allows for good performance without being "too much" effort to fly. Maybe if my flying time increases I will try out some of the newer designs but for the foreseeable future Arcs are my preferred kite for vertical kiting. Still prefer a good Fixed bridle if my butt is in a buggy.

abkayak - 7-3-2017 at 07:50 AM

like the mustang i think it will always come back

Feyd - 7-3-2017 at 08:03 AM

For us locally, given how much better bridled foils are today at gust handling etc and the wide range of light wind options we don't see nearly as many Arcs in the air here as we did 5 years ago.

For a long time Arcs were the dominant kite in our local riding circles. But now other kites have gotten within striking range of Arc gust handling and offer that performance but with less demanding ground handling and set up.

Light wind performance has always been the weak point for Arcs. And as awesome in light wind the F-Arc is, it falls short of a modern high AR race foil. But for a kite that is going on 12+ years old, it is pretty dang close! But beyond that, these days being able to set up and ride a kite in less than 2 minutes means my arcs sit in the basement collecting dust. :(

It would be sweet if there could be an arc with leading edge battens and some sort of split vent system to allow for a better inflation method than the wingtip zips (Which doesn't work well for us locally.) And Arc made out of some flavor of UL would be great, expensive but it would move the design closer to the performance ranges or ease of use of other kites.

But is it a design that will attract new riders? Will older riders who are long time arc riders adopt it? We've seen what has happened in the recent past with the new arcs and how they were received by long time arc fans. And given the push by PLK towards the LEI market what incentive do they have as a company to pursue it? In the U.S. market lack of a U.S. distributor hamstrings things as well.

Feyd - 7-3-2017 at 08:13 AM

This said, with digging I was able to find the Charger 2 and the other kites on what is apparently the "old" PL site. So this may all be nonsense and they simply haven't gotten around to placing the other kites on the new site?

-mj- - 7-3-2017 at 08:40 AM

As it stands there are now 2 PeterLynn websites, the 'old' peterlynn.com which still has the Charger on it and the 'new' peterlynnkiteboarding.com site (which sells directly to end consumers, but only the LEI's and now the Aero).

A new version of the current Charger is in the works so no, we are not dropping the Twinskin design just yet.
When the new CHarger comes it will also be featured on the new plkb.com site.

All has to do with to who we 'can' sell the different kites, foilkites like the Hornets are easy to get into the shops, LEI and other 'specific' kites, not so easy. So we decided to go direct with those.

Hope that clarifies things a bit.

Good winds

carltb - 7-3-2017 at 09:55 AM

http://www.peterlynn.com/lei-kites/charger/
http://www.peterlynnkiteboarding.com/

the bottom link is solely for water kites as in the name and was added a few months backto compliment peterlynn.com but the original site is still running

carltb - 7-3-2017 at 09:58 AM

lol just read marijn's post

kitejumping - 7-3-2017 at 01:27 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Feyd  

It would be sweet if there could be an arc with leading edge battens and some sort of split vent system to allow for a better inflation method than the wingtip zips (Which doesn't work well for us locally.) And Arc made out of some flavor of UL would be great, expensive but it would move the design closer to the performance ranges or ease of use of other kites.


I just bought an old 15m synergy off ebay for really cheap, will likely mod it with leading edge battens if the light wind performance / stability isn't there. I would think an ultra-light higher AR arc would be good for learning foil boarding, autozenith, less bridle drag, etc...

BeamerBob - 7-3-2017 at 02:30 PM

Full dinosaur mode here. I've bought 4 kites in the last year. All of them are arcs and nothing newer than a Venom.

acampbell - 7-3-2017 at 03:52 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BeamerBob  
Full dinosaur mode here. I've bought 4 kites in the last year. All of them are arcs and nothing newer than a Venom.


What, no lil' LEI's these days?

mainekite2 - 7-3-2017 at 04:02 PM

I still fly lots of arcs

hiaguy - 7-3-2017 at 06:15 PM

I've never flown an arc. Scott's gonna fix that :wee:

Better late to the party... :bigok:

Demoknight - 8-3-2017 at 10:29 AM

hiaguy, if you make it to JIBE in May, I will make sure to put an ARC in your hands. Lots of guys ride them down there. I know of two others, not including myself that will for sure have some ARCs with them during the event. I only own one, the 12m Charger 2, but it is one of my favorite kites I have ever flown.

mainekite2 - 8-3-2017 at 12:34 PM

Howard your welcome to fly any of mine that you would like at Wildwood

markite - 8-3-2017 at 01:24 PM

Haward, come out and kite buggy with the guys back home in Ontario, there just might be more than a few arcs kicking around between me, Ziggy, Jim, Norm, Dave, Simon, Peter, Jeff...and a couple others ;)

I'm really looking forward to see you out riding under it - put the pedal down at WW!

BeamerBob - 8-3-2017 at 01:25 PM

Quote: Originally posted by acampbell  
Quote: Originally posted by BeamerBob  
Full dinosaur mode here. I've bought 4 kites in the last year. All of them are arcs and nothing newer than a Venom.


What, no lil' LEI's these days?


That one is right up front on the kite shelf!

Bladerunner - 8-3-2017 at 04:48 PM

I guess I am not the only one who has stalled out on purchasing new kites. Fact is my quiver is just fine for my needs.

I love my arcs but really wonder if I will stick with them, go LEI or SS for my next quiver? You don't miss what you don't know and there is a lot to be said for being totally familiar with my gear.

I could be wrong about this but suspect that UL material would not do as much for an arc as a bridled kite? The way I see it arcs depend on internal pressure to hold their shape. The greater the pressure the more solid / happy the arc is. I realize a certian amount of that internal pressure can be forced in by flying hard. My old arcs don't hold that pressure well so hard flying only works so well.

The only positive I see is that the longer I fly my arcs the bigger odd ball I will be. :P

Smeagol - 8-3-2017 at 06:18 PM

Considering I've been trying to sell my like new Phantom II 18m for over a year, yes I'd say they're dead. ;)

Haha.. or maybe I was just asking too much for it. Already losing $ on it as it is so I guess I'll just keep it for nostalgia or something.

..or maybe one day I'll use it. What a concept. :o

sand flea - 8-3-2017 at 07:42 PM

I believe the Phantom1 will always have
a following because of their awesome graphics.

I know the used kite market is heavy now, good older kites are still around and the high end ar dp kites are becoming more fairly priced.

You might have to look outside the USA, but it's a buyers market right now

lunchbox - 8-3-2017 at 11:08 PM

I've been wondering about this for quite some time. I can't remember the last time I've seen someone flying an ARC around here (well, myself excluded) :D

ARC's will always have a special place in my heart. The first 2 kites I ever bought for the water was the Venom 2 19 and 13.

What a wonderful kite to learn on. I just felt so safe on them.

I always see this one instructor where I go and he would always tell me...."you really need to try these LEI's. You're a big guy and the winds pretty light around here and you need the power".
But it was always hard for me to make the switch as I am usually the only kiter there and self launching and landing the ARC's was a breeze.

Then finally, I think it was last summer, I decided to buy a Switch Element 4 15m.
I was nervous at first...I guess I had read too many stories about death loops, bridle wraps, etc. And the self launch and land did not seem half as easy.
But I learned to do a tethered launch and land and it worked out really, really well.
And best of all, it opened up a whole new world for me when it came to kiting waves. I could now swing the kite around so much faster and I had more power in those light winds and to my surprise the upwind was really good. The stabilty and gust handling was really good as well.

So, if the winds get over 20mph, I'll probably pull out the Unity 12 or the Charger I 15m, but other than that, I'm kinda sold on the LEI's.