How long are yours?

From my kites - all used, although I suspect the Outlaw to be OEM! - none of the lengths match the FS webpage data ... which should be 40cm for all.

Speed2 19 - 48cm
Psycho3 13 - 60cm
Outlaw 10 - 40cm (just)

So when I replace with the Ozone CL, how long should I make the depower line? And of course, adjust the front line leaders to match ...

My pulse depower line was longer than 40 cm and I had lots of backstall pulling in the bar. So when I installed the new line I wanted to put it to stock as much as possible. I put the depower line back to the 40 cm. I measured the difference between the front and back lines removed from the bar and the difference between the A and Z lines in a mixer test. I then shortened the line above the trim strap less the total difference.
With the bar pulled in and the trim strap open (fully powered up) with all the compensation for line stretch made, the A and Z knots should line up. The kite now has less backstall with the bar pulled in. With the bar out and trim strap closed (fully depowered) it is more stable and has less pull at zenith but of course the steering is mushy because the back lines go much more slack.

I'm pretty sure the speed3 manual says it needs to be 40cm. However, as AD72 has pointed out, you can tune the length of the throw to match how you want to fly the kite. I spoke to a guy in Hatteras two weeks ago who recommended the same action (or something similiar). He liked to fly the kite, find where it starts to backstall, then retie his depower rope to shorten it to that point so that the kite doesnt backstall with the trim strap all the way out and the bar pulled in.

I didnt do it personally, but it sounds like an interesting idea.
I dont think there is a right or wrong answer, but simply a.. where do YOU want it for YOUR flying style?

Mmm ... the way the P3 is set up (and it was explained to me) is that so long as the lines are the same length at the kite, then, within the adjustment of the front line leaders, you can have any length depower line you like - the P3 has 60cm of throw but the front leaders are almost non-existent! The advantage being that letting the bar all the way out is like letting out a normal length depower line then trimming in - but only with the bar.

I find regular lines to be too long as it is, and trim in a bit so I can lean back and hold on to the bar without over-sheeting it ... so it seems like a waste to me ... hmm ...

I'm particularly concerned about messing up the S2 cos it's such a session saver :D

my S1.5 came with some backstall, i love it that way. bring her down close to the edge and just pull. :D

i think im going to change my name to the thread-bandit

From John :
"the depowerline and the front-line-leader are connected with a Bowline, make sure each end of the trimmer strap has a piece of tubing on each end for the knot loop to pass thru... otherwise it can lead to breaking the trimmer.

depower length is not crucial measurement like the old flysurfers.... all the tuning is done via mixer and trim strap.

basically use a length that you can still reach and still feel like you get enough depower out of the kite and trimmer . you dont really need the trimmer, theoretically you could just use a long depowerline right to the main flying lines, but its nice to have a lock-out for the depower amount and have a bar that you can still reach.

60cm is too long. i like 40-45cm. someone must have tied a custom depowerline because that is way too long. its cut length should be 85cm or so and you need several inches for the knots on each end. figure 8 on the ch loop end and bowline on the other. each time you adjust the depower length or the main leader length, you have to re-adjust the FDS tension. so if you take out 20cm from the P3 then you will most likely need to add 20cm back into the FDS line.

BTW... a quick measurement is to make sure all the leaders are the SAME LENGTH when sheeted in. so if the bar is all the way to the ch loop, then all three leader rings should line up. now with all the flying lines the same length, and a tuned mixer, the kite should be pretty darn close to perfect. i would recommend you also check and adjust all 4 flying lines too."