Should be possible.. The 350 has a lot more surface area so the materials might need to be a bit stronger. Since it's already configured with a third
line, the attachment points may already lend well to the conversion though I haven't really checked out a Hydra..
Awesome! I just got this kite (great courtesy upgrade when they couldn't find the 2.1 beach I ordered), and I'm eager to try it out! I've been playing
with just a 1.2m cheap job, and recently decided I wanted a nicer kite. I figured I'd try it first with 2 lines atleast a couple times.
Up until recently, I never realized the cost of lines...
Can you still fly the kite dual line if you wanted to?
But when I inevitably try this mod....I'll probably give this a shot! Thanks for posting it up!!
Was your Snapshot one of the older ones or one of the newer quadline ready ones? I had one of the newer ones and really enjoyed it. Agreed it's not
as nimble but it's still very fun to fly in either 2 or 4 line mode.
That's a great courtesy upgrade. You'll enjoy the Symphony..
Don't I know it!
They sent me an e-mail, saying they looked all over, but couldn't find the Beach 2.1, and that the closest thing that they had was the 2.2.
"There'd be no extra charge, we'd just ship you this one instead of the 2.1 you ordered. Is this OK?"
Okay? That's awesome! to Airplay Sports
As I'm new to this, and still fumbling my way through stuff....I had a question though. The bridle line that's dacron with a spectra core...can that
be backspliced? Would just have to sew or tie it? I've played with splices before, and while the Spectra is braided, it's way way smaller than the
Dacron surrounding it right?
If your selected bridle line has a hollow core, then it should be able to be backspliced. Sewing it or knotting it would be just fine as well. If
knotting, you'd have to compensate a little for the amount of line lost when you tie the overhand knot.
I'll have to play with it and see if I can splice it...the engineer in me prefers splicing over knots or sewing (maybe if I use a ball point
needle...) something this small and fine.
What I've actually got is some 80# and 150# sepctra, and 160# Dacron...planned to make my own bridles for a parawing I'm making, instead of paying
more for smaller length of bridle lines, that I can't really use for anything but bridling...
Do you thing the Dacron alone would stretch too much for the 2.2.4's purposes? I just don't have the practical experience to make these kinds of
judgements yet...thanks for the quick answers!
Can't speak for the dacron. I'd personally want NO stretch in a bridle line. A little stretch and the kite could just spin out of control. The 150#
Spectra would be fine I'm sure. It should be able to be back-spliced as well.
Again, I don't have the exp, but yeah, it does sound like bridle length tweaks are very small in relation to the drastic difference they can make..
Yeah, I just wonder about the Spectra being unprotected as a bridle line. Also, it seems very tangle prone to me. In this case, both are less of a
problem though.
You are right on target with tweaking the bridles. A very small adjustment can make a big difference in flight.
The higher the modulus (stiffness) of the line you use the less prone to tangling you'll have. That's why I chose the Skybond. It's fairly stiff but
still very thin to reduce drag. It's also a pretty close match for the bridles on the 2.2
FWIW, the 2.1 you were upgraded from uses un-sleeved Dyneema bridles and is knotted at the attachment points.
Hmmm...interesting. Oh well, I've got the supplies, so I'm gonna see if its a royal pain to sleeve 'em with the Dacron or not. I've got guitar strings
as my sleeve/splice fids...First experience with line/cord like this, so it's a learning curve! I keep looking at the flying lines and thinking
"220#?! bull@#!" :D It'll probably show me what-for when I get to the beach this weekend...
Here's to hoping I don't end up as one of those 30 second youtube clips!
My preferred flying lines for the 2.2 Symphony are the Skybond 350# as main lines and the 220# that came with the kite as brakes. Lighter wind days
I'll use the 220# as the main lines and the 150# set from my 1.8 as the brake lines.
BTW, My personal experience with the linesets that come with the Symphony and Symphony Beach kites is the line with the black sleeving will break
at the knot and have to be shortened by about a foot or so the first time you really dig in and hit the power window.. It's happened with several HQ
Symphony kites I've owned or worked with. 75% of the time it's the black sleeved line.
Do you ever fly it as just a dual-line? Like the snapshot 2.5m, I think they leave the brake lines trailing?
Any tips for flying it? Most of the videos of quad-line foils I find are people flying them like a dual-line that has brakes, instead of like a 4-line
stunt kite. I don't see any revos or anything in your sig, so I was just wondering if you were able to learn that control on your own...
BTW, until I saw your video, I had no idea a foil could move like that!
When I first got my Snapshot 2.5 was when I realized that brake bridles on the Symphony would be a good thing. It's designed as a 2 line so it still
has a lot of front line bias and flies like a 2 line. I personally like a lot more brake than most folks because I prefer stunt flying. I can fly it
as a 2 line but after moving it to quad, I have no desire to.. Flying it 4 line makes the dual line config just "not as much fun" Keep in mind, once
you add the rear lines that it seems like it pulls much more than before,(and that's a good thing in my opinion.) Don't get me wrong, i still enjoy 2
line kites (thus my avatar) but if the kite is capable of 4 lines, that's almost guaranteed what I'm going to attach to it.
I don't have a Rev but I do own a HQ Mojo.. I rarely fly it. The foil is far more forgiving on handle input than the Mojo. I tend to overfly the Mojo
and my daughter actually flies that kite far better than I do. That's why that particular kite isn't in my sig. FWIW, half of my kites aren't in my
sig.
Since HQ has changed their pattern for the new model, I'm wondering should I pick up a few spares before they are all gone.. Not sure if the new
version would react as well to the conversion..
Would there be an interest in me picking up several of the 2.2's before they are all history and making them 4 line ready? My material cost would be
$10-$15 plus the kite price and shipping.
I've even had one suggestion of signing and numbering the "limited riffclown 2.2.4" kites. I'm willing to do the work if there's a valid interest.
just wanting to share the sheer fun of this converted kite..
Wow this is awesome. Been browsing this forum for a few days learning about bigger kites as I want to upgrade into something in the 4m range and came
across this thread. I have a symphony 2.2 and I think I might want to convert it. Pretty wild flying. Just need to hunt me down some line to use for
bridle line. Just bought some stronger main flying lines as I broke the stock lines at the knot a couple times so have those to use as brake lines.
Any idea where I can order a smallish amount of decent line to use for the bridle on the brake lines?
The Symphony and other "sport" kites are measured much differently than Power kites..
Re: Small amount of line. It takes about 25ft to do this mod. The line I use is just under 20 cents a foot.
Where are you located? I might be willing to modify your kite for you or make you a brake bridle kit to sew onto your kite for cost of materials
and postage..
When you start sewing them on. It's important that all of your stitching stays in the hem of the kite. Mkae sur you don't place any stitching in the
baffles (part that inflates.)
The seam of the tab goes up against the edge of the hem with the tab split over and under the kite. The hem gets sandwiched between the tab. You can
also fold them back on themselves like I did in the picture for a cleaner look..
Thanks for the sewing tip. Doesn't look like it'll be too difficult to get all sewn on. And yep there will be video for sure. The symphony is a blast
with just 2 lines, it'll definetly be a blast with extra control.