The winds are starting to die down around here and I need something bigger than my 12m Synergy to get me around. I was thinking a 13m Venom II or 15m Synergy. Or any comparable PL Arc would do.

Kite only OR RTF is fine. Let me know what you've got!

Two very good choices. Good luck on your search.

I think the 13m V2 would be very close in power to the 12m synergy.

I've heard of several that tried to replace their V13 with a 12 Synergy or charger and they didn't make the cut. Kent at a wind of change was talking with me about this and he suspects the size used to be measured with the kite inflated and after the venoms they were measured deflated. Could explain the difference in power.

V13=S15 in my experience.

I dont want to veer your search and I am by no means an arc expert, but I thought I'd throw my observations in to see if others have had similar experiences...
I have three 10 meter arcs. 1) venom 1 no mods, 2) venom 1 with TET mod (trailing edge tuck), and 3) synergy. Here's what I've seen.
1) the unmoded venom has the most power even compared to the other venom. But it flys a touch slower and turns a touch slower than the other two.
2) the 10 meter TET modded kite has less power, flys faster, and turns faster. - I may be wrong, but from my understanding, the Venom 2 is a result of the TET mod and internal bridal shortening (hyper mod) which mine has both and thus is in theory the equivalent of a venom 2.
3) synergy has the least power of the three, but flys even faster and fastest turning. - my eye sees the Syn's trailing edge looks even more tucked than the moded venom.

I guess my thoughts are that the trailing edge tuck kinda "funnels" the air flow exit which seems to create less drag but reduces the grunt of the kite.

So my suspicion might be to say that a 13 venom 1 and a synergy 15 might be comparable in grunt, but that a 13 venom 2 might be too close to your 12 synergy.

I know it sounds nit picky, but I do feel less power in my three kites. But word of caution, I've been very well know for being wrong! Good luck.

I agree with Flyfish regarding the Syn trailing edge. The Venom seemed to have more grunt. The Syn needed to be signed all over the place in lower wind. I had expected the Synergy 15 to have better lower end and compliment the 13 but instead I just used the 13 more on the water. Also I noticed the Synergy wanted to go to zenith more than the Venom. I have not tried the VII. Phree wrote to me that only the 15 Charger matched the power of the V 13 not the 12.
Here is a 15M Synergy next to a Venom 13.

Apologies for the diversion in your search. Good topic.
(Go get the Venom1 Heliboy is selling)

I think the Venom 13 PA is a little over 9m and both the Syn and Charger and Phantom 2 PA for 15m is about 9.5m IIRC.

Back in the Venom days my 13m was the goto kite for me. Prior to that I was mostly on 7m Ozone Frenzies which I think speaks well of the depow of the Arc (or poor depow of the Frenzy?). When the Syn came out I was suprised at how under powered I was on the 12m compared to the 13m Venoms but how sweet it was on high wind days. Turned out the 12m Syn was about the equivelent to a 7m open cell foil. After that the 15m Syn became my goto, then the Charger 15 and now the Phantom2 15 is my all rounder.

here's a link for a nice 15m syn

http://kitezone.ca/annonces/voir/id/15467

not mine but i know pascal and he's a great guy to deal with.
hope this helps !!!!

steff

Thanks for all the great info everyone! I figured the 15m Synergy would be pretty similar to the 13m VII just based on the projected area of each. Even if the 13m VII doesn't give me quite the grunt I'm looking for, it wouldn't be the end of the world to have a bit of overlap in my quiver. I'll have to check out that 15m Synergy stephdip posted and the Venom Heliboy's selling.

Thanks again!