I have few questions on S-ARC and wondering if anyone knows the answers for sure:

1. What is standard line lenght for ARCs (and whether it'd be the same for S-ARC 630), any good results from using longer/shorter lines?

2. Apparently the original 2002 bar had no depower. While I can understand a reason for a T-ARC 130 which just collapses on the attempt to depower I've found that in 630 size depower and trailing edge lines act a bit similar like attaching a bar to a quad kite - slowing down on power up and gaining speed on sheeting out.
Anyone recalls why and what was the idea behind it?

link to Peter Lynn knowledge base

The early bars used on S arcs did have depower. There was an adjustment strap to set the trim but instead of having a line going through the bar they had a bar with two rectangular rings velcroed to the centre of the bar and two webbing straps that went through the rings allowing the bar to slide back and forth...maybe about 12- 16 inches. Lines were set up equal length but there was a long leader off the front of the kite where we would tie a couple of knots to adjust front line position.

1. If I recall 30m lines were recommended. 30m and 40m lines were standard sets back then. Bars were long by today standards 26"-32" too (lots of guys made their own bars). I didn't like the power spikes and reduced loft with shorter lines (but nice speed through the window for surfing). I didn't like the increased lag with longer lines (needing a longer bar to make up for the lag). I flew them with 30m lines. They flew well and felt better to me on 30m. I had a 630 and 1120 quiver.

2. The S-Arc's stall very well. Reach up and pull in on the steering lines and they back down all the way to the ground even in strong winds. You can also reverse relaunch them easily due to this. With the kite LE down pull in on the steering lines and it will back up off the water. We also used to hot launch them in lighter winds, stalling them through the power zone all the way to zenith. Following the kite with a few steps toward it as it rose. Tuning is critical to minimise stalling when riding with the bar in the sweetspot on the depower line. I believe that I had 12" of trim + 12" of travel on my bars. I think the kites needed extensions on the steering lines to reduce stalling while riding and maximizing depower. The PL knowledge base posted here is and excellent resource that can help with that.

The picture I posted is from the KB - I've been browsing throughit to find info on line length and saw the 2002 bar (year of S-ARC as far as I recall) with no depower so it got me puzzled a bit.
On the S-ARC 630 setup I've got I have Naish bar which has depower and as I mentioned the behavior kind of reminds hooking a depower bar to a quad so I'm wondering if no-depower bar was ever a success or was mentioned for S-ARCs

I fly my 460 on a Med' Navi bar set for small and it likes it. Not a lot of depower but it turns great. Lots of fun to fly.

Yes, depower bars work on the S-ARC. I think most guys made their own bars back then since the S-arc's were able to use more trim and throw than what other production depower bars had. I also built my own bars to have all the features I liked on the bar and none of the features that I didn't.

Since I've got a depower Naish bar wi th the kite I've been flying it using depower which to some extend works - a must is sheeting out upon back stall and sheeting in help turning speed some. What it doesn't do is that it doesn't create additional lift as inflatable or a Psycho/Speed would do.

The question is still open - why they'd made a bar with no depower initially - the depower design wasn't there yet or it was cheaper that way or depower wouldn't really be a strong side of S-ARC?

Not sure what that bar was in the picture but I had the S arcs from the initial ones here in North America and they had the bars with the de-power that worked sliding between two straps wrapping on the outside of the bar - very simple design. There is still a link to the original manual through Kent's site:
http://www.awindofchange.com/images/peterlynn/Arc-Farc-2002-...