I managed to acquire 2 new kites this last weekend. I bought a 12m Slingshot Ranger and a PL Venom 2 19m. I got both of them for less than 250 bucks. I have pretty much flown only LEI kites for the last 10+ years or so. The last time I had any foil type kite was back in the mid 90's with a quadtrac, and it had quad handles. I came across these and picked them up seeing as I am about to jump into buggying real soon. I have a a question though about the Venom 2. I bought it with one of the cells blown out, that I am going to have fixed by Jeff Howard and the guys down in Corpus, but my question is...... I was reading on some sites about the control bars and setup. I have 3 sets of bars (well 4 if you count the bars I got with the Ranger) that I use with all my kites, but according to the site I was on, I will have to make or modify a set of my current bars to work with the kite or just buy Peter Lynn bars (not looking forward to this option. strapped for cash). Is this really necessary and can I possibly use my Best or North 4 line bars with this kite or am I going to have to modify or buy a completely new set of controls? It all seemed to revolve around the fact that the depower and safety system would not work correctly. This is the first time I am slightly confused over kite controls. The site had so many line lengths, pigtail lengths, connection points, etc... the list just kept going on.. LOL! Any help in simplifying would be appreciated greatly. :D

With the arcs we generally start with equal line lengths - then when they are attached to the bar (front and rear leaders) and have the bar trimmed for full power and pull the bar in to the chicken loop the line should all end at the same length.
There were some kites that a small extension was added (like the Scorpion) but you'll want equal on the V2.
The throw on the bars at the time of the V2 was probably around 16 inches but when we made longer throw bars they also worked on the V2.
So in the set up on a different bar you want enough throw to have a good range of power in conjunction with whatever amount of trim adjustment you have.
You are correct about the safety being the last part and also one of the more important parts. With arcs you want to be able to flag the kite to one line (do a front line). To do this you need a safety that is attached to one front line in some way so that when you let go of an unhooked bar the bar will slide away from you taking one front line and the two back lines away with the bar while the other front line remains tight attached to the safety. The bar needs to slide equal to the wingspan of the flat kite for the kite to fully flag out and that's quite a bit on a v2/19. Most other bars do not use a safety system to fully flag an arc, they usually move enough to activate the roll over bridle on an LEI. You could mod one front line attachment to create a flagging connection and still use it for other kites. attached is a ring to ring system we used making up bars with a front flagging line. The velcro tab is just small to hold the ring in place when handling the bar with slack lines otherwise the ring falls to the ground when you pick up the bar pulling one line - the lines will tighten and pull the ring back into place as you launch. Just a way of keeping everything tidy and that little velcro tab releases when you go to safety. i should add in the drawing i attached the blue line is your leash that is attached to your front line that the kite will flag from.

Fantastic explanation Mark!

edited a bit for clarification and misspelling - i cut off the part that says the blue line attached to the second ring is your leash. The two rings butt together holding the line in place when flying but easily slide apart when going to flag the kite. USE GOOD STRONG WELDED RINGS NOT SPLIT RINGS or THIN RINGS THAT WILL BEND

Thanks for that explanation! I took out a set of my old bars and it already has a flag out line that flags out to one of the front 2 lines, so it looks like I wont have to modify one. That ring even has velcro and a label that reads "LAND". I'm just gonna need to get longer lines for it. The ones on it now are 18m. I'm thinking 28 to 30m lines should be what I'm looking for, right?

27-30m are great on the Venom 2. It's not a zippy turner but it has great low end grunt and for the type of winds you'd likely want to fly the big rig in the longer lines will give you great low end and good downloop ability even if you are yarding the bar much. In Arc terms the only others that have the low wind performance of the Venom are the 24m Syns, and Chargers. That Venom 2 is a hell of a good kite. You scored. :D

In winds where the 19m V2 isn't enough the Ranger will get the job done. Even more so if it's been modded.

I was really hoping I got a good deal on some nice kites. I picked up the ranger almost new with bars for 140 and the Venom 2 for for 102 bucks. Even though the Venom needs a few repairs I think it will be worth it. A couple of spots on it's sail they have used Gorilla tape! I'm gonna have all those shady fixes professionally repaired and color matched.

One of the great things about arcs is they're tough as nails and easy to patch up and get back in the air.

I was curious of what kind of mods I can do to the Ranger to make it better. I heard of wing tip folding probs, that kinda has me concerned.

Hi DJ..

The Venom will be the strange duck in your quiver. Compared to the rest of your kites its a different way of launching, flying and turning. Basically all is different and either you are going to love it or not use it after a while.
In reality kites are not complicated. Abducted all have ups and downs. And for the 19 you need a long bar. 65 cm or so. Otherwise it will be a slow kite. But, it will get you places if you get used to it.
Main thing...have fun.
You bought nice kites.

I had a 21m Best Nemesis but I just recently sold it due to it being a bit much for me. I have a 19m Slingshot Fuel but I actually like that kite because it is fast turning for its size and it's just a bast! I'm hoping the Venom is just as fun as that. I have heard nothing but good things about the ARC kites. I saw this one on Fleabay and thought I would just throw down a bid (not expecting to win it).. Woke up and saw that I did! 2 cells blown out and 4 tears, "repaired" with gorilla tape, I think it's gonna be worth fixing up since I got it for less that 200 bucks.