Anyone tried it

several people / shops have em now... we got in afew so we could MOD em to sheetable depower trainers.

we want our students to learn with sheeting, so the modded Hydras will be the best.

We flew a prototype in September and everybody liked it....
http://www.coastalwindsports.com/HQDemoDayJekyll08.html ...scroll to bottom.

We just got the production models in and will fly one this weekend at Amelia Island. We will have an off-shore breeze, so it will be fun to play with in the surf.

We got one for the local Kiteboardiong school too. They like the idea of using one kite for basic land training and body dragging in the surf...

I have a hope that people who start out with this kite will get over that popular opinion among kiteboarders that foils don't float or relaunch .
Maybe then we will start to get more foil fliers on the water !

What does one of the Hydras cost compared to a comparable open cell trainer? They look like fun. They look good for landboarding in offshore breezes so you don't have to worry about dunking your open cell foil (which sucks by the way).

These are MSRP's for comparison

Rush III 300 2-line $189.99
Rush III 300 Pro open cell 3-Line $229.99
Hydra 300 closed cell 3-line $279.99

Rush III 350 Pro open-cell 3-Line $259.99
Hydra 350 closed cell 3-line $339.99

model #'s indicate approx. span in cm. Area is a bit less.

Ken... you captured our vision as well... yes, these trainers should break the "MYTHS" about foils...

That looks like it would be fun here in St Simons where we have a large body of water protected by sandbars at low tide...dragging, SUP,kayaks...I can think of a few things...I'll end up kiteboarding for sure, but one of these could do a lot...

Any more updates about this kite? :puzzled:

They are available, are in the field deployed in kite schools and for recreation. They fly well and work as advertised. We had one out on the beach the other day. Great in light winds since they stay inflated and can keep their speed up in a lull. As the water gets warmer, we will see them more in the surf.

Two years ago I had a customer wanting a kite to fly off the back of his boat. I did not have much to recommend him then but now the Hydra is just the ticket and I'm about to hook him up.

Quote:

Originally posted by acampbell Two years ago I had a customer wanting a kite to fly off the back of his boat. I did not have much to recommend him then but now the Hydra is just the ticket and I'm about to hook him up.

I have had a few people approach me with the idea of flying off a boat as well.

I have suggested that an NPW on very short lines or straight off the bridle should do the job ?

I got to see but not fly this kite. It is a baby Neo and I expect this kite will boost the Neo sales ? I'm still stuck wondering why a closed cell trainer didn't come out years ago. :puzzled: Flysurfer missed a big market there .

don't want to hi-jack the thread but be careful about flying off the back of a boat - any kind of decent wind and you'll get pulled off the back of the boat. On a small boat (like a row boat , if you brace yourself you can swamp the back end of the boat dragging it backwards or sideways.
And if you seatbelt into a chair and use the boat slowly moving to fly the kites, you can really do a lot of damage straining against the seatbelt through the power zone and actually lift the back end of the boat (lesson learned with friends back in the late 80's with a stack of flexi's).
Just be prepared - watch out for props, warm weather and water and have fun!

^^^^ sound advice

@ Den la Menace

I had a 3.6m Peter Lynn Waterfoil ( similar vented close cell kite) once, and it was a nice strong puller and lifter, but when the wind picked up it would become a bit of a handfull not wanting to stay on the ground, even with lots of break, just bouncing up and down as it was still fully inflated. Somtimes on land its not a bad idea to have an open cell kite to deflate when you need it to, but for water its a good kite. Just a bit small even tho its stronger than the equivlant size open cell kite. Might as well go for a small LEI

Quote:

Originally posted by markite don't want to hi-jack the thread but be careful about flying off the back of a boat - any kind of decent wind and you'll get pulled off the back of the boat.

Fair point. Luckily the largest Hydra is about 3 sq. meters and yeah that can tea-bag someone in a gust, but this guy would probably enjoy that.

Thanks for all comments

No problem handling a closed cell kite, my largest one is the 19m

My HQ buddy here has just received 4 of them, and one is for me. Will get it this week.

Will post some pics/review when I get it. If I dont like, there will be a good deal on it for PKF members.

Denis, do you mind if I ask what you are getting the Hydra for? Just to play around with? I'm asking just because you obviously don't need a trainer kite.

Quote:

Originally posted by kiteNH Denis, do you mind if I ask what you are getting the Hydra for? Just to play around with? I'm asking just because you obviously don't need a trainer kite.

well good question I am not sure either

may be to share with friends, or introduce friends to kite flying, to full around in the water, for the wife, for the kid.

not sure ??? I might sell it soon. !!!:wink2:


My HQ buddy flown the Hydra 350 this weekend, and he was able to get going on skis in strong winds. He says the 350 has a lot of pull. I am getting the 300 a bit smaller.

some review from him

Pros: easy, stable, easy relaunch, nice quality for price, nice bar

cons: bag small, does not inflate fast because intakes are small and net protected, bit difficult to land the kite on the brakes

Mod the intakes for faster inflation: technique/method carried over from old FS kites: Mastair, Speedair, Warrior.....

reach thru the zipper and grab the intake valve, make a vertical slit halfway up the valve (in effect making the valve "shorter"

this can always be taped back if need be.....

Powerzone,
How is that mod going to make the hydra a depower? I am thinking about it for my next kite. I am hoping my son would eventually be able to use it and I would love to try some water stuff. I would be interested in a U2U about prices so I can plan too.

A review from anyone about it would be awesome.

I bought the Hydra 350 about three weeks ago. Been flying it on land mostly. A couple times in the lake and got some fair body drags.

This kite will fly in the smallest breeze after you get it inflated.

My girlfriend loves it, because she can handle it. At 147lbs, she can keep her ground, well most of the time but she does have some experience on the beamer.

I wish I could tell you more about using it on water. Can't wait to be on the lake in some good wind and try it.

With light winds, very light, I had to put on fins to keep the lines tight. I did notice if you mess around too much trying to water launch, it will get water in it, then the light wind won't launch it. But that figures.

I also tried to launch it from a kayak. Failed. Too much line to get tangled on everything and by the time you get it let out, water gets in. So I launched it from shore, got into the kayak and took off pretty quick. GF held onto the side of my boat with hers to keep me from turning over.

The problem here was again keeping tight lines. Long kayaks don't turn very fast and two boats together do what they want. A short whitewater kayak and you might be able to turn with your hips and get something going. Anyway we went straight down wind so the kite lost wind and fell. A sea anchor would have helped.

I’m learning and will probably get better with a few more tries. The body drags with fins was a blast even got some drags upwind. But trying to use your arm extended like a rudder in the water for upwind, doesn’t work. The safety line isn’t long enough for that when your moving to the left, well maybe I was doing something wrong but by turning my left shoulder into the water and some help with the fins it was great. BTW the handle will sink but not far with the leash on.

As for flying it off a larger boat, I will be trying. I’m not sure about launching from a boat. Again it has to inflate and you gota play out the lines. It might launch after taking on a small amount of water in good wind.

Don’t leave it packed up even slightly damp. It will stick together and is a pain to inflate a day later. Thought I would just wait a day then fly it dry, not again.

I would say it has potential from a boat. From shore it is a blast. Out over your head with a PFD on will take some practice. In a field, fun for everybody.

If there's wind this weekend, I'll know more about useing it in deep water. Maybe get a video.

Laters

Just wanted to update you guys - we have been using this kite with students alot over the last few months.

Really easy to get them comfortable on land and then transition to water with it. Also cool that they don't have to get into the the more complex 4 line setup and harness at that stage - they really just want to get in the water and start having some fun body dragging and learning how to use the kites pull in the power zone.

Just for fun I tried this with a kayak last weekend. Was really a blast. Have to use it some more to get it down but got some serious speed with it. :singing:

http://www.powerkitesdirect.com/hq-hydra-trainer-kite/

Its a trainer. Works for learning to fly. I flew one (350) in 12 to 15 gusty. Typical fixed bridle. Lot of yanking around. Kept its shape well though. Good relaunch most of the time. As someone else it will take on water. Still to small to get good body drags. Pretty much downwind. Maybe if your small. Good to learn to fly. Personally i would go with the cheaper open cell kite and us the extra cash for lessons. Once you learn to fly your going to get a bigger kite anyway and the small kite becomes a novelty piece.

Quote:

Originally posted by Power Kite Guy Just for fun I tried this with a kayak last weekend. Was really a blast. Have to use it some more to get it down but got some serious speed with it. :singing: http://www.powerkitesdirect.com/hq-hydra-trainer-kite/

Anybody know these guys?
I checked out their website and found them using copyrighted original artwork from my website (without permission)

They are hiding their location and identity behind a "private registration" at 1and1.com, their internet host. The phone number is an unpublished number in Plano, TX

By displaying the "Verisign Secured" logo, they are claiming to have an SSL Certificate, but it is just a cut and paste of the logo and not and active link as it would be if legit.

Same thing with he Better Business Bureau logo. They do not show up in a search on the BBB website as a member.

They have been reported to both organizations.

Just hate to see someone acting as a member of this community and pulling a scam. My "competitors" are my friends but this just sucks.

fully Sheetable MODDED hydras now available...

can you post some pictures?

I was out trying to fly my new Hydra in relatively low winds, flying in an inland field. Probably a decent 10-12 mph. I know that I had enough wind to fly it but I couldn't really get it to inflate. Perhaps because the winds were lower down near the ground. It seemed like the wind kind of blew right over the kite and didn't fill the cells.

Is there any special technique to getting the Hydra inflated?

Pull on the bar until the kite reaches about 45 degrees. Then turn and fly a figure 8. After a few turns, the kite should inflate properly, unless you got the zipper on back open.
I have flown the Hydra 300 in less than 6 mph with no problems to inflate. In 10 mph, it should only take a short moment.

Tim

Quote:

Originally posted by HQ-Powerkites Pull on the bar until the kite reaches about 45 degrees. Then turn and fly a figure 8. After a few turns, the kite should inflate properly, unless you got the zipper on back open. I have flown the Hydra 300 in less than 6 mph with no problems to inflate. In 10 mph, it should only take a short moment. Tim

Wow an answer from HQ themselves in less than 30 minutes!

I'll have to give that a try. I had trouble keeping the kite from collapsing right after the launch. Could have just been that the winds were light and a little shifty.

most foil kites inflate best in low winds if you turn them to fly them across the wind window as soon as possible after getting enough air in the kite to have turning control on liftoff -- which may be a whole other process in itself.

I don't know the hydra though -- but on the ground propping the valves open with some thing could help, especially if you can get some kind of funnel effect going...

IDK :dunno: but from your description actually sounds like you couldn't get the kite up off the ground and the tip from HQ only works if you can get it off the ground???

fantastic response time yes!

I flew my hydra in about 5-8mph and it flew really well. To get it inflated I had to run into the wind about 20-30 yards. Once it was inflated it flew really well. I had to keep it moving but because it stayed inflated it didn't collapse. My son could keep it up for a while as well.

In low winds I have used the running trick with my Neo too. Like they said before, one I got it airborne a couple of figure eights filled it up really well.

Sometimes I think the valves do kinda stick and it is difficult to get the initial inflate. Hope this helps.