Help me with kite size please (FAST)

[FckGravity]

Okay so here's the deal, I'm 180 pounds soaked in water, I ride the 130 x 40 Rocky Chatwell pro model by Crazyfly, usually I ride in flatish water with some chop but its an enclosed bay it isnt open ocean or anything. At the moment my kites are the reissued all black 06 yarga 7m, HadlowPro 9m and I sold my larger Torchs. Now I'm on a budget (only 18 and university is starting in september) so I'm looking for the best option performance wise but also economically. So my option is to now get an 11m HadlowPro ($575 US), a 13m 2009 Fuel (Brand new only $850) or a 15m 2007 Fuel (only $240 with shipping). I wanted to use the 13m Fuel as my big kite but historically Fuels don't have the best low end and I'm decently heavy with a smallish board.

Should I go 7-9-13 or 7-9-11-15 or 7-9-11-13 or 7-9-13-15

All of those are options people so I need to know what my windrange on that 13m Fuel would be and I need to know my best quiver option. Thanks so much guys

[bluerocketboy]

i can get going nicely in 16-17 knots on my 2009 11 meter fuel, they have a great low end compaired to previous fuels. my 7 meter 2009 is as powerful as my 9 meter 2007 fuel.
the hadlow pro in 11 meter sounds like it'll complement your quiver nicely and maybe leave u money for the 15 too?
my quivers 2009 fuels 7 and 11 and a 2007 fuel 15, does the job nicely

[FckGravity]

So you think my best bet would be get the 11m Hadlow and the 15 Fuel?
The way I see it (I only fly C's remember) is that when it comes to C kites there isn't a huge difference in the bigger sizes. I don't know but would you think that I would be able to ride the 13m Fuel from like 11 knots and up and just go 7-9-13 or would 7-9-11-15 be better?

[bluerocketboy]

i only have my 15 for when its really light, so its not used that oftern, as i see it i don't really need an amazing light wind kite, as soon as it gets above 16 knots i can use my nicer 11.
but the 13 meter 2009 fuel is more powerful than the 2007 15 so your gonna be pretty stacked on the 13 before your 9 is in its good range.

if you got the 11 and the 15, the 15 is more like a new 13 anyways so it'd be like having 7, 9, 11 and 13. i think if u have more kites u can choose the best one for the conditions rather than compromisng

[JumpinJoe]

The 2009 13m Fuel is by far the way to go so you will have the 7,9,13 thats all you will need forget the 15m. The 2009 13m Fuel will have more lowend then the 2007 15m. Plus its a hell of a deal for that kite. and you will have perfecrt rang. with 7,9,13 line up.

[tautologies]

This is how I choose kites...

first get the kite that will be your bread and butter kite...then fill up around it. I go with the closer ones to the bread and butter since the wind usually varies around a theme so to speak...and then a bigger step to the ones I do not use as much. So for the low wind kite go as big as you can...too big becomes a little slow.

so for me the idea would be: (above the choice is the order I would get them in...
5 3 1 2 4
(small - 3 sizes) - (perfect - 1 size) - (perfect size) - (perfect +1 size) - (perfect + 3 sizes)

always go for the perfect size first, then fill up around it IMO...now the order changes a little if you get fewer kites...for instance if I only got fewer kites this would be my order....I would get the perfect kite, and the large one since the wind here is kind of light in general...
5 3 1 4 2
(small - 3 sizes) - (perfect - 1 size) - (perfect size) - (perfect +1 size) - (perfect + 3 sizes)

anyhoo...have fun with it

[FckGravity]

I'm so torn! I have have a 14m 2007 Torch right now, its a sweet kite but has a little tear in it (LE) but not on the bladder itself at all, should I just get the 11m hadlow and keep my 14 for budget? Will there be any performance advantage of a 13m Fuel significantly?

[bluerocketboy]

having the 14 fixed and get the 11 sounds like a sweet option, i would imagine the 13 fuel would be awsome but no matter how good it is, i personally think it won't be as good as two kites covering the same range.
i would any day choose 7, 9, 11, 14 over 7, 9, 13
and also as part of the bargain it'll be cheaper

[EvanOR]

I agree 100% with Tautalogies - always build your quiver around your go to kite rather than trying to cover a certain wind range.

Cheers,

Evan

Ocean Rodeo
Hyperflex Wetsuits

Performance over Hype

[FckGravity]

I think that I'm going with the hadlow and fixing my 14, is that a good bet? Ps will it be hard to sew a 1inchx1inch tear in just the LE material not the bladder?