I have mainly been using LEIs for the last three years or so. I am thinking about buying a PL Gorilla and giving it a try. My last foil was a Waterfoil a couple of years ago after trying 7 other foils.
So, here is a question for guys that have fairly extensive experience with both LEIs and ARCs. What do you feel the advantages and disadvantages that ARCs and specifically the Gorilla offer as compared to LEIs?
Thanks,
Rick Iossi
LEI to Gorilla ARC?
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Arcsrule
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Hey Rick, I won't even try to answer that question! Just buy the G and if you don't like it, sell it to me at half price. 
Talk to Traig at Monkeyair.com about the G's. He's in with the Oz guys on the development. He should know all the specs on the G. I've got small, medium and large of the s arc. come up to Jax and you can try them out. the g is basically the same except for the g being more powerful.
Phil
Talk to Traig at Monkeyair.com about the G's. He's in with the Oz guys on the development. He should know all the specs on the G. I've got small, medium and large of the s arc. come up to Jax and you can try them out. the g is basically the same except for the g being more powerful.Phil
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chicagokitesurfer
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Rick,
I'd like to direct you to the arcusers site at yahoo. There's a lot more Guerilla discussion there:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arcusers/messages
V
http://www.chicagokitesurfing.com
I'd like to direct you to the arcusers site at yahoo. There's a lot more Guerilla discussion there:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arcusers/messages
V
http://www.chicagokitesurfing.com
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RickI
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Thanks guys! Phil, I hope to make it up to Jax to take you up on your kind offer. V, I took you advice and posted on the ARC users group. I thought some other readers might be interested in some of the responses here. So ...
Hi
An update on myself and experience first.As everyone knows I am an avid arc user.I am also an arc seller and a tube kite seller .I
have the option to use either.Why do I fly and recommend arcs.When I weigh the pros and cons for myself and in my advice to customers the arc comes out on top.I also give newbies the chance to fly both and recommend to try before you buy.They usually chose the arc.
So to answer your question. Its nothing like any of the bridled foils that you have flown
before it is more similar to the single skin tube sleds that you have been flying.
Besides the obvious of no pumps required. The G has the performance features of tube kites of depower,turn rate and jumping .in the 18 though I would say that it is gruntier but not as quick in the turns.
The G will point upwind higher and hang longer .I like the point higher for all the reasons that we all like this and also I can ride waves up and down the line.On the comp side of things this is a big
advantage as you can spend more time in the zone but you will probably be accused of being a zone hog.
Steering is lighter but feel is positive.You can stay out for a long
time without getting aching arms .At the bottom of the range though
it is more tiring Kite is very stable it stays where its put.Tube kites have come a
long way but I still think the arc is in front.
Kite is easy to maintain .No bladder leaks or split seams form tube
pressure or wear from battens and seams.holes can be repaired with
duck tape.Chicara is tuff stuff.
Relaunch can be tricky with 80 % reliability but is very hard to
crash.If you do manage to luff the kite relaunch can be tricky.
The tube riders here that have had the courage to ride them like them
and about 80 % who have tried have bought.
I hope that this has been helpful
Regards
Lachlan Beed
I have mainly been using four line tube kites or LEIs for the last
> > three years or so. I am thinking about buying a PL Gorilla and
> giving
> > it a try. My last foil was a warerfoil
>
> I am sorry
I still have mine too.
> >
> > So, here is a question for guys that have fairly extensive
> experience
> > with both LEIs and ARCs. What do you feel the advantages and
> > disadvantages that ARCs and specifically the Gorilla offer as
> > compared to LEIs?
>
> I think Lachlan covered things quite nicely but let me state some
> cons. (but first let me say I have never flown a LEI)
>
> Rain, LEI's do better in rain and mist.
> LEI's are better in side launch with help.
> Drift launching advantage LEI.
>
> There you go,
>
> Some advantages not mentioned already,
>
> Arcs, layout flat so depower more with leash.
> You can sew them and change them (might not be an advantage for all
> Most places you go you will be the only Arc so your friends can pick
> you out
>
> Performance? I don't know, but I do know must of us are not being
> limited by our kite. I still think the S-arc is a good kite as are
> lots of last years LEI's and foils etc.
>
> I have said this before, the way to rip is get used to your kite and
> get out the water and get a good board! Of course, the G-arc is
> pretty cool.....
>
> David
The ARC is so easy to put away. At our beach there are square metres
> of expensive tubes and canopies pumped up but nowhere to go. 200
> hours of U.V. and they are on the way out. With ARCs you just roll
> them up and they are out of the sun, dogs with sharp claws,
maurading
> children and sudden wind gusts. LEI's do make good sun umbrella's
but
> better to use your mate's than have your own pride and joy getting
> nuked.
>
> Jim
Hi
An update on myself and experience first.As everyone knows I am an avid arc user.I am also an arc seller and a tube kite seller .I
have the option to use either.Why do I fly and recommend arcs.When I weigh the pros and cons for myself and in my advice to customers the arc comes out on top.I also give newbies the chance to fly both and recommend to try before you buy.They usually chose the arc.
So to answer your question. Its nothing like any of the bridled foils that you have flown
before it is more similar to the single skin tube sleds that you have been flying.
Besides the obvious of no pumps required. The G has the performance features of tube kites of depower,turn rate and jumping .in the 18 though I would say that it is gruntier but not as quick in the turns.
The G will point upwind higher and hang longer .I like the point higher for all the reasons that we all like this and also I can ride waves up and down the line.On the comp side of things this is a big
advantage as you can spend more time in the zone but you will probably be accused of being a zone hog.
Steering is lighter but feel is positive.You can stay out for a long
time without getting aching arms .At the bottom of the range though
it is more tiring Kite is very stable it stays where its put.Tube kites have come a
long way but I still think the arc is in front.
Kite is easy to maintain .No bladder leaks or split seams form tube
pressure or wear from battens and seams.holes can be repaired with
duck tape.Chicara is tuff stuff.
Relaunch can be tricky with 80 % reliability but is very hard to
crash.If you do manage to luff the kite relaunch can be tricky.
The tube riders here that have had the courage to ride them like them
and about 80 % who have tried have bought.
I hope that this has been helpful
Regards
Lachlan Beed
I have mainly been using four line tube kites or LEIs for the last
> > three years or so. I am thinking about buying a PL Gorilla and
> giving
> > it a try. My last foil was a warerfoil
>
> I am sorry
I still have mine too.> >
> > So, here is a question for guys that have fairly extensive
> experience
> > with both LEIs and ARCs. What do you feel the advantages and
> > disadvantages that ARCs and specifically the Gorilla offer as
> > compared to LEIs?
>
> I think Lachlan covered things quite nicely but let me state some
> cons. (but first let me say I have never flown a LEI
)>
> Rain, LEI's do better in rain and mist.
> LEI's are better in side launch with help.
> Drift launching advantage LEI.
>
> There you go,
>
> Some advantages not mentioned already,
>
> Arcs, layout flat so depower more with leash.
> You can sew them and change them (might not be an advantage for all
> Most places you go you will be the only Arc so your friends can pick
> you out
>
> Performance? I don't know, but I do know must of us are not being
> limited by our kite. I still think the S-arc is a good kite as are
> lots of last years LEI's and foils etc.
>
> I have said this before, the way to rip is get used to your kite and
> get out the water and get a good board! Of course, the G-arc is
> pretty cool.....
>
> David
The ARC is so easy to put away. At our beach there are square metres
> of expensive tubes and canopies pumped up but nowhere to go. 200
> hours of U.V. and they are on the way out. With ARCs you just roll
> them up and they are out of the sun, dogs with sharp claws,
maurading
> children and sudden wind gusts. LEI's do make good sun umbrella's
but
> better to use your mate's than have your own pride and joy getting
> nuked.
>
> Jim
I flew the 12m G ARC today here in okinawa. VERY nice. I like inflatable AND ARCs. They both have their pluses and minuses. The G 12m seemed to have the low end of the 1120 S and the high end of the 8.4. It pointed higher and jumped higher. It turns somewhat slower though. It rides more like an inflatable in that you set it and ride. Oh, depower was great!! The wind died down to 10 knots and I was able to hold ground. I'm 200lbs riding a small twintip. The inflatables were having a tough time staying up after hitting the drink. I think a G 18 would be a choice kite for light winds and maybe inflatables for higher winds. Just my opinion.
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chicagokitesurfer
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No problem, Rick. Some additional comments from me (I fly both):
ARC pros:
-easy to set up
-easy to repair
-easy to fly (very stable)
-better in lighter winds
-awesome depower
-easy to put away
-more power than blimps for same size
-safer when leash is deployed
-little bar pressure
-fly it backwards for relaunch LEI down
-fly it backwards for self land
-self launch is easy
-easier to fly (trainees like them more usually but still sell inflatos as first kite)
ARC cons:
-if you drink it, limited time to launch
-line setup is confusing at first
V
http://www.chicagokitesurfing.com
ARC pros:
-easy to set up
-easy to repair
-easy to fly (very stable)
-better in lighter winds
-awesome depower
-easy to put away
-more power than blimps for same size
-safer when leash is deployed
-little bar pressure
-fly it backwards for relaunch LEI down
-fly it backwards for self land
-self launch is easy
-easier to fly (trainees like them more usually but still sell inflatos as first kite)
ARC cons:
-if you drink it, limited time to launch
-line setup is confusing at first
V
http://www.chicagokitesurfing.com
-
chicagokitesurfer
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Inflatables will always have the extra weight of the bladders to contend with, since they are single skin, they will have slightly less power than a foil, as well.
For light wind on G18, I would assume for a 85kg rider, the 18G will get 8-9 kts as low end. If you're lighter, you can probably go in less wind. This is from reports and not personal experience. I haven't seen an 18 yet...
V
http://www.chicagokitesurfing.com
For light wind on G18, I would assume for a 85kg rider, the 18G will get 8-9 kts as low end. If you're lighter, you can probably go in less wind. This is from reports and not personal experience. I haven't seen an 18 yet...
V
http://www.chicagokitesurfing.com