Forum for kitesurfers
-
Kamikuza
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 7057
- Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:49 am
- Local Beach: Sabae Beach
- Favorite Beaches: Ol' Stinky
- Gear: This, that, the other
-
Has thanked:
220 times
-
Been thanked:
193 times
Postby Kamikuza » Thu Jan 27, 2011 2:32 am
alexrider wrote:Let's admit 7 struts are acceptable. Why 8 wouldn't be? And so on...
That was my point - it could go the other way too. What determines the best number of struts, max or min?
is it a design limit, a weight issue or an aesthetic?
*cough* arcs *cough*
-
kitehawaii
- Medium Poster
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2004 9:11 am
- Local Beach: Lanes and Hookipa, Maui, Hawaii
- Favorite Beaches: Pacasmayo, Lakey Pipe, Cloud Break
- Style: Waves
- Gear: Malolo Hawaii Custom wave boards by me. Armstrong Foils, Liquid Force SOLO
- Brand Affiliation: Armstrong Foils
- Location: Paia, HI
-
Has thanked:
0
-
Been thanked:
0
-
Contact:
Postby kitehawaii » Thu Jan 27, 2011 12:31 pm
I tried the same strutless kite that Jankie saw in Bali and thought it worked well. My performance impression was that it slowed down wave riding experience forcing me to pump the board more as if I had very little pull from the kite. This gave me the sensation of free surfing more than any other kite I've ever used.
Don't underestimate the performance a lightweight kite to stay in the air no matter what. It's available for a little extra pull when needed and to get back upwind. When wave riding it just hoovers above rider waiting to generate some extra speed to make a section if needed. I'm not saying there is a performance advantage with smaller kites but for light wind, light kites make sense.
The Airush One is probably the lightest 15m and 12m kite on the market. That makes a difference in down the line light air wave riding. Also make a great travel kite. Rolled up size matters when traveling.
kitesurfbali wrote:Dude,
I have been flying a 3 struts kite for 3 years and I was very happy.
I think 3 struts are ideal for what they are designed for!
Wainman, Ozone, RRD, now also F-One + more...
I flown a 1 strut kite and I found it very below average!!!
Now take out all the struts and you have a bed sheet behind a leading edge...
Tell me what kind of performance you can get!!!
Come on please be serious...
The kite will fly as I saw it doing it.. That's about it..
Bye Jankie
-
kitesurfbali
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 1075
- Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2002 1:00 am
- Local Beach: Kite Beach, Sanur , Bali, Indonesia
Canggu, Bali, Indonesia
Lakey Peak, Sumbawa, Indonesia
- Favorite Beaches: Too many....
- Style: Waves shredder
- Gear: Ozone, Airush, F-One, Peter Lynn - Kites
Airush, Underground, Surf X-treme custom - boards
- Brand Affiliation: Peter Lynn, Ozone, Airush, Underground, F-One, Surf X-treme custom
- Location: Kite Shop owner in Bali
-
Has thanked:
0
-
Been thanked:
0
-
Contact:
Postby kitesurfbali » Thu Jan 27, 2011 1:33 pm
I don't like to talk about brands...
Specially as someone may think I'm bashing them.
But some of the kites is really better you try before you buy!
I can pack my 3 or 5 struts kite in the same small package..
Weight the kite and see if is really lighter.
What you save on 2 small bladders you pay on an oversize leading edge.
Bye Jankie
-
Kamikuza
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 7057
- Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:49 am
- Local Beach: Sabae Beach
- Favorite Beaches: Ol' Stinky
- Gear: This, that, the other
-
Has thanked:
220 times
-
Been thanked:
193 times
Postby Kamikuza » Thu Jan 27, 2011 1:46 pm
In Gigi's vid, it seemed to make it clear that the role of the struts is to keep the sail from being dunked and held down by the water - his sail flapped down onto the ground a fair bit. So more struts would be better but with diminishing returns due to weight etc ... also seems that under-pressure kites would be a problem and may explain why so many people here have issues - a lot of the guys here use those electric pumps ...
kitehawaii wrote:Rolled up size matters when traveling.
*cough* arcs *cough*
-
DrLightWind
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 1814
- Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2002 1:00 am
- Local Beach: Matheson Hammock Park Miami
- Favorite Beaches: Crandon Beach, Hobbie Beach, Keys, St. Lucia, St. Marteen,
- Style: Old School
- Gear: Flysurfer15m and 21m Speed3 DLX
RealWind Mutant 148 X 40 and Directional 190 X 48, F-One TT 128 X35, Dereck Semi Directional 143 X 38 and 177 X 46.
- Brand Affiliation: None
- Location: Miami @ 6" Flat Butter!
-
Has thanked:
0
-
Been thanked:
0
Postby DrLightWind » Thu Jan 27, 2011 2:26 pm
Gigi;) wrote:Anyway, I have couple of designs that should work good.
Video below represents the behavior of one of my designs with deflated struts and a bonus on the end...
@Gigi nice work
In my opinion it would would be worthwhile to stabilize the luffings and canopy fluterings
with the addition of 3 light carbon battens.
There was a brand about 10 years ago with that feature.
I have the impression with the curved L.E. bow style it would work and relaunch would be great,
what's your opinion
DrLW
-
scklandl
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 1603
- Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2005 12:49 am
- Style: all
- Brand Affiliation: None
- Location: scott klandl burlington, VT
-
Has thanked:
0
-
Been thanked:
2 times
Postby scklandl » Thu Jan 27, 2011 3:38 pm
@ dr LW and Gigi,
Id need some battens in there for relaunch, but dont use flat battens, use carbon tubes, stiffer and lighter
-
2cents worth
- Rare Poster
- Posts: 43
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 10:56 pm
- Brand Affiliation: None
-
Has thanked:
0
-
Been thanked:
0
Postby 2cents worth » Thu Jan 27, 2011 5:48 pm
DrLightWind wrote:Gigi;) wrote:Anyway, I have couple of designs that should work good.
Video below represents the behavior of one of my designs with deflated struts and a bonus on the end...
@Gigi nice work
In my opinion it would would be worthwhile to stabilize the luffings and canopy fluterings
with the addition of 3 light carbon battens.
There was a brand about 10 years ago with that feature.
I have the impression with the curved L.E. bow style it would work and relaunch would be great,
what's your opinion
DrLW
Why a batten or a carbon tubes over strut(s)? Weight to weight does it has an advantage? How do we ensure the batten does not portrude the fabrics (after some time) like we have seen on some old design?
Let's get back to fundamental. Which component on a kite weight most? Answer: Fabrics.
Cutting down on fabrics usage is a good direction ( bladder and air too), but why not lighter fabrics? Is there any? Yes if you can afford it.
-
grantman54
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 995
- Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2007 5:54 am
- Location: Central CA
-
Has thanked:
0
-
Been thanked:
0
Postby grantman54 » Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:13 pm
What you save on 2 small bladders you pay on an oversize leading edge.
The Airush One leading edge is huge! Maybe thats a good thing for slowing down the kite if you want a park and ride kite but to me it seems like you will be creating a dead space on the canopy right behind the LE, especially when the kite is at the top of the wind window. Thus losing lift.
I haven't tried it, so maybe the One would actually blow my mind but looking at it from a distance gave me a bad impression.
-
Hansen Design
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2006 8:04 pm
- Brand Affiliation: None
- Location: USA
-
Has thanked:
0
-
Been thanked:
12 times
-
Contact:
Postby Hansen Design » Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:14 pm
Windtools Booster - do a search to learn the problems.
Strutless works OK deep in the window at high AOA where the canopy remains inflated (like a parachute) but fails at the edge. Much (but not all) can be solved with a high degree of catenary in the TE and a variety of battens (both LE and TE or full length) but the primary strutless advantages of low weight per square area and simplicity is lost.
DrLightWind wrote:There was a brand about 10 years ago with that feature.
-
funalex
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 716
- Joined: Fri Mar 08, 2002 1:00 am
-
Has thanked:
79 times
-
Been thanked:
86 times
Postby funalex » Thu Jan 27, 2011 8:52 pm
there are 2 sort of depowering on a kite.
the first is the kite to rotate around a fixed point...like nopulley bridle, or a C kite.
the second way is to move the entire bride forward to keep tension in all lines, and with this one, even if the extrados flutter, the shape remain OK
the only problem is that this sort of bridle is less reactive. like havoc or nomad.
strutless work good, but the relaunch isn't easier at all.
again, good job gigi !
Return to “Kitesurfing”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Azzieo, Bing [Bot], Google [Bot], Majestic-12 [Bot], Steve271, vp and 144 guests