I am making a bar for my 2011 Obsession can I use 4 equal lines or do I need a Y with a swivel on the front lines? Does it affect how the kite flies? Peter Frank or anyone??

It is dependant on the kite - some with the Y really need it where it is to help prevent the kite deforming and to make it turn properly e.g. Naish Torch - if you fly this on another bar with a lower Y it really does not like it.

However, with the Obsession I really don't see it making a massive difference - they might feel slightly different but it won't be unsafe. If anything the high Y config will make the kite pivot turn more (tighter for input) and the lower stup will make it feel as if it is turning with a bit more power - this is what I experinced with another brand bridled SLE-C shape.

Soemone might come up with an actual mathematical and aeronautical explantion concerning pivot points and wing-tips turning relative to another with flex, but without being bamboozled I'd just go for the easist option for yourself?

Try !

Because, I think that a few kites might have the "Y" suited for good performance, others are not sensitive.
And others might just change behavior a bit - but not necessarily to the worse

I would personally just go with the 4 lines without the Y and see how it works - as I honestly think it will work really good on almost all kites in fact

Some might say that some kites are designed to work fine only with the delivered "Y" distance.

But it doesnt have to be true for all of them

You dont write what size - as the bigger the kite the more influence you get when changing the "Y" point (more or less pinching)

I would not worry with your kite, and just do it

Peter

I have been riding it for a few weeks and just always feel it is a little off. In light wind performance is not so good in higher winds it is good. I agree with what first poster wrote it does have an effect on the pivot and way kite turns but also as Peter said kite works pretty good with out it. Tks for the input.

http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2368922

I remember doing the calculations before, and a non-Y kite has something like 2 or 3 pounds of force pulling the tips in, but a high Y will have 4 or 5 pounds of force pulling in. So yeah it can make a difference but just on some kites.

Note by the way kites which require high Y do not work right with long extensions because extensions also decrease the amount the wings get pulled in. If you use extensions, you want to get an O-ring, and lark's head your lines to make an artificial Y higher up on your power lines to keep your kite working right.

Or you can just lark's head your power lines on a stainless steel O ring for an artificial Y so you can use your bar both ways. You have to test out your flag out tho if u do this make sure it still works.

Big difference will be if the Y is needed for flagging the kite !
Nico