2003 wind ranges
Moderator: MK
2003 wind ranges
I am looking into getting some 2003 kites and was wondering if I could get away with increasing the size between the kites, Is it possible to go from 18-20 to 12 or is the gap to large, because I was thinking of 18, and 12 toros or 16 and 12, or the co2's 16,12 or 20 and 12, it seems as though on light wind days it would be better off having more power, and when the wind is strong enough for a 12 meter you usually know it, any thoughts on the topic
I've headr the new Toros' are really rangey.
An 18M - 12M
is not unreasonalble. I'm going to go for a 18M only for my summer kite From what I've read Dwight, http://www.kiteforum.com/ The 18 is a super kite.
I sure loved my 16M Toro1. I'm still going to use it for snow kiting and some early water.... then buy a 18M Toro2 after the water is livable.
Matt, I think that you would be fine with a 16M big kite. I was out on that on Mille Lacs and no poleboarders could plane. You are alot lighter and I think could rip on a 16. I'll let you try mine this winter/spring I think you'd love it.
eric
An 18M - 12M
is not unreasonalble. I'm going to go for a 18M only for my summer kite From what I've read Dwight, http://www.kiteforum.com/ The 18 is a super kite.
I sure loved my 16M Toro1. I'm still going to use it for snow kiting and some early water.... then buy a 18M Toro2 after the water is livable.
Matt, I think that you would be fine with a 16M big kite. I was out on that on Mille Lacs and no poleboarders could plane. You are alot lighter and I think could rip on a 16. I'll let you try mine this winter/spring I think you'd love it.
eric
How big are you?
Matt - even with the new "rangier" kites, that's a big jump - mostly because of the choice of size you mention.
Important Question: How big are you?
Unless you are more than, say, 180-190lbs, you really shouldn't go over 16m for your big kite (in a 2 kite quiver). You're second kite would do well as a 10-12m.
The bigger kites have less top-end range. So, a 16m kite is probably going to give you, for example, around 8 to 20 knots, the 18m is only going to net you a range of 7 or 8 to 17 knots. You will gain very little on the bottom and loose big on the top. You'll get roughly 20% more range out of the 16m.
Based on manufacturer specs, those numbers are a pretty good average. Are you willling to sacrifice 20% of your range for a pretty marginal increase on the bottom end?
Throw all that out the window if you are well over 200lbs. You could used the pull of a big kite.
Important Question: How big are you?
Unless you are more than, say, 180-190lbs, you really shouldn't go over 16m for your big kite (in a 2 kite quiver). You're second kite would do well as a 10-12m.
The bigger kites have less top-end range. So, a 16m kite is probably going to give you, for example, around 8 to 20 knots, the 18m is only going to net you a range of 7 or 8 to 17 knots. You will gain very little on the bottom and loose big on the top. You'll get roughly 20% more range out of the 16m.
Based on manufacturer specs, those numbers are a pretty good average. Are you willling to sacrifice 20% of your range for a pretty marginal increase on the bottom end?
Throw all that out the window if you are well over 200lbs. You could used the pull of a big kite.
Thanks guys, thats what I sort of figured gain a little on the bottom but it wouldn't be worth loosing the top end,
No coach I havn't put that many pounds on in college, so I am not pushing 2 bills, 16 should be my biggest for now.
I am working a deal out with larry right now,
scuba center best local shop support the locals.
No coach I havn't put that many pounds on in college, so I am not pushing 2 bills, 16 should be my biggest for now.
I am working a deal out with larry right now,
scuba center best local shop support the locals.
I guess I might as well chirp in here. While I agree with everything that has been said, there is one other point worth considering. I initially thought of kites like windsurfing sails. That when building a quiver you could have larger gaps between the larger kites than between the smaller kites.(for all the reasons that have been discussed here before). I've now decided that having equal spacing, eg. 8-12-16, or 10-14-18, works well. The smaller kites seem to have more range, since you can turn them so quickly and generate power if the wind backs off. Manufacturers have been having aspect ratio increase proportionately with size though I still think the smaller ones have more range. And now with the 2003s the big kites turn so much faster that you can take a 17 out in wind that you might never have considered last year. Personally I'd rather be on a smaller faster kite that I may have to sine a bit in the lulls, than be on a large kite where I'm getting pulled off my edge in the gusts.
After seeing Coach playing with his 20m last year in super light winds I thought about going super big this year, though opted for the 17m, because it is just so gusty around here. I think if you are considering going real big I would recommend going high aspect (like the Rhino II, or the X2) so that you have some range.
People are loving the 15-11m Slingshot Fuel combo as a two kite quiver. They are high aspect though they are one of the lower high aspect kites out there, so the 15 generates considerable pull and is so fast that you can generate even more if needed. They also measure up a bit large, I think the 15 is more like a 15.8m. And the 11 isn't too big to use in significant winds.
Could you go 15-9m? I'd prefer that gap over the 19-13m. Someone posted something on kiteforum.com that he was still having fun on the 9m in 15kts! You'll definately have a great range then. With the new kites (eg. Slingshot Fuel or GTO, Naish X3) you can also increase the range of the new kite via different attachment point configurations.
Good luck in your decision.
After seeing Coach playing with his 20m last year in super light winds I thought about going super big this year, though opted for the 17m, because it is just so gusty around here. I think if you are considering going real big I would recommend going high aspect (like the Rhino II, or the X2) so that you have some range.
People are loving the 15-11m Slingshot Fuel combo as a two kite quiver. They are high aspect though they are one of the lower high aspect kites out there, so the 15 generates considerable pull and is so fast that you can generate even more if needed. They also measure up a bit large, I think the 15 is more like a 15.8m. And the 11 isn't too big to use in significant winds.
Could you go 15-9m? I'd prefer that gap over the 19-13m. Someone posted something on kiteforum.com that he was still having fun on the 9m in 15kts! You'll definately have a great range then. With the new kites (eg. Slingshot Fuel or GTO, Naish X3) you can also increase the range of the new kite via different attachment point configurations.
Good luck in your decision.
Tighe
Just found this on KiteForum.
More info on the never ending discussion of quiver sizing:
http://www.kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopi ... 16286d392e
More info on the never ending discussion of quiver sizing:
http://www.kiteforum.com/phpbb/viewtopi ... 16286d392e
Tighe