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One-size kite - idea - is it impossible?

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kasperdtb
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One-size kite - idea - is it impossible?

Postby kasperdtb » Wed Mar 22, 2017 9:58 pm

So i have had this idea since i started kitesurfing.

Consider having a one-size kite, which you in some way would be able to adjust. Do you guys think that is possible? If so, what materials to use. I mean, should it be made of "blocks" for every m2 or could some stretching material be used.

Which people know these kind of things, and could actually be able to create such products? Engineers?

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Re: One-size kite - idea - is it impossible?

Postby fpvSB » Wed Mar 22, 2017 10:19 pm

Make a foil kite with cells that can collapse into each other using more control lines.

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Re: One-size kite - idea - is it impossible?

Postby ShredThaGnar » Wed Mar 22, 2017 10:26 pm

I'd recommend a 14m c kite. The 14m torch will do ok in the light winds (feels like 12m) but can be held down in 25+ throw a rockered board on and boost!

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Re: One-size kite - idea - is it impossible?

Postby kjorn » Wed Mar 22, 2017 10:33 pm

kasperdtb wrote:
Wed Mar 22, 2017 9:58 pm
So i have had this idea since i started kitesurfing.

Consider having a one-size kite, which you in some way would be able to adjust. Do you guys think that is possible? If so, what materials to use. I mean, should it be made of "blocks" for every m2 or could some stretching material be used.

Which people know these kind of things, and could actually be able to create such products? Engineers?
Like birds wings or bat wings. Feathers that slide over each other to make the wing smaller. Or a bat wing that stretches.

But birds and bats are forced to have one set of wings. We can detach our kites, so it makes sense to have a quiver of different sizes.

You could experiment with different line lengths, say 35m for light wind. Or stack kites like they used to in the old days.

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Re: One-size kite - idea - is it impossible?

Postby Toby » Wed Mar 22, 2017 10:46 pm

I only use one size kite...18 sqm !

14-28 knots, if needed 30+ :D

Don't ride anything else, and don't want to.

Just pick a size you prefer, and ride in your conditions.

If you cannot choose conditions due to limited time, then you need more kites.

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Re: One-size kite - idea - is it impossible?

Postby plummet » Wed Mar 22, 2017 11:33 pm

I too have thought about this. But enough material to provide power at say 10 knots will be heavy and inefficient and dull when you close of the cells for 40 knots.

But the answer is in the boards!

Change boards out and you can use 1 kite 10-40 knots!

Well thats what I do. I can ride my 8m on the hydrofoil from 10 knots. switch out to mutant 20-25 knots and hold the mutant down to 40 knot gusts. So technically i have a 1 kite quiver 10-40 knots.

BUT.

I want to do different stuff. That requires different kites. Sure i can ride 10 knots on the 8m but its batshit boring. So I add a 12m foil kite for light wind hf action.
20+ knots i can hold 8m for foiling on the but prefer a 6m and then a 25+ knots 4m.

When I dont want to foil 18-28 i fire up the 10m.

6m is good for wave riding 30+ knots

4m will handle 40+ storms.

yeha!

So 1 kite quiver is possible. But limiting grin factor to a narrower wind range. More kites increase the grin factor.

Toby gets around the varying wind factor by going to different locations around the world to ensure his 14-28 knot range.

Its far cheaper and more realistic for the rest of us to have more kites to suit the locations we live in.

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Re: One-size kite - idea - is it impossible?

Postby Bletti » Wed Mar 22, 2017 11:39 pm

My high aspect 15m r1v1 kite tends to fold the wing tips. It would be interesting if that could somehow be incorporated into a design giving a high aspect large kite and lower aspect kite (with zipped or fastened wing tips folded) with reduced projected area to be used in higher winds. But given the compromise and how tiny foil kites compress to travel it might not be worth it.

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Re: One-size kite - idea - is it impossible?

Postby bigtone667 » Wed Mar 22, 2017 11:44 pm

I was only thinking about this the other day. They do it with sails on boats all the time when storms come in.Just need a way to reduce the overall sail area efficiently.

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Re: One-size kite - idea - is it impossible?

Postby Lokihel » Thu Mar 23, 2017 5:31 am

The problem is that a kite still needs to fly, therefore the weight is very important.


On a sailing boat, the weight of the sails is negligible when compared to the overall displacement.

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Re: One-size kite - idea - is it impossible?

Postby ShaveTheWhales » Thu Mar 23, 2017 6:01 am

Theyve already made zip up Doonas to reduce down 3 different sizes.. nothing new..


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