Flyboy wrote: ↑Thu Nov 18, 2021 5:30 am
njrider wrote: ↑Tue Nov 16, 2021 4:24 am
Hi. Well here is the good news, I got permission from management (my wife) to replace my beat up Naish boxers. The kite I use the most foiling is a 2017 9m. I really enjoy pushing the limits of riding and often go in 5-8knots of gusty nasty inland winds. Obviously sometimes this does not work out well. In any case, I'm looking for replacement kites and wanted suggestions. I think I'm stuck on LEI for the fact that water relaunches are more reliable. Thanks
I don't really understand your OP. You're looking to replace your beat up Naish Boxers -
plural. So, you're not just talking about replacing one kite ... and presumably you're not just talking about light wind. Frankly, what I would use in 5 - 8 knots of gusty nasty inland winds is a
bicycle. From what I've seen, it's possible to foil in 5 - 8 knots with a racing foil kite somewhere in the 15 - 21m size ... but that's in consistent "sea breeze" type wind. When the winds that low there's always the chance that it drops off for a while, in which case you're likely to be swimming in. I gusty inland conditions I think it's a waste of time.
8 - 10 knots opens up a variety of possibilities: 12m one strut or strutless, 12m + foil kite, 8m Peak. In my world, foiling starts at 10 knots when just about any reasonably light kite will do the job - in my case, a 6m Peak.
Agree, it does not make sense to replace with kites of the same type in different sizes, as the marginal wind kite and the "normal wind" kites - are usually two different types.
But I agree with njrider (the OP) that a LEI is better suited for his purpose - being far out and wind can drop fully.
For the same reason, if it is winter around the freezing point and wind sideshore, at least not so you can ride close to land, I prefer to use a light LEI, simply because I will not risk having to pack down even for a short distance to land, when close to zero degree water.
In his example, having a one strut superlight LEI means he can ride down to 7 knots, and if wind drops below riding wind, still possible to drag ashore easy and comfortable either looping or drifting on the water LE down.
If wind picks up, it is possible to launch in a gust.
If not, drift ashore, after having looped for while but it will finally drop, usually.
If you had a foil kite, no matter which type, you are screwed
You have to pack it down, as even if the wind comes back, it can not relaunch when fully wet.
The worst thing is, you also need a bigger board, as in my experience it is impossible to swim on a small board with a huge foilkite rolled up.
A one strut kite can be "swimmed" for shorter distances in zero wind - a strutless is useless if you want to drag it ashore, and it might, in almost zero wind, be unable to catch wind in the canopy like a 1 strut can, so no chance for drifting ashore now.
I understand njrider's desire fully, and if it is for hydrofoiling only, yes he could get the same kites in the smaller ones too.
Peter