Sombra wrote: ↑Sun May 06, 2018 10:28 am
Hi
@BOEMIX
Do you own a Peak? Which size? Do you tried it once for foiling?
Can you compare it with one of your other kites in meaning of power.
I would accept, that it is not relaunchable. Where is the problem? In very low wind I very seldom throw the kite in the water. And if it happens, you wind the lines up, take the kite, swim bag and start it. I do not see the problem as it can not get filled with water the swim will be short.
But I was reading in other comments, that the flying characteristics of the Peak (and other single skin kites) is not very suitable for hydrofoiling. Very poor depower (in meaning of more on/off ), narrow windrange, very slow turning.
I’m very surprised that there is almost nobody trying it. There is only one video in YouTube from Kitefinder trying this combination of Hydrofoil and Peak. And they reported an amaizing lowend.
Thanks a lot
Not boemix but I have a Peak3 12m and got it for the same reasons you're thinking of it.
It flies in nothing, literally 3-4mph and it's rock stable. You can't get going in that light of wind though, it just flies. It's VERY VERY VERY slow. Slooooooooow. I think it's slower than my R1v1 17m. It has no power when you send it into the power zone. That is a VERY weird feeling the first time you fly it. I guess it's good for land/snow when you don't want to get ripped off and powered up immediately but not the best for water. With the Takuma clone I can get going in about 6-7mph but it's a bit hard to start. Pretty much the only way to start is with a couple of loops or sending it deep and low on 30m lines. Shorter lines do not help with speed much and lack in power. A floatier board would help here. I can keep foiling if wind luls below 7mph but it's hard to stay upwind and if you screw up a transition there's no way to start unless a gust comes through. In under 10mph you can't get it wet. Once wet it gets too heavy to launch (at least self-launch) in my experience. There's no "maybe I'll save it" once it touches the water 99.9% of the time. Landing the kite is extremely easy, no backstalling required. When the edge touches the ground the whole thing collapses. That is also a huge drawback when it touches the water and you slack the lines for a second. I've had it in 13-15mph and you get powered up but there's plenty of depower. It flutters like crazy when sheeting out in higher wind but that doesn't bother me too much as I don't usually use it if I measure gusts over 11mph on shore. This has been in cooler Florida breezes, I've yet to try it in the middle of the summer but in a few months I will.
I don't bother with anything else in super light wind now. It's a very small, low AR, light kite. It's much easier to pack up wet than anything else I have. The price makes this kite affordable but don't expect anything more than some freeride foiling on it in light wind. Overall the kite is not that fun for water.
These types of winds do not bring an adrenaline rush but it's silly stupid in the wind I can get out now. I literally laugh while riding in some of these conditions. Other times while riding I'm wondering WHY THE FUDGE AM I OUT IN THIS?! I COULD WALK FASTER!