RAM air kite bar settings

[RobLewis]

Hello everyone,

After a small bit of advice. I'm making a racing bar and just wanted verify a few things:

1.) Is it like with inflatable kites such that we are looking for full power when sheeted in and all lines are equal lengths?

2.) Is it correct that in general the travel on the bar sheet in and out is greater than on a standard inflatable kite?

Thanks for any clarification on this.

[Matteo V]

1.) Is it like with inflatable kites such that we are looking for full power when sheeted in and all lines are equal lengths?

Depends on the kite design. It's easy enough to just put pigtails on the kite to get them to this standard though. So go same length fully sheeted in, and adjust each kite with pigtails.

2.) Is it correct that in general the travel on the bar sheet in and out is greater than on a standard inflatable kite?

No. This also varies and is specific to each kite design.


That said, designers are trying to standardize more so now than they did in the past. And I would just go for as long a bar throw as you are comfortable with. Then your bar is universal. If the throw is to short. Then there is nothing you can do about it without modifying it. If it's too long, then you just dont push the bar out that far.

And remember, bigger foil kites technically need more throw, though they are used in lighter winds so you may not realize this. Smaller kites need less throw in steady winds, but they are used in higher winds which are more gusty - which leads to the rider actually wanting more throw anyway.