DIY Neo Strutless?

[jumptheshark]

Ive done both because the kites were put together differently, makes no real difference in the end.

Some kites work way better than others. My current 6m is a two strut down from four and its pretty much flawless. You can't see any down sides when its in the air. The only possible negative with that ( and any kite you take all the struts off) is that they don't sit clam shell on the beach very well, and threaten to lift the LE and fly away if you don't weigh them down.

Have stripped 4 kites now and so far so good. Went overboard on one and might have ruined it. It looks like a perforated page of stamps when backlit. Lesson learned, won't take off EVERYTHING possible in the future, just the easy stuff.

[joekitetime]

Hi there. After reading your posts I thought about converting my 7m Wainman, circa 2011 or so. Test #1 - I flew the kite with all struts deflated on a light to medium powered day. To my disbelief there was no detectable difference in how the kite flew. (couldn't self launch which I may be able to figure out. Self landing was a piece of cake. And have no idea how I'd relaunch the kite in the water if/when I drop it). But, otherwise, test #1 was a success.

Now I'm trying to decide if removing the struts and lightening up the kite will offer more benefits than negatives. I'll think on that today...

[jumptheshark]

I've since foiled with my Wainman Gypsy (6.25m) circa 2013. It works great. The kite itself flies a bit different from the clouds I am used to, but that's not due to strut removal. I had no problem self launching like I did when testing, likely because there was plenty of wind and it just filled the canopy as soon as I began self launching. ( I drag the kite around into position on grass ) The kite relaunched without issue, but it just touched down and the canopy never got wet. Overall it works just great and I regret taking off all the bumpers. It really does look less trustworthy, but whatever, live and learn. I would have never sold that kite on so it was a good candidate. I'm going to fix the slow leak at the inflate valve and use it close to shore until it proves me right and blows up on the first really hard crash. Could be years from now. Overall, I'm pleased with the four kites I've stripped, but at the same time it has shown me just how great Boardriding Maui Clouds really are. They are by far the nicer kite to foil with.

The wainman, has virtually no flapping, its more that it sits so deep in the window and is slow to initiate turns compared to the Clouds.

[windfreak74]

tried to sell my 2008 good condition kite for $200 us with bar. only heard crickets for months!!!!
decided to make it my new DIY butcher project!
spanking good condition 2008 12m, 5 strut, best nemesis, to a spanking good 2020 12m single strut kite.
started out with 3.65 kilos and endeup with a 2.965 kilo.
its no aluula but its free!!lost 695 grams on the tummy tuck!!
kite flys just fine!!! better lowend , kite pulled great at 10 to 13 knots gust at 15, did not shake the bar like my 17m cloud.
at 15 kite flutter in turns with the added benefit of drag drifting when depowered. no hinderburgs
kite turned a dime faster and climbs much better. wind range of test was 8 to 15 knots.
happy i got a new lite wind kite for free!! this week is low enough to try it on water.
pleanty of life yet on this baby!
saul goodman!

[kiteykitekite]

or you could buy a Pansh Genesis, lighter than Aluula for 1/10th the cost.

[windfreak74]

ive considered it but for free its better than spending!!
nevertheles its on the list to try!!

[windfreak74]

im ordering a 4m soon!

[PugetSoundKiter]

I turned an old 2007 12m Crossbow 7 strut kite to a 1 strut kite...

12mXbow1StrutB.jpg (31.87 KiB) Viewed 819 times

Didn't go all the way to strutless because I've used big strutless kites that did not relaunch once the canopy got wet/stuck on the water in light wind. The 17m Cloud kite was terrible at this, I could only ride that kite in low wind but it would never relaunch once dropped and the canopy stuck to the water. You can see from the pictures the wingtips on this kite don't go up very high when it is face down. Happy with the 9m Cloud, smaller canopy, light weight, and riding in stronger winds makes relaunch easy.

Kite needed a little shorter rear lines, more backline pressure. But the kite flies in lighter winds and turns much faster.

[kiteykitekite]

That actually looks good, well done.

[windfreak74]

mine looks exactly the same the only diference is the thinner leading edge! prop to you!!!
Puget can you give me a rough windrange your getting?