DIY Neo Strutless?

[atomic-chomik]

So back to the "Neo Strutless" subject, how did it work out? Im debating doing so for my well used 2016 10m. For foiling obviously.

[windfreak74]

i followed the advice on the forum.
flew the kite with uninflated struts.
first 3 struts, than 2 struts, than 1 strut. observing the flight in turns seeing the deformation and looping the kite.you got to feel the kite in the wind.
after i decided which to take off, i took bladders out and tried it again to feel the weight effect and the flying.
after that it was the cutting part with scissors.

[jumptheshark]

What was the best for the neo. Strutless or single?

[NYKiter]

I ended up keeping struts on my neos after I got a cheap cloud and realized the way they handled (and strutless Neo handled) wasnt worth the drift benefit.

I know a lot of folks are obsessed with these kites but for me a quick start off the water is important (for many reasons)....strutless kites dont give you that punch of power on take off...so I abandoned them.

Just my preference...plus I didnt pay a lot for the 9m I shredded....

[PugetSoundKiter]

Puget can you give me a rough windrange your getting?

Sure, Cab advertised 10-20knts for the old 12m Xbow assuming a 75kg rider. With 7 struts it might barely fly 10knts… but at 90kg I would not try to ride it on a big SB till 13kts and till 15kts on a large TT, and I’ve ridden it up to 25kts gusts.

With 1 strut it starts to fly in lower wind and control is better. Like a foil kite it’s best to learn to fly it with some backstall technique. I have not flown it as a 1 strut in high winds. The projected area and aspect ratio are the same so lift should be similar. It weighs less so it turns quicker. It is less rigid but in 12kts+ the canopy is tight so it handles fine. The tailing edge is dacron with string stringer sewn in to help keep it tight so it seldom flaps, a little bit of canopy flapping happens near the wingtips sometimes. I’d estimate it’s good on a big SB around 12kts and probably best to stop after 20kts. I don’t have enough hydrofoil experience to give a good answer on that yet.

Some good info in this tread:
viewtopic.php?p=1000877#p1000877