Reef Runner

I agreed with everything that Nick talked about until the part about the "very large and hard to handle kites" showed up. When the kites get big enough to really pull, the carabiner will bring them down, as Nick describes, however, you'll end up wearing a groove in the carabiner ... with the assumption that you're also doing some damage to your line. For the larger kites I use one of these two pulleys: The orange one is a climbing pulley sold by Gomberg Kites ($15) and the tin one is a modified pulley from Tractor Supply (~$7). There was a lot of filing involved with modifying the tin one, but it can be disassembled to remove any beach sand grit from the bushing. The pulley goes over the line and the carabiner - with a strap - is snapped through the holes. No drag nor wear on the line. Cheers, Tom Again, you are correct Tom. I really wasn't thinking that they would be going, quite that big. Yeah, I use those "carabiners on a rope", to walk down big deltas, etc. I suppose you are talking about some of the really large, "festival" style kites........... The pulley system would be better for that application, for sure................n

Hey Ralph, Here's what a set of those looks like, all stacked and jacked and ready to go. This is my old set of B's, which happen to reside over in Okinawa (on duty) at the moment............

Not sure if you're talking to me GammoRay, but good points on the tails. I should have mentioned the "balance issue", from tip to tip, but I just assumed, since he was currently flying with twin, wing-tip tails, he knew that. Again, good point! Now, as a matter of fact, I myself, have a SLK with twin tails, that I was planning on putting up next week, at the coast. The reason is exactly what your were talking about. It flies, off balance to the right, and I know it's due to the wing tip tails. One has got to be longer, or it weighs more, or something, so I had planned on having a pair of scissors in my pocket on this next outing, to balance things out......... As for the paragraphs......can't answer that one. I just hit the <enter> key twice, and it's there (?)

Yes, as WA mentioned, you'll get much more action from the flat tails, even multiple flat tails, connected to the same point on the kite. On occasion, I will run four 25+ foot tails, from the center of a delta, or maybe, two from each wing tip. Be creative, plus, the flat tails are easier to fold up and store. That's the thing with tails, on more thing to put up, but definitely worth it, if you are going to put the kite up for an extended period of time, like a day at the beach. I'll just about bet, that 7' Delta would take two 25 footers on each wing tip, with a 50 footer in the center. Again, once airborne, that 25 footer, or that 50 footer, doesn't look so overwhelming any longer. Even a 100 footer doesn't look so long, once the kite is up 300 - 400 feet, and I generally let the whole 500 foot line out, and tie it off to something. If you got steady winds, you'll nearly forget about it, unless a storm comes up. TIP: In case of a storm, of for some other reason, you need to take your kite down, from 300 - 500 feet, QUICKLY, either to make an adjustment, or just for winding up in the evening, it's much easier to do so, with the line on the ground, rather than trying to pull the kite in, as you wind, with the line under tension. I use an inexpensive carabiner, with a 6" to 8" piece of rope looped into the carabiner for a handle, then I hook the carabiner over the kite line, and walk the kite down quickly. Of course, the ground end of the kite line needs to be held by someone, or anchored. If your are winding up for the day, just disconnect the kite when you get to it, and go back to your anchor point and start winding up line. If you were just making an adjustment, once complete, put the kite back into the air, and reverse the process. Start walking back down the line towards the anchor point, using the carabiner, just as when you walked the kite down to the ground. Once the kite is up fifty to a hundred feet or so, assuming you've got good winds, you can just let go of the carabiner, and the kite will go right back up to where it was originally. Don't worry, your carabiner will beat you back to your anchor point............. This is basically how people bring down those very large, and hard to handle, kites, and the carabiner keeps from getting your hands burned by the line. I keep the smaller version carabiners in my flight bag, just for this purpose. They are usually rated at about 150 lb, and cost about $1 - $2. This is what I use, but I put a piece of rope in place of those straps, to hold onto !

Congratulations Kevin.................great kite !

They are in the regular list of smilies..........hit "Show All". But those two are in the first few pages...........just scroll through them.

No problem. Really, you can hang just about any tail you want, on that kite, as long as you got the wind to get it into the air.

I don't know what happened to him. He was dropping off a rent-a-car, several hours ago ?

Hmmm?..........has John been kidnapped ? 五百九十

There is no "cut and dry", length. Put whatever you want on that kite. I've got several 7' Deltas, and I will send them up with anything from 12 to 50 feet. I also attach wind socks & spinners, etc. Heck, I've even sent them up with beer cans, hanging from strings........ Good Luck, but seriously, any tail in the 25 to 50 foot range, should be just fine. I am assuming, that you are talking about a "single line" Delta..........right ?

% ( )

Uhgggh ! That's what I thought 47 mph (maybe)

And I thought it referred to me, when I first read it.............

Gosh, I was about to comment on a similar note. Not that I know how, or had thought about calculating, but I was likewise noticing that during most of the film, it appeared that there were multiple kites, trailing each other. I did realize that it was due to the kite flying faster than the film speed..(?)....I think that's right ! Anyway, very similiar in flight characteristics, to the Prism Micron....

Again, I've never had my hands on one of the Windtronic units (maybe I should), and my comments were based purely, on what I read, as I researched the item, on-line, plus the very few comments left by people that had taken the time to write reviews. I was simply saying, that IMHO, the Kestrel units (and there are a whole series of them), appear to be very well known, and seem to carry a very good reputation, especially from the non-recreational sector, which usually speaks pretty well, for any kind of scientific instrument. The Kestrel units likewise carry the extended warranty, as well as great customer service, and yes, the units are contained within a pretty sturdy housing, along with a slide-on shield, which I would assume serves to help protect the electronic and mechanical workings within, eliminating the need for a dedicated carry case. Many of the Kestrel units, have multiple other functions built-in, in addition to wind speed, although, the wind speed function/impeller, found in the $75 model, Kestrel 1000, is the very same as that found in the $850 model, Kestrel 4400 (which has a whole bunch of other stuff, that I wouldn't even recognize) I'm in no way saying that the Windtronics unit is bad, just quoting second hand information, which I suppose I shouldn't have done. After a bit more research, I may even try one, myself (?). Again, I do like the "wind from any direction" feature. As for the Dwyer tube & ball unit, I agree with Pete. Probably not the most accurate unit you can find, but "low cost". It's just something to get you in the ball park...........

Why is your number so long. Well I guess it can be so long, so long as we dont see it (binary code) now, I'm off to bed

00110101-00111001-00110000

I wind from the kite end to the handles and leave the handles attached. Takes less than 5 minutes to set up or break down 120' lines, including the kite frame. Develop your own routine and when you are satisfied, don't change. Snagging lines on the winder is more than likely due to uneven lines. Watch the line management vid again, and get all your lines within 1/4" of each other, dead-on is even better. Also makes a difference in the way the kite flies. Breathe, smile and keep on flying. 10-4.....................and WATCH the VIDEO - "Line Management".........it's the ticket..........

is all I can say................

Ah, ha ! Posting and drinking..................that explains a lot.............. :big_beer: (that happens a lot, during the holidays, but this is July)

Just worried about you "blowing" a sail, in freezing temps, with 30+ winds, in the dark, with only moonlight........sounds like a rough night ! But if you caught that on video...... Yes, that would be great.............but I'm not going to be out there, under those conditions. Many years ago, may be. But today, NO WAY! I'm an old dude................I like warm and cozy, cool and dry.........

Thanks for the tip. Once I get the kite, I'll probably get back in touch, for a bit of clarification. Not sure on the GF (?) rod. Anyway, after I take a look, in person, I'll be able to discuss better..........

Ok, what did you do "THIS" time. BTDT...........I usually don't do it again !

@Hadge.......... What was the kite? I can't read that language, and I never did get a clear, close up look at the kite ? Was that a Delta Hawk ? I mean I like fast, I like wind, but I'd like to keep my arms attached to my shoulder sockets. I do like it blowing, but I don't like it, quite that furious !