| ||||||
|
|
Kite KayakingThe "K-Parafoil"by SP Designs - made in the USAFrom time to time we get reviews from customers. This one I had to share. 11/27/2007 - C. Rosamond writes: "Thanks for the Amoka parafoil, Scott. I used it sea kayaking a couple hundred miles of coast in the sea of Cortez....worked great, and left my (non-kite) partner trailing far behind my wake every day. Ahhh...the beauty threading my toes thru the sand while sipping agave based beverages and waiting on the beach every afternoon for him to catch up....." Vitals: *10mph+ winds for towing, one color choice as pictured, two sizes available:
We've expanded on the proven pulling design of a standard parafoil giving you a superior towing parafoil kite. The first improvement is the kite is constructed using strong 1 oz impregnated ripstock. Unlike standard ripstock nylon that soaks water up like a paper towel, Dilon 100 impregnated ripstock tends to repel water. Also the Dilon ripstock has a low porosity thus air rammed in the front vents stays in giving the kite a stiff air frame. Another improvement is the length of kite is about 10% longer than a standard parafoil with a third set of bridal lines on the trailing edge. By adjusting the rear and middle bridal lines you can quickly adjust the AoA (angle of attack) increasing or decreasing the pulling power. Another feature is the back corners of the kite have vent holes that quickly drain any water and help dry the kite when flying in moist sea air. Also the ribs have vent holes that help keep pressure equal in the cells and gives you better cross inflation making launching an easier task. The last upgrade we want to mentioned is that the bridal lines used are of 200# braided dacron which besides being strong is also very tangle resistant. Tthe K-Parafoil does not need a tail even in the worst of gusty wind conditions. Not needing a tail is perhaps the kite's best feature as kite tails tend to get caught and tangled on the kayak during launch. However there are two cases where using a tail is advised. Winds are turbulent near the surface so if you fly low (under 50 feet) then using a tail is a good idea. The other case is in extreme wind conditions (over 35mph+). We sell a cone tail called the P-Cone. *Please note if the wind is 10mph and you are moving 4mph then the apparent wind to the kite is only 6mph. So in general you need 10mph+ winds for going straight downwind and less if using a sea anchor. The K-Parafoil is available in the kayak section
of our online catalog each one hand built
in the Amoka loft. Please note if the
K-Parafoil listed in the online catalog shows quantity of zero then
we are temporarily out of stock. Please check back in a few days.
For international shipping information please see this page.
Below is a close-up of the Dilon 100 ripstock fabric.
Which size, 7.4 or 12.6 is right for you?For most people the K-Parafoil 7.4 is power enough and in stiff winds over 20 mph it pulls so hard that you'll need at least 200 lbs test line. For the causal kite flyer who just wants to have some towing fun this kite and 100 lbs test line is all you need. The K-Parafoil 12.6 is for those young at heart with a big load to pull. This kite will test your equipment!. In very strong winds 500 lbs test line is recommended. It's near twice the size of the smaller model and thus near double the pulling power. In nornal winds of 10 to 15 mph with wind lulls use 200 lbs test line to reduce line weight. Here is an size comparsion image of a 7.4 and 12.6 side by side and here is a picture of a person standing by the 12.6. Tuning your K-ParafoilIf a center keel flaps in the wind then shorten the bridal line on it a bit. That only takes a few seconds to do, don't be lazy! If a back side keel flaps in during flight shorten the line an inch on it and try again. Ideally the kite should fly straight but if it files more often towards one side especially in the extra strong gusts then try shortening both the keel lines on one side just a bit.(shorten the side it is flying towards). In very strong gusty winds at low levels a tail cone will help greatly to stabilize kite. Usually at heights over 75' a tail is not needed with this kite. Adjusting the AoA(angle of attack) using the three bridal lines is
an art. Though the knots on the attach line are three inches or so
apart you likely will want to add some more knots for finer adjustument
once you get a high normal flying position set. The A-Patriot-Sled Kite |
|
Here is what you need: $38.00 Newtech Parafoil 38 (as pictured with tail) comes
with carry bag
Thanks to the offshore fishing guys in Texas for sending this picture of the Newtech 38 doing it's thing.
Inland lake kiting.
|