Power Kite Forum

De-Power vs. ARC

Powerws - 28-8-2011 at 07:52 PM

When would you choose a de power over an ARC? What is the main difference and what is the speciality of each?

BeamerBob - 28-8-2011 at 08:05 PM

Wow, for starters an Arc is a depower. There is enough posts and threads on arcs here to keep you up all night and then some. Just search for venom, phantom, vortex, scorpion, synergy, and charger here on the forum.

Other types of depower are open cell foils like an HQ Montana, closed cell foils like an HQ Neo or Matrix as well as most flysurfer models. LEI's or leading edge inflatables are also depower.

Powerws - 28-8-2011 at 08:08 PM

Ok, good to know! So ARC's are de power? Why the difference in shape, like horseshoe shaped vs flatter shape? If they are both de power, why go with one over the other? Thaanks

indigo_wolf - 28-8-2011 at 08:09 PM

Gribble :puzzled: :puzzled: I thought all Flysurfers were closed-cell depower foils (basically a flap held closed by internal pressure prevents/retards water from entering if the kite should come down in the water).

ATB,
Sam

BeamerBob - 28-8-2011 at 08:13 PM

I think its the Outlaw that is an open cell foil.

PHREERIDER - 29-8-2011 at 05:41 AM

ARC's, above all, in smoothing out rough wind. tube depower can just fall out of the sky or be quite hard to manage in super gusty wind. arcs are based on closed cell foil design without a bridle. like a c-kite without the bladders and more depower. it is a unique design. FS, HQ foils have a fixed bridle component with Variable AoA for depower.

Arc are considered a soft kite v. tube with more rigid air frame.

very durable, no maintenance, no bladders, no pumping, AND they have a tendency to auto zenith. when all the other toys are broken these will be waiting and your bones will ache before they break!

Drewculous - 29-8-2011 at 05:50 AM

Lol, yeah, what phree said
:lol:

Come to the d'arc side!

My first depower was a 15m phantom (older arc) and it is perfect for the gusty nebraska chop..... It was even better in georgia! Super smooth, tons of power... Awesome kite!

Just gotta get my kite fund back up, and ill be getting a diferent charger (the one I had was abused in a previous life)

Arcs (twinskins) are great kites, Im always impressed at what they can do

Bladerunner - 29-8-2011 at 06:47 AM

For Depower you have Inflatable, bridled foil or twin skin arcs.

Inflatables come in a C shape or or more of a bow shape.

Bridled foils hold their shape by internal pressure + the bridle.

Arcs use internal pressure + straps creating that C shape and allowing auto zenith.

This is an arc biased forum.

I am an archaholic but they DO have issues. No low end + a bother to set up compared to others.

Drewculous - 29-8-2011 at 06:52 AM

Setup PITA levels are minimum if said set up is done correctly... But yeah, low end sucks... Top end is measured by the juevos of the pilot lol

I like my depower foils too, but arcs..... Mmmmmmmm

acampbell - 29-8-2011 at 08:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bladerunner

I am an archaholic but they DO have issues. No low end + a bother to set up compared to others.


Huh. Tell that to my Phanny 18m in 5-6 mph wind.

IMO the set-up and launch, while different from others, is as straightforward as any.

Drewculous - 29-8-2011 at 09:57 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by acampbell

Huh. Tell that to my Phanny



Get pics lmao!

Bladerunner - 29-8-2011 at 04:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by acampbell
Quote:
Originally posted by Bladerunner

I am an archaholic but they DO have issues. No low end + a bother to set up compared to others.


Huh. Tell that to my Phanny 18m in 5-6 mph wind.

IMO the set-up and launch, while different from others, is as straightforward as any.


Compared to my Flysurfer and FB foils the arcs ARE a PITA to set up and IMHO !

A can leave the lines on , lay out my foils, give them a shake and I'm off!

Even if I leave the lines on my arcs I can't trust things and still must walk them out. I am famous for trying to launch underinflated and adding even more trouble to my plate.

Launching cross wind among a bunch of foils layed out downwind also makes me less than popular at times.

Kamikuza - 29-8-2011 at 05:17 PM

No worse than setting up an LEI, BR ... launching you're right though, same with landing on a mixed beach. It can be done.

I had a messy landing with the Silver Arrow the other day; my landing spot I was waiting patiently for, got landed in :mad: so I had to use a smaller spot next to it (clean sand) and had to dump to FDS then tangled my bridles :lol: I pulled one tip through the whole lot cos I was busy fuming at the landing-queue jumper ... some other kiters sitting next to the wife were all like "What kind of kite is that? Never seen that type before ... I wouldn't have one, look at all the trouble he's having." :lol: same guys on light wind LEIs (Blade Fat Lady and Ozone Zephyr) spent 2 hours walking up the beach while I was riding ;)

So yes there are hassles ... but there are also benefits. The whole game is a balance of compromises I reckon.

Bladerunner - 30-8-2011 at 06:43 AM

I have been stuck many times trying to get that last bit of air into an arc without success. When you are pumping at least you know for sure it will eventually be filled ?

Feyd - 2-9-2011 at 08:19 AM

I agree with BR that they are more work to launch than a bridled foil to get up and running but with some mechanical assist I get launched as fast as my Flysurfer riding friends. The more you do it the faster it gets.

Getting comfortable with launching underinflated is a big advantage. It's amazing how little air pressure you can get away with and it cuts time down considerably.

BeamerBob - 2-9-2011 at 08:22 AM

Feyd, do you have something hold a tip down and lift it up enough that it keeps filling with air but doesn't quite launch?