Power Kite Forum

Is not too stiff OK ?

Bladerunner - 21-7-2013 at 05:51 PM

I bought new spars for my 18m Phantom today. The shop had them in the same diameter as my Synergy's but my Phantom had slightly smaller ones. I chose to go one size smaller to be sure they fit the pocket.

The new set have a slight bit more flex than the Synergy ones but are still very stiff. I used them today and they performed perfect in about 8kt winds. Should I be watching for anything if they have too much flex ??? I never paid attention to how my thinner original Phantom spars flexed ? These may be the same ? Anybody have original Phantom spars that can comment ?


shehatesmyhobbies - 21-7-2013 at 06:02 PM

It should be ok. You may get some slack time due to flex in turning when you get the kite out in a little more wind. I would be careful jumping till you know they are going to be solid. Wait a minute, you only weigh 98 lbs soaking wet, you should be fine. :D

Mostly just watch for flex mostly. You don't want them breaking and going through the spar pockets. That would be my biggest concern.

Bladerunner - 22-7-2013 at 04:24 PM

I guess I am hoping to here from somebody that can confirm for me that the original Phantom rods were a bit more flexible than the standard blue ones with newer kites?

It's true that my light body isn't as hard on gear. I have been flying with a knot in a set of lines for a couple of years now and seem too light to break it?

shehatesmyhobbies - 22-7-2013 at 04:32 PM

The ones that are in my Phantom 18 are the originals, they are pretty stiff. Seem not to flex while in the kite.

Proletariat - 28-7-2013 at 11:33 AM

I used some thin aluminum replacement tent poles in my venom 13 and they are incredibly flexy at length. I haven't noticed any appreciable degradation in performance, but I bet I would on bigger kites. The original phantom spars seem slightly more flexy than my carbon spars, but not much (at 15m).