hey guys, i just started kiting a few weeks ago and i was wondering what the deal was with the peter lynn's? im not interested in buying one but whats with them, there like flying sleeping bags. i just wanna know whetther there actually a good kite or just a nice doona to keep you warm at night, because you gotta face it, there really ugly things arnt they. cheers

Second that

You just might be surprised to find they are a fantastic kite and those that have them swear by them.
As you say "Lets face it" you don't see many being sold-on each season like many other kites. They seem hold their value a bit better over time, but they are probably not for the fashion concious kiter that follows the flock and needs to be percieved as cool.
I've heared People say that they're an old mans kite as they are so forgiving which is good on the old Arthritis I suspect.
In my case they are great for going upwind easily and that's from an old bastard who has trouble walking upwind of his own farts but either way they fly and are fun and are in a class of their own both in appearance and flyability I guess.
Each to their own at the end of the day. What's one mans nightmare is another mans dream.

Make sure if your telling doona jokes or that only 'old men" fly them that Aron Jarman and Fiona Grubb are out of earshot and swinging range

I am inordinately cool, thank you very much. I'm thinking about getting one rhinestone glove and some hair gel...I am not, however, as cool as Jarman, the wave riding master of the 'sac tap'.

Having just branched out a little recently and tried out some of the new tube kite offerings...I can say that the things I like most about my PL Vortex is that IT DOESN'T FALL OUT OF THE SKY, especially riding unhooked. (I've only recently got into this unhooked business, but I really think it might catch on, especially amongst the younger set).

On my kite, you can do stuff, f**k it all up (which I ALWAYS do) and then let it go to suicide (in my case, just a homemade leash from the chicken to the hook on my spreader) and the kite just sits there. You have quite some time to get yourself back round the right way and remove all the seaweed out of your lungs and then just pick the kite back up. In short, if you want the kite in the water, then you got to fly it straight in there. For a short demo of this technique, see the wee video below..

I'm pretty biased so I'll stop now and let you chortle at my form.

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Originally posted by puppetonaring

i was being sarcastic, that comp was a joke.

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You're clever!

Had a chance to take out a 16m PL Venom2 the other day for a short spin. I own LEI's, but was very pleasantly surprised. Initial impression was ultra stable and very smooth....like a big comfy Cadillac! The wind picked up all of a sudden, plenty of grunt but depower was also very good. Upwind easy. Didn't jump with it, but the fellow that owns it boosts just fine and lands nice and soft. Foils have some advantages over LEI's and we have a few more people riding PL's at our local spot this year. Wish someone local had a new Flysurfer P3 or Pulse. Would love to try one...

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Originally posted by St Kite

We use Venoms, Vortex, C and Bows in the school and sell them. Most who compare the Peter lynns with others choose the Lynns and most of those are very happy and up-grade to the newer models when they come out. The word is STABLE, PREDICTABLE, SMOOTH, EASY and warm

Nic

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Hi Nic,
Nice to see you are still here!
This winter is a nightmare! No wind, very cold!
Hope to be on the water this Saturday! They promissed us 15 Knots Norterly (Gusterly). Hope to be there.

Cheers

Yes i had a Ap6 valiant ute a few years back .it really sucked in the corners at 100 miles per hour but otherwise a hell car that only cost me 100 bucks .

in all seriousness i think before you compare apples and oranges i'd suggest that you at least try the peach which is what is generally being discussed here (btw the oranges and apples actually weren't that tricky to relaunch with a bit of practice )that said they are not going to be everyones cup of tea and just as i loved my ap6 there were others who hated it.

To give you an idea on relaunch of venom 2's .last week a mate and i were riding in shark alley between magnetic island and townsville .Before we went out I suggested that tho the wind was stronger further offshore it would be wiser to do tricks closer in just in case of any unforseen mishaps .well yours truly had a rush of blood to the head jumping in amad gust and ditching the kite .Fortunately no probs relaunching .Then my friend seeing my example pulls a similar stunt with successful relaunch .Having experienced the success of this I would still suggest sticking to my original advice .
So why is it so ?The venoms and venom 2's have a much thicker profile through the kite and at the tips giving a beachball effect.One of the reasons i and others continue to ride PLK (despite riding some very nice and tempting kites form other manufactureres that I sell/import or do not sell.)For waveriding it is nice to have a kite that is very unlikely to crash and if it does will not be destroyed as the wave goes through it and will usually relaunch in the wave zone .
I will say it again tho .Don't take my word for it, if interested try one .

Cheers

lach

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Originally posted by jan

Just for the 2c....

I have two problems with peter lynn's (and i haven't flown venoms yet).

First, they generally sucked to relaunch. Some are worse than others, its rare to get them back off the water within the first 10-20 secs (and yes this is about how long it takes me to relaunch my 5th line tubes). Saying they never hit the water is not the answer, I drop my kites plenty, its GOING to hit the water.

Secondly, the safety system was all or nothing. You either dump the kite more often than not meaning a swim and untangle or throw to some sort of suicide style and wait for the kite to get to the edge of the window.

If I could find a way around these problems I'd buy another one in a second, I've yet to find a kite with the consistent boost and soft soft landings of later generation arcs.

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Originally posted by gruezi

Woudn't want to use one in a rain storm.

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yep it pizzzled down rain there too .No probs !i was actually surprised considering I was on the biggest kite the 19 in lightish winds .this is why people like Venoms over previous PLK .no stall and heaps of depower .

may I suggest to anyone who hasn't tried something that they don't pass comments and make assumptions .It only makes you look silly.

So what is your choice of kite in a rainstorm? Bow's make nice tents on the beach....
Not generally something I look for in a kite, yeah, they're great and everything, but I'm not sure I'd like to use one in the rain.

Hey Jan,I think what Mr Float's trying to tell you is,don't compare an '06 kite to a '03 kite.Just because I did'nt think much of a '03 lift,doesn't mean the new lifts are going to be the same cut or the same safety system or even fly the same.
The venoms are a great kite.I get the same boost if not better than my pump ups & a bigger wind range.Usually only takes me less than 10secs to relaunch.Safety is not an issue,pull your emergency on most 4 line kites in the surf you're gonna get some sort of a tangle.If you have to abort in deep water you should know how to self rescue anyway.The good thing about the venom is,if you get spanked by a sizeable wave,let go of the bar,cop your hiding,by the time you reach the surface you know the kite is not going to be on the water.They do luff in light winds in a strong current,but usually a few yanks on the front lines & up she comes,they don't fall leading edge first like lei's because the weight is evenly spread.The Venoms turn way faster than the old Guerillas & still have the grunt to kick your arse.Give one a go mate you might be suprised,very comfortable in gusty cond.like having new shockies on ya car,you don't feel every bump in the road

The few blow ups left around here have some kind of problem just about evry time I go out .Smashed in waves and all tangled or worse shredded (goodie another repair).Unrelaunchable out the back for one or another reason,inverts ,blown bladders ,regular crashing that pisses just about every other water user right off (and has nearly got the sport banned )look like rags after a year,too windy ,too light etc etc .That bothers me personally but they have other redeeming features and I can understand why people go with them Nothing in this world is perfect and its all about going with what feels right for you.

Cheers

Lach

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Originally posted by jan

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may I suggest to anyone who hasn't tried something that they don't pass comments and make assumptions .It only makes you look silly.

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As much as those who don't read?

I've a mate with several venoms. Watched him attempting same sort of relaunches I've seen with various g's and p's. Still had problems with tips wrapping, still had to flag the kite. Compare it to a good fifth line system that is literally pull twist and relaunch.... seconds.... its really no comparison. Just to satisfy you I'll grab a Venom at the earliest convenience.

So how about the safety system. How many times have you deployed it and reconnected and relaunched while on the water? This is a show stopper for me.... I gave up ARC's because I felt unsafe in deep water in the case of emergency release.

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You must be kiting in a place that many of us have never seen

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Originally posted by Mr float

The few blow ups left around here have some kind of problem just about evry time I go out .Smashed in waves and all tangled or worse shredded (goodie another repair).Unrelaunchable out the back for one or another reason,inverts ,blown bladders ,regular crashing that pisses just about every other water user right off (and has nearly got the sport banned )look like rags after a year,too windy ,too light etc etc .That bothers me personally but they have other redeeming features and I can understand why people go with them Nothing in this world is perfect and its all about going with what feels right for you.

Cheers

Lach

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Originally posted by jan

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may I suggest to anyone who hasn't tried something that they don't pass comments and make assumptions .It only makes you look silly.

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As much as those who don't read?

I've a mate with several venoms. Watched him attempting same sort of relaunches I've seen with various g's and p's. Still had problems with tips wrapping, still had to flag the kite. Compare it to a good fifth line system that is literally pull twist and relaunch.... seconds.... its really no comparison. Just to satisfy you I'll grab a Venom at the earliest convenience.

So how about the safety system. How many times have you deployed it and reconnected and relaunched while on the water? This is a show stopper for me.... I gave up ARC's because I felt unsafe in deep water in the case of emergency release.

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Fortunately it's a long way from Narrow minded Neck and and Git Gulf.

I reckon cape tryforyourselfmakeupyourownmind is always a good port of call