90 replies to this topic

[Kitelife]

My wing rods are marked Ultra Light making them 3-wrap I'm assuming. If I can only afford to get one set of lighter leading edge rods right now, would you recommend 4-wrap or 3-wrap?

Well, if you already have a 3-wrap... And you've been running into lighter winds, I'd recommend 2-wrap.

[ilh]

I think he wants a 3-wrap skinny leading edge if all he has in a SLE leading edge.

[Kitelife]

Ah yes, if you just have an SLE leading edge spar, a 3-wrap (marked Ultra Light) is probably the best choice for your next spars.

[Watty]

I have a 4 wrap set, but hardly use them. They seem a bit like overkill if you know what I mean (unless the wind is quite heavy). Go with the 3 wrap. It handles well in light to medium winds and are quite strong.

[Ray C]

I think he wants a 3-wrap skinny leading edge if all he has in a SLE leading edge.

Actually I decided to do both. Get a 3-wrap skinny LE and a complete 2-wrap frame.

Thanks guys.

[ilh]

Good choice. Those frames will really help you enjoy light winds.

--Lee

[antman]

i cant wait untill i get the race rods he he he

[DWayne]

I looked at all the threads I could find on rods and still have a few of questions.
1) What's the recommended wind range for 4 wrap rods in a full sail?
2) What's the recommended wind range for 2 wrap rods in a vented sail?
3) What's the recommended wind range for Race rods in full sail and vented sail?
4) How much do 4 wrap rods weight?
From what I found posted elsewhere on this site:
3 wrap Ultra Light rods weigh 19 grams
2 wrap Professional Use Only rods weigh 13.5 grams
Race rods weigh 12.5 grams
Is that info correct?

Thanks for any input.
Denny

[RevWizard]

I looked at all the threads I could find on rods and still have a few of questions.
1) What's the recommended wind range for 4 wrap rods in a full sail?
2) What's the recommended wind range for 2 wrap rods in a vented sail?
3) What's the recommended wind range for Race rods in full sail and vented sail?
4) How much do 4 wrap rods weight?
From what I found posted elsewhere on this site:
3 wrap Ultra Light rods weigh 19 grams
2 wrap Professional Use Only rods weigh 13.5 grams
Race rods weigh 12.5 grams
Is that info correct?

Thanks for any input.
Denny

It is presumed your are referring to a REV 1.5 or is it a REV I and referring to constant winds. Gusty winds are exceptionally tough on rods.
1) REV 1.5, I don't know a recommended, but I am fairly sure the sail will be damaged before the rods. > 50 MPH
2) REV 1.5, don't know. I go by feel, meaning when I detect too much bend or too strong of gusts I shift to a tougher rod.
3) no idea, I go by feel.
4) For the REV I, years ago I measure 14, 21 and 28 grams for the 2, 3 and 4 wrap rods. So roughly 6.5 grams more then the 3 wrap for the REV 1.5.
The weights will very from rod to rod and year of manufacture. I would say those values are okay plus or minus 0.5 grams.

[Watty]

As JM says, I go by feel. If the kite seems to be pulling and bending too much, I upgrade.

1) about 5-12mph
2) about 7-12mph
3)full sail: about 0-7 mph
vented sail: about 5-15mph
4) No clue. I don't ever worry about exactly how much the rod weighs, just how it feels when it is flying in the kite.

These wind speeds are my estimates. They are not exact.
If you want exact you should look around on the b-series page on the rev main site.They have wind ranges for the sets that come with the kites.

[DWayne]

I should have mentioned I was referring to Rev 1.5 rods. My bad.

Denny

[Mike]

A note on the race rods.
I checked the the weather service to verify what winds I was flying in today. At http://www.weather.gov you can look at a history of the past 3 days.
The winds today were in the 20's gusting up to 29.
I had loaned my 4 wrap rods to someone, so I flew 3 wrap rods in my vented the whole day. It flexed more than I liked but they held up just fine in a days worth of team flying.
When I took the kite down at the end of the day, I found that I was not flying with 3 wraps, I was flying with race rods in the LE and 3 wraps only in the verticals! In 20+ MPH!
Dang, those are amazing rods.

[MrDenny]

I would hate to see people get over confident with these rods. I have snapped 3. One my fault totally. Ran it into an incoming wave in the ocean. Second doing some ground work and snapped it when the corner hit a bit hard on a turn. (I don't think a 3 wrap would have snapped) The third was simply flying from one side of the window to the another in around 15 mph wind(full sail). A small gust must have hit it but she fluttered to the ground like a wounded bird. They may be strong and I love them, but they are not steel.

[DWayne]

I would hate to see people get over confident with these rods. I have snapped 3. One my fault totally. Ran it into an incoming wave in the ocean. Second doing some ground work and snapped it when the corner hit a bit hard on a turn. (I don't think a 3 wrap would have snapped) The third was simply flying from one side of the window to the another in around 15 mph wind(full sail). A small gust must have hit it but she fluttered to the ground like a wounded bird. They may be strong and I love them, but they are not steel.

I plan on buying a set of 2 wrap and a set of race rods in the near future and would really like to avoid as many "snapping rods" as possible. I'd also like to have this info in one easy to find & use file.

Denny

BTW, you did a nice job with your rod chart.

[jay]

Been re-reading this thread and find no mention of sissy rods or quad sticks that i have seen mentioned elsewhere,
What are these and what are they for.

[Kitelife]

Search "quad sticks", there is a whole thread on the topic.

[jay]

Search "quad sticks", there is a whole thread on the topic.

Maybe I'm doing something wrong but did a search on quad sticks and didnt come up with the answer, is the thread on this forum or another?

[Kitelife]

Here it is...

http://www.revkites....hp?showtopic=23

Had to tweak with the search functions a little when I did it, selected all forums and "most relevant", then found it a few posts down.

[jay]

Thanks there not for me
too much hassle and more bits to loose

[Kitelife]

My sentiments exactly... Mostly, I just don't care for the added inertia of those spars on the back.