arc or waterfoil?

I cannot decide! I cant afford an inflatable so the only way to go really is a second hand water re-launchable foil - being a student is a pain in the arse sometimes!

Any other kites I've not seen? I'm a 14 stone lump, starting on land, then moving to water sometime soon.

There are quite few inflatable foils out there as well as the PL ones you mention.

A few foil makers such as Advance and Windtools make them as do some of the windsurf manufacturers such as GUN.

Take a trawl through some classifieds sites and see what you can find, then ask back here when you've found a few within your budget.

If you're based in the UK then try http://www.forces-of-nature.co.uk/ads_frames.htm for some classifieds (its my site and I know that I added a Waterfoil to it just the other day).

You may get some more localised help in th forums there too.

None of the other makes of non-inflatables seem to have much a review to be honest - and when Im spending that much I'd rather go with a well known kite.

I havew had a Naish AR 3.5 7m take my eye. Inflatable I know, but still a possible one I spose. Whats the difference (power and control wise) between a foil of 5.7 (i.e. waterfoil) and a 7m inflatable like the naish?

Cheers

The 5.7m waterfoil will have loads more power than the 7m Naish.

Thats the general thought I had - projected areas etc. So why does everyone rate the waterfoil so poorly against the arc - is it purely a stability thing? Since a second hand waterfoil is 120-150 and an arc is 290+ second hand - I wonder what causes the vast price difference - they arent that different in construction.

Just bought a waterfoil 5.7 for the same problem: budget But what A kite

I now fly 4 years with kites, but this is a great kite, ok it is a lot of work to inflate it, and to check the ropes, but hey, working on a kite can be fun

Do you have problems with it collapsing, and how good is it upwind?

I want to start off with a reasonable piece of equipment so that I know its my technique thats the problem, as opposed to a million variables from a naff kite!

Sounds like a waterfoil is for me really. Just one last question to any knowledgeable people - are there different 'generations' of waterfoil, and how do I tell them apart if at all?'

Cheers all who've helped!

James

when the kite is totally inflated it does not collapse, only when you pull him to much over your head

About those genertions? i dont think that there are generations in this kite, maybe peter lynn thinks that is kite can t be made better... anyway thats what i think...