Beuna Vista Catalyst refurbishment

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[damp_weather]

Hi,

I have been trying to refurbish an old Buena Vista Catalyst, one with BUENA VISTA KITE CO. '97 "CATALYST"TM SF.CA.USA written on the sail along the leading edge near the left wing tip.

The kite was bought nearly 3 years ago as an ex-demo sales kite. It had seen some action, as it had a "professionally repaired" patched tear near its nose. Also thanks to Mike Emery and his review at KiteClique we discovered that the supplied .230inch (5.9mm) single lower spreader was almost certainly not original. So I replaced it with two part G-Force SUL, each spar being its default 82.5cm length. The Avia G-Force ferrule fits the centre-tee hole much better than the 5.9mm tube ever did.

The trouble is, that I am still doubtful that the kite is correct. The sail seems unusually tight, and so expect that perhaps the G-Force spars require shortening. Alternatively, perhaps the standoffs are the wrong length. Currently, on each side, there is a 3mm diameter 23.3cm long and a 2.5mm diameter 25.7cm long standoff. (Lengths measured between sail and surface of lower spreader.) - Which standoff should be nearest the spine? In use, the longer thinner one always bends to take the same space as the shorter one, regardless of which standoff is innermost.

- Anyway, I have flown it most with the longer standoff innermost. But regardless of which way round they are put, the flight characteristics don't seem that brilliant. I know that it is an old design, but the kite has none of the friendliness and basic trickyness that Mike alluded to in his review (albeit of a later) version. Currently its just far more work than any other large 2-line delta in our bag - no fun.

Could someone please let me know how the kite should be set up? - Particularly the lower spreader and standoffs. The bridle looks old, but then as it has relatively little wear perhaps it too was changed. But currently my money is on the lower speaders and standoffs as being the problem.

Many thanks in anticipation,

Peter

[thief]

the local gwtw Buena Vista guy is Rod247 out in hawaii....drop him a note...

[adx1592]

being an X catalyst owner, i remember the sail being pretty tight.
espically in the standoff area....

[damp_weather]

the local gwtw Buena Vista guy is Rod247 out in hawaii....drop him a note...

Thanks thief, I have emailed Rod.

[pfouts]

1.  Gforce SUL, 32.5" is correct for LS
2.  Both stand-offs should be the same diameter - non flexible.  Inner Standoff is 10", Outer Standoff is 9" (total length from sail).
3.  US is 21.5"

[damp_weather]

1.  Gforce SUL, 32.5" is correct for LS
2.  Both stand-offs should be the same diameter - non flexible.  Inner Standoff is 10", Outer Standoff is 9" (total length from sail).
3.  US is 21.5"

Thank you pfouts.

- So my lower spreader and standoff lengths are correct!  (got mm and cm confused for standoff lengths in the original post - now corrected.)   
I think that my 10" standoffs flex partly because the load on them is greater than on the 9" standoffs, and partly because the 10" standoffs are using thinner 2.5mm carbon.

Hmmm, will have to try flying it again. - See if I can pin down the symptoms that suggest it is not set up correctly.

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