Date: Mon, 7 Mar 1994 11:57:01 -1000 From: sasaki@das.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki) Message-Id: Organization: Harvard OIT Network Services Subject: SkyShark rods... I finally dug out some charts about SkyShark fames and how the compare to other shafts. Please note that this chart was made by reading off of a graph, so I have probably made small errors. The weight is in grams and is for a 32.5 inch long tube. For the metrically impaired, 28 grams is about an ounce. The deflection is in inches. The smaller the deflection, the stiffer the rod. weight deflection ---------------------------------- SkyShark VIIP 21 .2 Rev4 27 .22 Skyshark VP 13.7 .36 Rev 3 18 .33 SkyShark IIIP 11.4 .45 Rev2 13.2 .45 If you want to compare againast other spar materials, dig out Simo's test results. To me, the results are pretty clear, a IIIP is as stiff as a Rev 2, but lighter. The VP is slightly more flexible than the Rev 3 but over 4 grams lighter. The VIIP is lighter and stiffer than the Rev 4. The IIIP stands up to abuse much better than the Rev2 I don't have current price lists, so can't give exact figures, but the SkySharks are cheaper too. SkyShark also makes an 8 gram rod, but they consider it very specialized. It's pretty fragile, but is stiffer than the Rev 1.5. Disclaimer: Health Sports Technology Group sponsors my team, Storm Front, and Sasaki Kite Fabrications uses SkyShark rods in some of it's kites. -- Marty Sasaki Harvard University Sasaki Kite Fabrications sasaki@noc.harvard.edu Network Services Division 26 Green Street 617-496-4320 10 Ware Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Cambridge, MA 02138-4002 phone/fax: 617-522-8546 = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =