Author Topic: The 2022 Duotone Unit  (Read 27325 times)

Dwight (DW)

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Re: The 2022 Duotone Unit
« Reply #30 on: February 25, 2022, 04:20:01 PM »
I have the 6M Aluula Ocean Rodeo.  I wonder if Dwight could comment on the comparison of this wing to the 2022 Duotone Unit.  Is it just the handles that make it better?  Do you think the new handles for the OR might make it comparable to Duotone Unit? I am in the market for a smaller wing in the 4.5 M range.  I am guessing Aluula is not really needed in the smaller size?  Thanks!

It’s a little more than just the handles making the Unit better.

The guy who bought my 6m OR cheap, also owns a 5m OR, but likes the Unit better also. He rode my 5.5 Unit. He’s betting on being able to modify his handles later. I was sent a Facebook message from someone in the know, that OR will release the carbon handle in 4 months. 4 months to me, says it’s coming with next years model. So my concern is the handle may not be backwards compatible to the current year. Otherwise, why the delay. It may need rub patches on the strut to deal with the abuse of a carbon handle. My crystal ball talking here.

So as you know, I bought a 3.5m Unit to fill a gap in my OR quiver. The handles were so impressive, I bought a 5.5 to try next. 5.5 being what I could get, and a good test of Dacron versus my 5m and 6m OR Aluula. The 5.5m Unit pumped a little better than the ORs. The handles, combined with stiffness while pumping, of a similar level, made it better. Upwind the Unit was a lot better. Draft stability in the harness matched the Aluula OR. Perfect stability in the harness in all wind speeds. The feeling of power with the Unit was more direct. The OR has a soft or mushy feel to the power delivery. Yeah, counter to what you would think! The balance of the Unit is unique. It lifts upwards all the time and tail is high. This makes every kind of maneuver easier. Touch the handles and you’ll be sold.


Dwight (DW)

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Re: The 2022 Duotone Unit
« Reply #31 on: February 26, 2022, 02:54:23 AM »

Badger

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Re: The 2022 Duotone Unit
« Reply #32 on: February 27, 2022, 08:41:00 AM »
Has anyone tried the 6.5m Unit?  Does the concept work well as a big wing?  How would it compare to a 7m F-One CWC in light wind?

.
« Last Edit: February 27, 2022, 09:02:15 AM by Badger »
Kalama E3 6'1 x 23" 105L
Axis HPS 980 / PNG 1300
Sunova Flow  8'10 X 31"  119L
Me - 6'0" - 165lbs - 66yo

Dwight (DW)

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Re: The 2022 Duotone Unit
« Reply #33 on: March 01, 2022, 05:41:56 PM »

RobM

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Re: The 2022 Duotone Unit
« Reply #34 on: April 30, 2022, 05:26:46 PM »
Hi all, just got the 5.5m and 4.0m 2022 Units to upgrade from my old S25 Naish (5.3 and 3.5). A couple of qustions I'm hoping you can help with.
1. Does anyone have a link to instructions or video on how to pack up/roll/fold the 2022 Unit.
2. No pump or adaptor with the Unit. My Naish pump doesn't fit the Unit valve, can I get an adapter, or do I get another pump, if so what's good pump for Units?
3. No leash with the Unit, what's the consensus on best leash to attach to waist belt?
Thanks, appreciate any help!
« Last Edit: April 30, 2022, 05:36:12 PM by RobM »
Me: 5'10" (178cm), 185lb (84kg)
Wings: Duotone Unit 5.5m,4.0m; Naish S25 5.3m,3.6m
Board: Fanatic 5'0 Sky Wing (75lt); BluePlanet foil sup 6'6" (116lt)
Foils: Axis 1150,1000;370 tail/short fuse; Neil Pryde Glide Surf L-1484cm2;
Mast: Axis 90, 68cm; NP Flight 82cm,NP Glide 60cm

Norfolkfoiler

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Re: The 2022 Duotone Unit
« Reply #35 on: April 30, 2022, 10:25:08 PM »
1. @13minutes https://youtu.be/69Yjzo_s0cY
2. I bought an adaptor for a Naish pump, which just about worked, but ended up buying the Duotone pump, which is of course their aim (Duotone are well know for this)
3. I have tried a few leashes now - the f-one are the best for me. The ozone v2 leashes look like the closest thing that you can actually get hold of, but they are very long. 2 sizes: 3/4 and 5/6, and the 3/4 is much longer than an f-one wrist leash.. I don’t use a belt but my guess is that even the 3/4 is long enough for that. Also has a nice swivel on it..

I have 4,5 Dacron and 6m aluula and am also a big fan of these units.

Norfolkfoiler

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Re: The 2022 Duotone Unit
« Reply #36 on: April 30, 2022, 10:34:00 PM »
Has anyone tried the 6.5m Unit?  Does the concept work well as a big wing?  How would it compare to a 7m F-One CWC in light wind?

.

I have a 6m aluula coming from a 6.5 slick.. the slick was ok, but really felt its size.. really only a super light wind option when all else fails. The 6m aluula feels like a 5.5 and is actually fun. Pumps well and just flies.. Dropping 0.5m has worked really well for me. 93 kg, 88l FG, sab 1110 typically using this wing.. and this works really well.

MikeLima

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Re: The 2022 Duotone Unit
« Reply #37 on: May 01, 2022, 02:53:34 AM »
Hi all, just got the 5.5m and 4.0m 2022 Units to upgrade from my old S25 Naish (5.3 and 3.5). A couple of qustions I'm hoping you can help with.
1. Does anyone have a link to instructions or video on how to pack up/roll/fold the 2022 Unit.
2. No pump or adaptor with the Unit. My Naish pump doesn't fit the Unit valve, can I get an adapter, or do I get another pump, if so what's good pump for Units?
3. No leash with the Unit, what's the consensus on best leash to attach to waist belt?
Thanks, appreciate any help!

I use the leashes from my reedin wings. I don’t like those curly leashes they have since it would be uncomfortable to have them in your hand with the handle.

I have a mystic pump that came with an adapter that works fine. I guess I got lucky.

I was out yesterday in 8-11, and got up fine with the 5. Waiting on allula 6, but I wonder if 1/2 size down would have been perfect. But it’s light in maine in summer and the dlab 6 should be a weapon.
77kg rider
Armstrong 39L wing/surf
Armstrong 88 wing/SUP

Kujira foils
NoLimitz masts

Duotone unit 2022 3/4/5;dlab6

Badger

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Re: The 2022 Duotone Unit
« Reply #38 on: May 01, 2022, 03:58:27 AM »
2. No pump or adaptor with the Unit. My Naish pump doesn't fit the Unit valve, can I get an adapter, or do I get another pump, if so what's good pump for Units?

MACkite might have the adapter.  https://www.mackiteboarding.com/duotone-kite-wing-pump-adapter/
Kalama E3 6'1 x 23" 105L
Axis HPS 980 / PNG 1300
Sunova Flow  8'10 X 31"  119L
Me - 6'0" - 165lbs - 66yo

Dwight (DW)

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Re: The 2022 Duotone Unit
« Reply #39 on: May 01, 2022, 04:30:51 AM »
The Duotone pump adapter doesn’t fit all pumps. It fits many pumps slightly loose. Making it leak. Then many Duotone pumps being sold don’t read up to the 10 psi required. They stop at something like 8 psi.

I use Ozone and Fone leashes on ours.

This universal adapter works on the pumps that leak with the official Duotone adapter. This will work with the Naish pump. https://kiteboarding.com/proddetail.asp?prod=pks_duotone_pump_adapter

This is the official adapter https://kiteboarding.com/proddetail.asp?prod=duotone_pump_adapter Don’t buy this one unless you own a Duotone pump.

I think the aftermarket PKS adapter works better than the Duotone brand adapter.
« Last Edit: May 01, 2022, 05:01:22 AM by Dwight (DW) »

Dwight (DW)

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Re: The 2022 Duotone Unit
« Reply #40 on: May 01, 2022, 04:58:58 AM »

1. Does anyone have a link to instructions or video on how to pack up/roll/fold the 2022 Unit.

There are many ways kites and wings can be folded correctly. Correctly… being ways that do not cause internal bladder twisting issues.

I open the dump valve and center strut dump valve. Then wait 5 minutes for the wing to fully exhaust air naturally. I roll each wing tip to center strut, each side going to the middle. With everything rolled up to the center strut, I fold the wing at the back edge of the front handle. This is going to set the length required to fit the bag. Slide it into the bag, then the last bit of tail sticking out of the bag can be folded into the bag. Perfect fit.


dns

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Re: The 2022 Duotone Unit
« Reply #41 on: May 03, 2022, 08:12:49 AM »
Welp. The new Unit has a definite design flaw.

My friend was just winging along and the center strut exploded at the front of the rear handle. The fabric tore completely through. :(

Looking at it it's pretty obvious the rigid attachment plate on the handle combined with stitching through the fabric causes a stress point on the weakened fabric.

Wing was nearly new and had never been overinflated.

Wingfoil2001

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Re: The 2022 Duotone Unit
« Reply #42 on: May 17, 2022, 11:19:50 AM »
Found this on Seabreeze, maybe an issue

dns

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Re: The 2022 Duotone Unit
« Reply #43 on: May 20, 2022, 07:31:57 PM »
Yep, that's the one. You can clearly see the failure at the stitch line.

ETA:

Wow. OK, actually that's not my friends wing. I just checked out the SB thread and that's a different person with a nearly identical failure. Definitely a design issue.

My friends wing failed at the front of the rear handle. The SB wing failed at the front of the front handle. Also, the SB wing got hit by a wave. My friend was up and foiling with no surf or anything like that going on.
« Last Edit: May 20, 2022, 07:39:17 PM by dns »

Wingfoil2001

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Re: The 2022 Duotone Unit
« Reply #44 on: May 20, 2022, 09:44:33 PM »
Best Kites had a similar problem with a model years ago. They had poorly designed the construction of the leading edge, a multi layer stiff section was sewn to a single layer. The leading edge exploded along that seam. The whole run of that model was replaced under warranty.

 


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