A friend loaned me a PPC 4.8 blue and gold wing for an hour. Wish he hadn't, way better than what I got. Still would like to try Cahbrina double centre strut style and duotone slick and maybe Ensis.
Better wing on top made board and foil feel more better.
www.facebook.com/groups/2669466389976636/permalink/3026563850933553/
welcome albeit late to the party. Good wings.
Yeah the 4.8 m is a good one. It's the only wing I own, have used it from 12 to 30 knots. Really like the range. I do notice I struggle a bit more when it drops below 12, relative to the 6.4 m slingwing '. used to own. But overall no regrets.
I have the 4.8m PPC and it has gotten better and better as I got more used to it and its handles.
Though I do have a question . . . can anyone tell me what they use the second handle from the front for?
Love the PPCs, But the inflation valves drive me crazy. Sometimes need a pair of pliers to loosen them and if I don't tighten them properly they leak. This is not a sand issue , but has been like this since new. Also not all the valves are problematic but my 4.8 has this issue with both valves. Anyone else have issues?
Hi LouD
i've only got the 4.8m PPC. The valves are a bit hard to undo with cold fingers but ok when they are warm. No need to use pliers when warm or cold though. No leaks either fortunately. I wonder if you could attach the hose pump to help undo it.
Select to expand quoteLouD said..
Love the PPCs, But the inflation valves drive me crazy. Sometimes need a pair of pliers to loosen them and if I don't tighten them properly they leak. This is not a sand issue , but has been like this since new. Also not all the valves are problematic but my 4.8 has this issue with both valves. Anyone else have issues?
The strut valve on my 3.8 is a PITA and was like that from new. They should fix them to be like my leading edge valve which is fine.
I have been on a 4.8 and 2.8 PPC quiver for a couple months now. Very nice wings I really like the drivey direct feel. I can get some really nice speed up. Also the way the strut is curved and hangs down gives it a nice stable low center of gravity and helps it whip around in transitions.
I might be wrong but isn't the PPC wing designed by Damien Girardin who also designed the Ensis, Takuma wing ride and his own company Reedin wings. These wings all look like they share a lot of the same DNA. Also interestingly the new slingwing v3 looks quite similar to these wings. It must be a winning format.
Yeh they are a solid all rounder wing, solid frame for water starts, go upwind wind with power on tap and can handle wind near their top end without back winding. So can generate some great board speed, hence go well upwind.
But they still flag okay on the waves, the 2.8 is a weapon. 3.8 you can throw around. 4.8 - they do start getting a tad heavy for aggressive wave riding turns. But doable. The 5.8 is a light wind monster.
I've rarely had an issue un-tightening the valve although they can get tight if I've over done it. I just use a pump hose then to loosen them.
i have seen in person a legitimate issue with the valve thread on hillys - talk to WA surf or your retailer wherever you are if this happens. Maybe hit them up for a new bladder - I know WA surf has them in stock.
Got a 3.8 to compliment my 5.5 V1 A-wing. Armstrong power link control bar fits perfect between 2&3 handle and make transition easier without looking for the handles. I also have hard time screwing in and loosening the valves. I use the hose to loosen valves.
Select to expand quoteLouD said..
Thanks!!
Didn't think of using the pump hose.! Will give it a go.
Pump hose works well. If I find an old pump hose I will make a tool to take the valve out.
Select to expand quotehilly said..LouD said..
Love the PPCs, But the inflation valves drive me crazy. Sometimes need a pair of pliers to loosen them and if I don't tighten them properly they leak. This is not a sand issue , but has been like this since new. Also not all the valves are problematic but my 4.8 has this issue with both valves. Anyone else have issues?
The strut valve on my 3.8 is a PITA and was like that from new. They should fix them to be like my leading edge valve which is fine.
I have the same on my PPC 3.8 but it is the LE which is hard to undo. The plastic surround on the valve should be much thicker so it is easier to grip.
The PPC does have a lot of upsides (great power for its size, amazing upwind, very stiff), and I'm happy with mine, but it does have a downside I haven't heard discussed before. If you hold it low and vertical like a windsurf sail, it will get squirrelly/nose-divey and you end up having to de-power to save the wing from hitting the water. Hold it higher, and more horizontal like a kite and it's absolutely fine.
No idea why. The PPC wingtips appear to have more down-turn than my other wings - I wonder if that is a factor.
Select to expand quoteDTee said..I have the same on my PPC 3.8 but it is the LE which is hard to undo. The plastic surround on the valve should be much thicker so it is easier to grip.
Yes simple solutionSelect to expand quoteDTee said. If you hold it low and vertical like a windsurf sail, it will get squirrelly/nose-divey and you end up having to de-power to save the wing from hitting the water. Hold it higher, and more horizontal like a kite and it's absolutely fine.
No idea why. The PPC wingtips appear to have more down-turn than my other wings - I wonder if that is a factor.
Never felt this 
On a side note, used my new 2.8 for the first time the other day. Wow super impressed with stability and how fun it was to use. Did not feel small and twitchy at all. Both valves worked easily so it appears, on a sample size of one, to have fixed the valve issue 
After doing a lot of forum research, here and on SUPzone, I bought a 2.8 and 3.8 PPC 7 months ago but didn't like how they reacted when overpowered, Wellington being hellish gusty. I switched to F-one Strikes a month ago and found them much more manageable at the top end and beyond. My problem was that 25-40 is pretty common here so If your 2.8 is too big then where do you go from there? PPC don't make anything smaller and it was pretty unruly at its top end.
I read a lot about how powerful the PPCs were for their size but in terms of layover my PPC 2.8 was almost exactly the same size as the Strike 3.5, and the PPC 3.8 could easily have been a 4.4 in Strike terms.
I'm really pleased with the Strike 5m and 3.5m and am getting a 2.8 for the windy days.
Never felt it pitch nose down like described. Also I've had them out well beyond their specified range (had to on a smaller 34L prone I used to use) and they handle the gusts well enough. Done many hours on them now. Horses for courses I suppose and each person needs to find what clicks with them. Yeh 25-40 knots - that will test even the 2.8 - true.
Sizing like kites is always a little hazy. Which one do you call the correct standardised size?
Took the PPC 3.8 out again today in about 20kts. Was in the surf, riding an Axis BSC. Instability felt a lot less noticeable compared to running flat out, on flat water with the Axis ART999.
But if no one else have ever felt it, then it's s obviously a "me"problem, not a ppc problem. ??
I will look for it Tomoz arvo. You may be right - not saying you aren't. I forgot today, too busy having a ball on two downwinders on the 3.8 then the pocket rocket 2.8.
Regarding the tight valve issue.
Mark at WA surf suggested replacing the the male screw-in part of the valve and kindly sent me some replacements under warrantee. This has fixed the problem beautifully and can't believe how easy they are to screw in and out now. So,no need to replace bladder etc. Simple fix. Very happy.
Select to expand quoteLouD said..
Regarding the tight valve issue.
Mark at WA surf suggested replacing the the male screw-in part of the valve and kindly sent me some replacements under warrantee. This has fixed the problem beautifully and can't believe how easy they are to screw in and out now. So,no need to replace bladder etc. Simple fix. Very happy.
Great news. @ LouD: Do the replacement valves look any different to the originals? I have a 4.8 with tight valves. Thanks.
Bought a 2.8m a while ago, mainly for my kids, but I got to use it last week.
Nice and solid, heaps of power for its size. Really like it.
First up, grabbed the 2nd handle by mistake.. As per max_ob's post above... Is there a purpose for the 2nd front handle?
Is there a purpose for any second handle on any wing.? I'm yet to work that one out. Some use it for more power for starting but I just find it to unbalanced (on every wing I've tried not just ppc).
I use both back handles and the front handle. The front handle needs to be slightly further forward or longer for its upper wind range to not feel horrid though. In contrast, was out on a 5m ocean rodeo glide s series(alula strut only), and the wind was more like good ppc 2.8 weather and very gusty. I could still control the glide fine but the 5m area was getting a little hairy. Long handles are fantastic but the glide also keeps a stable centre of effort. I was far forward on both handles, almost luffing the wing in gusts, able to depower it so much I could drop off foil if not careful. And yet in the lulls, I could move my hands forward a bit and pump it with amazing efficient. In comparison, the ppc wings have a narrower wind sweet spot but when it's there they are incredibly efficient and up wind demons. Handles just need to be longer.
Select to expand quotefluidity said..
I use both back handles and the front handle. The front handle needs to be slightly further forward or longer for its upper wind range to not feel horrid though. In contrast, was out on a 5m ocean rodeo glide s series(alula strut only), and the wind was more like good ppc 2.8 weather and very gusty. I could still control the glide fine but the 5m area was getting a little hairy. Long handles are fantastic but the glide also keeps a stable centre of effort. I was far forward on both handles, almost luffing the wing in gusts, able to depower it so much I could drop off foil if not careful. And yet in the lulls, I could move my hands forward a bit and pump it with amazing efficient. In comparison, the ppc wings have a narrower wind sweet spot but when it's there they are incredibly efficient and up wind demons. Handles just need to be longer.
I have had the 2.8 and 3.8 out in really strong wind and have been pleasantly surprised at their ability to handle the power. Short handles give a more direct feel compared to longer handles.
Select to expand quotePat WA 1965 said..LouD said..
Regarding the tight valve issue.
Mark at WA surf suggested replacing the the male screw-in part of the valve and kindly sent me some replacements under warrantee. This has fixed the problem beautifully and can't believe how easy they are to screw in and out now. So,no need to replace bladder etc. Simple fix. Very happy.
Great news. @ LouD: Do the replacement valves look any different to the originals? I have a 4.8 with tight valves. Thanks.
Apologies for late reply. They look exactly the same.
Had a play using the different handles yesterday in light winds on a 4.8.Up until then, I too was wondering what to do with the 2nd handle as I mainly use the 1st and 3rd ones.
I found that when riding toe side, if you wanted some more power, the 2nd and 4th handle combo worked really well.
