218. Kite Repairs

To be frank, this topic is soo big that we can make daily vlogs for a year (at least) and not run out of topics to discuss, so let’s talk about the most common ones.

There are several repair areas in kitesurfing kites:
– bladders
– the canopy
– valves and links
– pressurized canopy (leading edge and struts fabric)
– bridal system
– kite lines
– control bar

And there are three types of repairs:
1) a quick fix as a temporary solution, so you can finish your ride/session/vacation;
2) a professional repair that requires special equipment to get the job done. You’ll have to ship your kite to THEM;
3) replacing parts that can be shipped to you. For quick fixes there are repair kits and separately sold materials. Repair kits usually include some glue and adhesive tape to fix small rips of the canopy; vinyl adhesives to patch bladders; bladder repair supplies; and some tools. You may also add a piece of rope long enough to stretch wing-to-wing to help you pull the bladder back into the sleeve if need be.
The easiest ones to fix are the bladders if they got pierced and started to lose air pressure. Just tie that rope to the tip of the bladder, pull the bladder out through zipped pocket, patch it with adhesive vinyl and pull it back in. You’ll need scissors to cut that vinyl patch to the shape needed. If a valve got detached you can either glue it back with double sided tape or replace it with the new adhesive one if you have it. Little hoses and clamps can be replaced as well, as long as you have new plastic ties. Now the canopy. If the damage is small, only a few inches, then you can probably tape it and carry on with riding, but if the rip is too big and in the area that sustains lots of pressure, than taping will not hold long and pro repair maybe needed. Next are the tough ones: the carcass – parts under pressure, the leading edge and struts. These better be repaired professionally as no tape will hold 10PSI of pressure, even if you tape it from both sides, so, save the tape and save the bladder, because if the tape gives way after you fix the rip, the bladder will bulge out and most likely pop. Some parts of the bridal system do not sustain high load and can be replaced with hand made parts, but often this is not the case and you would need replacement components to be mailed in. Kite lines are the easiest to replace. It is a good idea to carry a set of 4 lines with you, especially when you travel to remote locations. If one of the lines snaps replace all 4 or at least 2 for symmetry, as they tend to stretch a bit over time when used. And pay attention to the length of the set when buying, as they vary from 16 to 30 meters. Just make sure that all 4 lines have identical length. And when something breaks on your control bar then use your best judgment to decide what to do, just remember that inner lines carry most of the pull and outer lines get much less load when you ride. And one more thing to remember: you kite will likely be out of balance after you fix it, so, you’ll have to compensate for that when steering it.