DIY leading edge battens?

[Kamikuza]

Looking at the fat TE of my 21, I wonder if a TET would help if just make it overshoot...

[plummet]

I just pack my chrono like I always have packed my foils.

[foilholio]

Plummet you can but it damages the battens. I roll mine quite tight. For travel I roll as small as a vacuum bag could make them.




Kamikuza

Interesting I would have thought they sew the whole thing in, say inside the LE seam. Securing both ends and the middles would probably work. I meant it would be hard to use a machine, yes by hand would be easier in a way.

AHA I have an idea! Push the batten between the stitching on the outside or inside of the LE, then guide it between the two rows of stitching in the seam till it's in the correct place. You could then hand sewn off the ends of the seam to stop it moving or even glue it. Brilliant!

Yes it is like line trimmer line. Maybe you want to straighten it before use so it has some outward spring to hold the LE open.

If you ever do repairs on foils. The quickest method for hard access places is to open the cell seam near the repair on a straight section, basically not the LE and away from ribs and attachments etc, only the 2 skins and the wall. You will be able to easily do the repairs. Closing a straight seam is very very easy. Avoid opening the trailing edge if you can, for kites without cell wall holes like ARCs or Unity you must though.

TET? trailing edge tuck?

If your 21 is becoming porous, I will be posting about recoating 2.0 soon:-) You may want to try adding some more air intakes?

[Bille]

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[jakemoore]

Why not try it with spinnaker tape outside the cell before turning your kite inside out. Would take $10 and 20 minutes to see if it makes a difference. Use the blower on a shop vac to keep the kite inflated while you tape the battens.

I'm going to guess that you will like it.

[Adventure Logs]

Biggest difference I've noticed between the non-battens vs battens kites it it's ability to eat gusts really well.

I've been packing up my Sonics just like all my speeds. I hope it's not damaging it that way since flysurfer hasn't said anything about packing them differently.

=J-