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rinsing kite with fresh water after kiting in salt water

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JaZone
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rinsing kite with fresh water after kiting in salt water

Postby JaZone » Wed Sep 11, 2013 3:02 am

Is is bad to rinse your kite with tap water after kiting in salt water?
I was told that the chlorine in the tap water will react with the salt and break down the material.

BWD
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Re: rinsing kite with fresh water after kiting in salt water

Postby BWD » Wed Sep 11, 2013 3:13 am

8 years of kiting brackish and salt water without rinsing and no issues.
UV exposure, flapping on the beach, oyster shells, thorns, rocks etc. are more of a problem.
Don't put away your kite wet in summer when it has seaweed, plankton and algae in it, that will cause a smell and possibly stains.
Dry it out and the sea life dies, the salt is a preservative once out of the wet marine environment context.
Don't really need to rinse in fresh water at all imho.

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Re: rinsing kite with fresh water after kiting in salt water

Postby noel » Wed Sep 11, 2013 3:47 am

I agree with BWD. Don't bother with the freshwater rinse. If you do get it wet with fresh water, dry it good. Fresh water will start to mildew in 3 days. Saltwater, I don't think mildews at all. I have put my kite away a little wet with saltwater at times and no problem. I would rinse the bar and let that dry. Salt can corrode a little on the aluminum parts, like clam cleats.

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Re: rinsing kite with fresh water after kiting in salt water

Postby Kite2Heaven » Wed Sep 11, 2013 10:51 am

Jazdude - i wash mine once a month.. If you have a No wind area to dry it in, pump n stand it on its trailing edge. Itll dry perfectly

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Re: rinsing kite with fresh water after kiting in salt water

Postby Westozzy » Wed Sep 11, 2013 12:14 pm

Hey K2H why do you wash it once a month? Any reasoning behind this?

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Re: rinsing kite with fresh water after kiting in salt water

Postby Kite2Heaven » Wed Sep 11, 2013 12:28 pm

To clean the salt crystal marks off and from 'inside' the leading edge where the canopy is sewn and you dont see and looks better when goin over the falls ;)

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Re: rinsing kite with fresh water after kiting in salt water

Postby Kite2Heaven » Wed Sep 11, 2013 12:32 pm

Alternately just leave the struts inflated and stand it in the shower. Nothing worse than pulling out a kite half covered in sand from the last storm roll up on the beach..

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Re: rinsing kite with fresh water after kiting in salt water

Postby Westozzy » Wed Sep 11, 2013 1:24 pm

Yeh my wife would really go the for that last suggestion!

So removing the sand from where the canopy joins the leading edge on the inside do you think this decreases the wear and stops weak points developing then? I understand the look etc but wondering if to feel this increases the longevity off the kite?

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Re: rinsing kite with fresh water after kiting in salt water

Postby Kite2Heaven » Wed Sep 11, 2013 3:48 pm

Ha ha as long as she doesnt catch you in there with it :) Every now and then if you run your finger up under the leading edge or even struts - youll feel the salt crystalization or see sand jamed in there. Makes sense that being fabric the whole kite will flex. The wear factor maybe little but for many people who cannot afford a new kite, that extra bit of care will go a long way for them... as does washing your bar n lines every session.

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Re: rinsing kite with fresh water after kiting in salt water

Postby JGTR » Wed Sep 11, 2013 4:49 pm

Hmmmmmm.....yet to see any proof that washing kites in fresh water is detrimental. I used to wash mine regulary with tap water and it did keep them in noticeably better condition than friends who did not. It removes sand and I have also read that it reduces the effect of salt crystals that can be abrasive and focus the suns rays but I've yet to see proof if this. UK kiter experimented trying to get mildew to grow on kite material in a variety of conditions and failed.

From my experience washing kites regulary with fresh water and occasional cleans with mild detergent keeps the fabric in better condition.

Major kite killer is leaving them flapping in the wind!!! Breaks down the fabric.


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