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Re: washing the kite after use make the difference?

Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 2:13 pm
by Toby
Way more important to not have it sit in the beach for too long. That will damage the Kite for sure.

Re: washing the kite after use make the difference?

Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 9:20 pm
by wind chaser
I remember seeing this article on The Kiteboarder a while back - https://www.thekiteboarder.com/2011/08/ ... st-longer/

I don't think it hurts to rinse a kite with fresh water occasionally. For those who don't rinse the kite, how often do you pump up and thoroughly inspect the kite? I know when its windy I'm in a rush (like all the riders i see at the spot) to pump up the kite and get out on the water. I find that I am more thorough and notice wear when I pump up the kite (in a grassy spot) on a non-windy day and rinse.

Re: washing the kite after use make the difference?

Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 10:33 pm
by FLandOBX
wind chaser wrote:
Mon Oct 02, 2017 9:20 pm
I remember seeing this article on The Kiteboarder a while back - https://www.thekiteboarder.com/2011/08/ ... st-longer/

I don't think it hurts to rinse a kite with fresh water occasionally. For those who don't rinse the kite, how often do you pump up and thoroughly inspect the kite? I know when its windy I'm in a rush (like all the riders i see at the spot) to pump up the kite and get out on the water. I find that I am more thorough and notice wear when I pump up the kite (in a grassy spot) on a non-windy day and rinse.
Good point, wind chaser. I am guilty of not inspecting my kites enough. I do inspect my bars and lines fairly frequently, but if I find a problem with my kite, it's usually before, during or after a session, and not during a dedicated inspection. Guilty as charged. :-?

Re: washing the kite after use make the difference?

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 3:06 am
by downunder
toddsphresh wrote:
Mon Oct 02, 2017 5:25 am
NEVER rinse your kite. Rinse your bar thats it. this is after salt water use i know nothing about fresh water riding but ive been riding the same kites since 08 and they all are in great shape minus lots of bladder repairs
You probably ride occasionally :wink:

For me about 100-150 sessions per year (95% same kite). The salt deposits between the bladder and the canopy would be enormous if not cleaned every now and than.

The pullies, if any, and bridles would be eaten by the sand/salt.


So no, you are utterly wrong. Sorry, my experience differs.

Re: washing the kite after use make the difference?

Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2017 3:29 am
by toddsphresh
washing your bridles and pulleys should be cleaned every time you ride silly.we are talking about washing your kite. never store a wet or sandy kite but assuming your kite didnt take a bath in the ocean or get sandy on the beach you never need to wash it. always fold and brush off sand and pack properly and you never need to wash. i ride anytime its windy and its been pretty epic here on south carolina coast with solid 25 knots or greater most days. ive been using the same kites since 2008 and mine look great. how old are your kites..

Re: washing the kite after use make the difference?

Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2017 5:16 am
by downunder
Nope, you're going from one extreme to another, the bridles do not to be washed every time, no one does that. You're kidding yourself if you think that they are after every sesh.

The kite can't survive 150 sessions per year for 9 years. As you said, that's plain silly thinking. The colors fade away, particularly yellowish spectrum, and the fabric stretches. After 300 sessions this is clearly visible. The pulleys are so abraded they need to be replaced, providing you are looping the kite quite often.

Proof of the salt deposits are mostly on tips and can't be brushed away. That salt deposits create a tiny crystals and they (plus sand), eventually abrade the bladder on tips. How would one brush off from inside the LE is unknown to me.

If yours look great that means they do not 'live' in an harsh environment and punished by the kiter. Better question is, what's your riding style? I've got an 2006 XBow which hardly seen any water, looks great, with still crispy fabric.

PS

http://kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2397735&p=991345

So, the valves are off...? :) Happens with the old kites you know.

Re: washing the kite after use make the difference?

Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 5:09 pm
by toddsphresh
By wash I mean clean off sand and debris that is all I do. My flexifoil ion 3s are all in great shape brides are great only thing I battle is the valves that and my bar broke in 2 after ten years of use last session