I have an 4m inflatable (Alibaba) wing with a bad strut bladder. It is well built and lasted through a lot of abuse so I'm not complaining. My attempt to fix the bladder didn't pan out and getting a new seems unlikely so I'm wondering about doing something different with the wing. The wing itself is fine. I have made a lot of kites (NPW's, even a couple closed cell foils, a few single skin foils and some designs of my own) so I can sew pretty well.
One idea I've got is to replace the strut with a long carbon tube (or a paddle) like this guy did when he built a wing from scratch. His idea is a lot like the Duotone. Figuring out an attachment to the wing seems fairly complicated.
https://www.standupzone.com/forum/index ... c=35471.15
Another related idea is just to gin up some bridles and build a rib like used in single skin foils and attach the carbon tube to it.
Finally - a wing with no strut starts look a lot like a no strut kitesurf kite.....
Anyway - I'm looking for idea any suggestions would be appreciated. I'm in the US, and can't seem to find anyone that does custom bladders. If anyone knows where to look let me know.
Ideas or Suggestions for Wing Rebuild
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RTL78901
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Trent hink
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Re: Ideas or Suggestions for Wing Rebuild
Did you try airtimekite.com?
Shouldn't be too hard to find something that will fit.
Bladders are pretty stretchy, and all they do is hold air. The cloth making up the strut holds all the pressure and force.
Shouldn't be too hard to find something that will fit.
Bladders are pretty stretchy, and all they do is hold air. The cloth making up the strut holds all the pressure and force.
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JakeFarley
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Re: Ideas or Suggestions for Wing Rebuild
For custom bladders try Bladder Man at http://www.kitebladder.com/current/. You can either send him the bladder and he will repair it or you may have to take some measurements and send them to him for a new one.
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- RTL78901 (Sat Jun 04, 2022 9:08 pm)
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RTL78901
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Re: Ideas or Suggestions for Wing Rebuild
Thanks @JakeFarley. I've tried email for Bladderman a few times but no answer. I was wondering if he was still in business. I'll try his phone on Monday.
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RTL78901
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- Gear: F one Rocket Air, Fanatic Aero 2000 foil, Naish S26 and slingshot wings, Peak 4 5m, Pansh Genesis 3m, 6m, Flexifoil kite buggy, Peter Lynn Kite Monohull kite boat, many self made traction kites including single skin NPW's, single skin foils, close cell foil kites, and my own designs. Various windsurf sails and Exocet RF81 and ISups.
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Re: Ideas or Suggestions for Wing Rebuild
Good news: I did get in touch with the Bladderman by calling the number listed on his web page. My old bladder is on its way to his shop so he can give me an estimate on making a new one.
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