Tear-Aid Type A one side or two sides for canopy repairs?

[SalmonSlayer]

I have been fine with only one side with Tear Aid, but two sides with other repair tape.

Do you apply Tear Aid type A to one side or both sides of a canopy tear?

[JaZone]

I’d say one side is good normally, but that looks
Like a long tear.

For that one , I’d probably think of doing both sides just for insurance.

[cglazier]

Tear Aid is a soft stretchy material for bladder repair. DO NOT use it for canopy repair since it stretches easily and so does not strengthen the rip stop polyester canopy material. There is plenty of self adhesive canopy repair tape available on the market. If you don't have a kiteboard store nearby, go to any marine store and buy spinnaker repair tape which is available in several colors and works fine (spinnakers are made of the same polyester material as kites).

If you are desperate, use Tuck Tape (red contruction tape) which is ugly but sticks well and does not stretch. And never use duct tape which is not strong and the glue makes a mess!

As for one or two sides, any tear more than a few cm long should have tape on two sides. And looking at your picture posted above.. you may want to consider having a professional patch done.


CG
(I have dealt with hundreds of kite repairs)

[GregK]

+1 for what Chris recommended.

[windmaker]

As said above no tear aid for canopy repair just bladder. Use adhesive spinnaker repair tape which is nylon ripstop or even better use double sided tape with an old piece of kite ripstop which is polyester (less stretch than nylon) ripstop which is what your kite is made of.

[SalmonSlayer]

thx for the responses and the experience behind your answers.

I have used Tearaid, BUT oddly I also have ripstop tape. I am glad I am far enough away so none of you can slap me in the side of my head.

I just retaped a couple of repairs.

Paul

[Hugh2]

If you put ripstop tape on both sides offset the edges on the two sides so there is not a single edge that can work and weaken. Even a little hand sewing, while not pretty, will ensure the repair lasts forever if you don't want to pay a professional or have a good sewing machine.

[Matteo V]

If you put ripstop tape on both sides offset the edges on the two sides so there is not a single edge that can work and weaken. Even a little hand sewing, while not pretty, will ensure the repair lasts forever if you don't want to pay a professional or have a good sewing machine.

Sail tape (mine is sourced from Bainbridge) does get old. If the adhesive bleeds through the tape, you must sew it too. I just did a repair with some old tape on both sides but no sewing, and even applied heat to set the adhesive. I used 91% rubbing alcohol and cleaned meticulously. Even then it still failed. It was an old kite at the end of its lifespan, but new tape works much better and I have done single sided repairs that have held up.

I have purchased (fix my kite) tape that never bleeds adhesive through. So stay away from Bainbridge.