5th Line

[RazerBoy]

Does a 5th line really help the kite in light winds, or does it make it worse?

Thanks
RB

[mobettah]

Not sure what you mean...

Relaunch? (Yes)
Keeps Flying? (no better or worse than a 4 line kite)

[tautologies]

the 5th line can be used to change the kite's angle of attack. I had a slingshot bar where you could manually adjust the length of the 5th line...that increased the low end. The Naish 5th line has a bungee that does that automatically when it is lighter winds...I think the north 5th line also has a bungee, but don't know for sure...

a.

[Wetstuff]

I'm a big fan of 5th's. I can hot-launch an '08 North Rhino 14 right off the water in light air by pulling in on the 5th and guiding R/L out of the power zone with a rear line. They are really helpful in self-landing.

....to your specific point: the 5th only pulls the leading edge forward - which de-powers the kite, offering no direct benefit in light air. Better you find a grunty kite to start with.

j i m

[JGTR]

I used to tighten the 5th line on my 18M North Vegas 2005 to help me get upwind. By pulling a bit of 5th line in the kite will sit a bit further forward in the window and give you a better angle to go upwind.

Jay

[Experimental player]

As some have said it helps with light wind relaunch and I totally agree!

Little story.

dumbow apprentice- Why does electrical cabling need that extra earth wire?
Electricity almost never runs on the extra wire and it gets in the way and makes a roll of cable more expensive.

Wise 5th line Tradesman - It doesnt get used often but a correctly working earth wire will save many lives when all fails.

[NeverTouchGround]

Looks like a good thread for my question. I don't know if it have been answered before, but I need some advise ...
It's about the use of QR with 5th line. After operating the QR the kite lands on its back and almost every time (after I reconnect the QR and try to relaunch by steering the bar) it rolls and the 5th is "wrapping" around the kite. I did it many times in shallow water trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong but no luck.
The kite manual (vegas 07) describes the procedure just like above.
I really need some advise because nobody around here seems able to help me ...
Thanks in advance.

[richswing]

I have flown a 5th line kite a couple of times so I am no expert but it sounds like you need to keep tension on the 5th line when you try to relaunch and release it as the kite filles and thre is tension on the other lines.

I may be wrong but no harm in trying.

Cheers
Rich

[mobettah]

Looks like a good thread for my question. I don't know if it have been answered before, but I need some advise ...
It's about the use of QR with 5th line. After operating the QR the kite lands on its back and almost every time (after I reconnect the QR and try to relaunch by steering the bar) it rolls and the 5th is "wrapping" around the kite. I did it many times in shallow water trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong but no luck.
The kite manual (vegas 07) describes the procedure just like above.
I really need some advise because nobody around here seems able to help me ...
Thanks in advance.

If the kite is rolling and the fifth wrapping around the kite, it usually means that there is slack in the steering and power lines. You're not swimming or moving towards the kite are you? No need for this with a 5th

Main purpose of the 5th for relaunch is to assist you in getting the kite to start to go on it's back. I say start because you don't want it to go all the way on it's back with the wingtips up. Here is my relaunch using the 5th line assuming the kite is leading edge down.

1. Flip the bar so the steering lines are crossed.
2. Pull enough line in on the 5th so the kite starts to flip so it is half way between vertical and flat on its back.
3. Pull on the bar on one side to make the kite travel to the side of the wind window.
4. As the wingtip of the kite starts to raise up out of the water, let the 5th line out while still having the bar pulled in on one side.
5. Fly the kite off the water.

You have to play with 2, 3 and 4 if it is low wind.

[naishkiter10882]

5 line kites are:
-more stable
-have easier relaunch
-fall out of the sky more often (C-Shaped)

i think 4 lines tend to have better low end