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Simple Slingy Bar Upgrade

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 5:08 pm
by WindMuch
I really like being able to secure my lines when I wrap up after a session and the lack of bar-end bungees on my Slingshot bars was getting me down. The 2013 Slingy bar has little Velcro "Line fixers" at the "Oh Shit" handles, but I found them cumbersome when it's really windy and/or my fingers are cold.

So I spent about about 5 minutes to cut two 15" pieces of small diameter bungeee, melt the ends and tie them on.

Loosey Goosey Lines:
Slingy_Bar_Before.jpg
Slingy_Bar_Before.jpg (47.09KiB)Viewed 3356 times
Tie a square knot, just under the floats:
Slingy_Bar_Upgrade_1.jpg
Slingy_Bar_Upgrade_1.jpg (44.62KiB)Viewed 3356 times
Tie an overhand in the end:
Slingy_Bar_Upgrade_2.jpg
Slingy_Bar_Upgrade_2.jpg (37.2KiB)Viewed 3356 times
Mucho Bueno:
Slingy_Bar_Upgrade_3.jpg
Slingy_Bar_Upgrade_3.jpg (37.09KiB)Viewed 3356 times

Re: Simple Slingy Bar Upgrade

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 6:07 pm
by windstoked
I want something like that but am a little concerned it might loop the harness hook doing a kite loop and cause a death loop.
Is there a way to keep that from happening?

Re: Simple Slingy Bar Upgrade

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 6:51 pm
by WindMuch
I can't imagine that little bungee cord would hold much force. I think it'd just break if you put much of a load on it.

Re: Simple Slingy Bar Upgrade

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 8:53 pm
by windstoked
Anyone want to volunteer to test if it holds in a death loop?
I always figured safety and liability is why slingshot didn't include that on their bars.
The RRD line straps are partially retracted into the float pads so they can't catch anything, but they retract too far after awhile and you can't get them out.
Maybe you could experiment with an attachment to the line up inside the float with a small strap to pull it out.

Re: Simple Slingy Bar Upgrade

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 11:15 pm
by Col.kiteman
Wraping each end of the bar a few times and securing them with a half hitch always works fine too. The wainman bars have bungies that tuck away, but i never use them. I like to keep them fresh and not all stretched out for when i sell my gear to guys like u that like them so much. Marketing strategy. Selling point. I agree about that comment about not wanting to catch a steering line or your spreader bar some how when ur lit and have little time to react. No need for extra $h#t hanging off ur bar ends

Re: Simple Slingy Bar Upgrade

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 11:34 pm
by WindMuch
Given the center lines on a Slingshot bar are 800lb test (the outside lines are 500lb), I don't imagine those bungies would stand up to more than about 25lbs (if even) of pull before they broke like the rubber bands they are.

Re: Simple Slingy Bar Upgrade

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 8:39 am
by OliverG
Nice fix, I agree its the one thing missing from the SS bars...

Re: Simple Slingy Bar Upgrade

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 8:53 am
by windstoked
How about a straight line with a mini-cleat attached to the bar?

Re: Simple Slingy Bar Upgrade

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 11:24 am
by kitecrazy
why not just use rubber bands like what you get around a bunch of asparagus? Larks head one around the line between the bar end and the float. Problem solved and no death loops.
I would argue that if you are doing kite loops you are a skilled enough kiter to know how not to hold your bar for a death sentence.

Re: Simple Slingy Bar Upgrade

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 12:34 pm
by Bulldog
Ha, he didn't say anything about doing kiteloops ON PURPOSE.

I've seen plenty of extremely unskilled kiters do kite loops by mistake +*!@