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Extending the Life of Your Chicken Loop

Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:36 am
by OliverG
One of the most common forms of equipment failure in kiteboarding is when your chicken loop trim line breaks while you are out kiteboarding. With normal use, the trim line wears out due to friction from sheeting in and out. Some manufacturers cover this line with a plastic tube which eliminates this problem altogether, however most control bars on the market today do not have this protective tube and are subject to breaking without much notice.

When I first started kiteboarding someone told me to dip my trim line in candle wax to extend the life of the line. The wax acts as a lubricant and reduces the wear of the line. Although this works to a degree, itís messy, candle wax doesnít stick very well to the trim line and it wears off easily. Then I discovered bow string wax thanks to my father in-law who is an avid bow hunter. This is stuff is easy to apply and works much better than candle wax. You can buy it at any hunting store (about $3) and it comes in a tube, similar to a large chap stick. All you have to do is apply a little to your trim line, and then using either a leather glove or a piece of chamois, rub the wax hard and fast enough that it gets hot and bonds to the line (donít use your bare hands, youíll get serious rope burn!). All told it takes about 3 minutes to do and it really makes a big difference. If you do it once every 5-6 sessions, youíll never break another chicken loop trim line.

By Alonso Vargas

Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 9:41 am
by Greg
Good Idea. I like your proactive approach to your equipment!!
Unhooking works pretty good too,
L.M.G.

Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 9:38 am
by jjm
Has anyone tried using the bow string wax? If I wasn't able to find any at a local sport/hunting store, what would be a good replacement be?

Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 3:44 pm
by bdawg
don't they sell a similar product at west marine????

Blair

Re: Extending the Life of Your Chicken Loop

Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 6:00 pm
by OliverG
BayAreaKite wrote: All you have to do is apply a little to your trim line, and then using either a leather glove or a piece of chamois, rub the wax hard and fast enough that it gets hot and bonds to the line (donít use your bare hands, youíll get serious rope burn!).

By Alonso Vargas
I've heard it called a lot of things - johnson, willie, etc., but never "trim line"! [-X

Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 7:29 pm
by jjm
So I should be able to walk into West Marine and ask if they have anything to service my johnson, willie, or trim line?

Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 7:47 pm
by OliverG
Exactly.

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 2:03 am
by kitekarl
Wax on, wacks off Daniel san...