My Kite needs a "Nip Tuck"
Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2005 12:25 pm
I bought my 12M Best Nemesis back in early April of 2004 and it's been by far my most used kite. I probably have 80 days on it and I think the canopy is fairly stretched out. All the bladders, seams, stiching are still in great shape, only the canopy looks stretched out.
The kite flies great in good wind, but in light wind it's become very unstable and it's probably one of the first ones to drop when the wind dies. Other things I've noticed is that it's top end is noticibly higher now. Yesterday I was kiting at Treasure Island and the wind was cranking at 25mph+ and I was fairly comfortable. Most poleboarders were on 4.5-4.7 sails. Normally I'm lit on 10M in those winds and way overpowered on a 12M.
Sonny or any other kite repair person, can this problem be fixed? Can you "nip tuck" the kite and tighten the canopy to extend the life of my kite?
Another note, I see where RRD got their idea to put zippers in their kites. By opening up the zippers, the kite has the same properties of a stretched canopy, which gives the kite greater top end.
The kite flies great in good wind, but in light wind it's become very unstable and it's probably one of the first ones to drop when the wind dies. Other things I've noticed is that it's top end is noticibly higher now. Yesterday I was kiting at Treasure Island and the wind was cranking at 25mph+ and I was fairly comfortable. Most poleboarders were on 4.5-4.7 sails. Normally I'm lit on 10M in those winds and way overpowered on a 12M.
Sonny or any other kite repair person, can this problem be fixed? Can you "nip tuck" the kite and tighten the canopy to extend the life of my kite?
Another note, I see where RRD got their idea to put zippers in their kites. By opening up the zippers, the kite has the same properties of a stretched canopy, which gives the kite greater top end.