Small Craft Warning...

[OliverG]

Out at Berkeley yesterday it was pretty windy and gusty.



I was out on a 10 and on a big jump, the 3/8" stainless steel shank of the SS spreader bar broke upon takeoff sending me up to about 30 feet or so unhooked, with nothing to hook back into upon landing, nor any leash as it came undone from the shank that broke.



Way overpowered unhooked with no leash is not a good thing, but I was able to let go of the bar and snatch the leash which had been dangling in front of me, reel in the kite and swim in a half-mile.

I sure didn't think a piece of steel like that could be broken, though. I'll try and get some replacement parts. The leash collar is cracked also.. :(

[dewey]

Ollie I was going to buy one yesterday. jeff couldn't do partial payment with gift visa cards. I guess it hard to ring up on more than one card. Good thing, I'm going to rethink the SS bar.

Glad you made it in okay
Dewey

[BrianK]

Ollie - Might be time to rethink that diet.. :P

Did you see any rust at the break point? Does seem strange to have 3/8 break like that..

[OliverG]

In all fairness, this item has had well over a season of hard use to be sure. In kiteboarding, face it - many things will and do break. I don't think it's any fault of SS, the upward lift forces on the hook has been heavy, sudden and repeated many, many times.

I'd be curious to know what kind of forces we're talking about on hard-edging, loaded-up, rapid-sent kite takeoffs. Probably a lot!

[charlie]

many, many ,many,times.

[kitekarl]

You call that gusty? Damn you people are spoiled!!! I'm moving down there. :mrgreen:

[dewey]

Kitekarl you have no idea how good we have it. It was gusting to 30 today, I didn't want to deal with it so I stayed home.

Talk about spoiled!!! I did get 6 days in a row last week, and everything still hurts!!

Dewey

[david]

You call that gusty? Damn you people are spoiled!!! I'm moving down there. :mrgreen:

the iW berkeley sensor is always more steady than reality, but, we are spoiled, and you should move down here ... fast ... (today makes 99 days for me this year)

[dewey]

the iW berkeley sensor is always more steady than reality, but, we are spoiled, and you should move down here ... fast ... (today makes 99 days for me this year)

What!!! 99 days your a trooper!!

[OliverG]

Ollie - Might be time to rethink that diet.. :P

Did you see any rust at the break point? Does seem strange to have 3/8 break like that..

Brian,

No rust or anything that I noticed. I think I've just subjected it to abuse is all.

I should get some replacement parts soon, and I'll keep using it because it's a great bar. The leash spins and more importantly, it offers another level of safety release, and you have the option of riding in shackled or unshackled, which I've been using more lately. In the interim, I'm using a regular spreader bar, but need to be aware of the control bar safety, not the SS one as that's the primary one I've trained myself to use in case of need.