I bought a new 2021 MOTO from Cabrinha in 2022. A few months ago, the kite tore in the air; there were no micro holes or any noticeable details- it just ripped while flying. Since it was new, it had a tendency to flag on the left trailing edge. After it tore, I sent it to a professional who stitched it up. Additionally, the kite was pulling to one side. Now, it has torn horizontally on the trailing edge. Is this a construction flaw specific to mine, or is the nano ripstop material just not good?
What's the overall condition of the kite ? How many days has it been used approximately, 20, 50, 100, 150, more?
It would help if you provided more info and pictures.
It's possible that your kite had a small defect such as a slightly twisted leading edge or a slightly twisted bladder when you first got it. This would explain why it would flap a bit on one side, which possibly accelerated the wear of your canopy on that side. Especially if your tear is on the same side, that would make sense. Twisted / asymmetrical LE's can be difficult to spot, but I have seen this issue before on other brand new kites from other brands. An easy thing to do is to inflate your kite firmly and put it down on a super flat concrete slab (with zero wind). See if there is any asymmetry between each side. You can also use chalk and draw lines on the concrete with a measuring tape to check for symmetry. Also check if any gaps between the leading edge and the ground as explained in this forum thread: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Newbies-Tips-Tricks/Stretched-kite-pulling-to-one-side?page=1
Canopy tears close to the trailing edge are very common as this is where the canopy gets weaker first. This is especially true if, like most kiters, you often leave your kite flapping on the beach in the sun and wind. Even if you do that for a total of 30 min every day you kite, it would half the lifespan of the canopy vs packing down the kite as soon as you land it, but also launching it soon after you finished your setup.
Back in 2011, I bought a second hand Cabrinha kite that was only 1 year old (2010) model. I didn't know how to inspect a kite at the time, but the previous owner used the kite so much and probably left it flapping on the beach every day, that the canopy was finished. The first day I crashed it in the water it tore in half. The repairer said it wasn't worth fixing as the canopy was finished.
If you grab your canopy close to the trailing edge and it feels like thin paper, it's probably very worn.
If you put your canopy between your eyes and direct sunlight and see light poking through lines that are parallel to the trailing edge, it's probably finished, which would explain why it tore so easily.
The best tip you can ever get for longevity is to minimize flapping and exposure to UV as much as possible, which means not leaving your kite inflated on the beach for more than a few minutes each day. It takes a bit of discipline to do this, but it makes a massive difference in the long run.
Either way, your issue has nothing to do with the quality of the canopy material used as these materials are very common and mostly exactly the same across brands i.e. Technoforce Tejin ripstop.
Hope this helps
Christian - KiteBud
In your post you say the kite was brand new....so unless you've logged up a heap of hours sounds like damage may have occured, causing the canopy to tear...unless as Christian Mentions, the bladder is twisted. Either way the retailer you purchased the kite from should be able to help you.
Check youre not over infalting the kite...it should be around 7 to 10 Psi approx
Ive had Cabrinha previously and only ever had and heard how tough there gear is..if there was a bad batch of material you would possibly find evidence online.
