G'day,

I noticed the other day that my kite behaved differently when my lines were wet.

Here's what happened, I took off and for the first 15 minutes I went upwind easy enough (light winds) and then I stuffed up a forward roll and one steering line got wet and then the kite steered differently. Hmmm, only a 1/4 of the steering line got wet. I then dipped the other side about the same and steering became even but I didn't go upwind the same (and yes the wind stayed the same). I then put the kite down and wet the entire lengths to see what would happen. I didn't go upwind as well. ?????

The lines are about 4 or 6 months old (and I am heavy on them) and I have already had to adjust them for length changes but should we be checking them when they are wet too?. I have checked them when dry, they are all the same length but I have not really lent (pulled hard) on them either, maybe they stretch more when wet and old. ?????

Not sure what to do next so I was after your opinions or maybe your observations.

cheers,

Robbie

I'm guessing from your other post your flying north..there's your problem north lines are puss...I too sail north kites and had a run of dramas with the lines ,Mainly snapping,fraying ect,

12 months ago I changed all my lines to Q powerline pro's and have had absolutly no issues since ,no streach ,better feed back ,more responsive...

I doubt your lines are different lengths when wet than dry and then miraculously become the same length again.

The most likely explanation is that when you crashed, a bridle or front line got snagged somewhere. It only has to snag a little bit for the kite to feel like one line has stretched when it hasn't. It can snag either close to the kite or at the bar. Then when you relaunched it unsnagged, so flew normally again.

I've never noticed any tangable difference with wet lines but theoretically wet lines will be heavier than dry lines and hence the kite may not fly as far forward in the window. This would affect your upwind performance. But I really don't think it would be a noticeable difference.

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IvorWindeas said...


I doubt your lines are different lengths when wet than dry and then miraculously become the same length again.

The most likely explanation is that when you crashed, a bridle or front line got snagged somewhere. It only has to snag a little bit for the kite to feel like one line has stretched when it hasn't. It can snag either close to the kite or at the bar. Then when you relaunched it unsnagged, so flew normally again.

... nah, didn't crash, the kite drifted down as I put my foot back in the strap and wasn't watching the kite.

Maybe I'm not clear enough, and I know they don't miraculously go back to the same length when dry! What I ment is, I think the lines have more elastisity, and they stetch or sponge and therefore as if they change length and therefore the tuning is out! I am fairly sensitve to the feel of the kite and I think I notice when the tuning has changed (or maybe I just had a bad hair day).

cheers,

Robbie

... as lines get older they get a sort of hysterisis, a delay of sorts. By getting wet, I think this hysterisis effects the trim of the kite, whether it be steering or getting power for going upwind!

Agree or disagree, what do you think!

cheers,

Robbie

I used to have thinner, stronger lines and some claimed they feel more direct. Haven't flown them back to back with my other lines to be honest.. lol

Only thing I noticed was they sucked for setting up, because they somehow always wanted to stick to each other. Electrostatic tension or salt maybe?!
Generally, that effect seems to be common as lines get older.
One of those miracles!

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Rattlehead said...

I'm guessing from your other post your flying north..there's your problem north lines are puss...I too sail north kites and had a run of dramas with the lines ,Mainly snapping,fraying ect,

12 months ago I changed all my lines to Q powerline pro's and have had absolutly no issues since ,no streach ,better feed back ,more responsive...

Only problem every time your on the water you have to listen to a constant buzzing noise they make, totally worth the change.

Spacemonky yeah baby woooooo touch down

Surely it must be time for you to get banned again flapper. Sick of your constant dribble.