Hi all, me and my mate have been on opposite sides of the coin on whether it is worthwhile soaking your bar and lines in warm water for say an hour after your session. My mate doesn’t reckon it prolongs the life of your gear that much more compared to giving the bar a good spray down at the beach.

My theory is letting the bar soak in warm water draws out all the salt and small grain sands that get trapped in all the nooks, moving parts, and lines and you will get longer more reliable use out of your gear.

Also to mention his centre line rope snapped just above his chicken loop from wear and tear about a month ago out in the surf and had to swim in.

Can the democracy of proceeding comments please help settle our disagreement!

I soak in cold water for a couple of minutes. I think it extends its life.

When on a weekend away and no chance to wash the bar properly (just a squirt of water) when I get home, lots of sand comes out the next time I set up. That can't be good.

Salt will dissolve faster in hotter water, so yes warm water will break down the salt crystals in the lines better. The difference this will make over the lifespan of the bar is minimal though.

I think I do more damage when I am setting up the kite for a launch on the beach with my wet bar. It might be sand free when I drop it down for set up but it sure is not by the time I launch. I immediately give it a dunking when I hit water but I can hear and feel the damage as walk to the water.

The parts that are most at risk are the metal parts.... Get them washed down. Happy days.

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bigtone667 said...
I think I do more damage when I am setting up the kite for a launch on the beach with my wet bar. It might be sand free when I drop it down for set up but it sure is not by the time I launch. I immediately give it a dunking when I hit water but I can hear and feel the damage as walk to the water.

Why would your bar be wet before launch and how could this be frequent enough to be a problem?

Oh geesus.. What next? A bar bag, with comfy fluffy inserts to keep your lines all snuggly and safe dear!

My bar and lines live in either:

- Car
- Shed
- Front veranda which is transit between car and shed.

I don't take my bar/lines into the bathroom to have a nice bubble bath after a session. If they're lucky they'll get a rinse in the beach shower, if there is one.

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Loftywinds said..
Oh geesus.. What next? A bar bag, with comfy fluffy inserts to keep your lines all snuggly and safe dear!

Agreed, bit OTT if you ask me.
Just a rinse down with fresh water at the beach should be more than enough.

Hand on heart I've never washed my bar down or soaked it, they are both 2012 ozone bars, dyneema is chemically inert so no worries from uv, still plenty of life in them by the looks of things,

I wasn't happy with the wrinkles in my kite so I ironed it

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Loftywinds said..
Oh geesus.. What next? A bar bag, with comfy fluffy inserts to keep your lines all snuggly and safe dear!


bene313
My bar and lines live in either: - Car - Shed - Front veranda which is transit between car and shed. I don't take my bar/lines into the bathroom to have a nice bubble bath after a session. If they're lucky they'll get a rinse in the beach shower, if there is one.

Common now that's a bit of an embellishment, all that's going on is, esky, tap, drop bar in take it out later.

Could you be bothered?

The bar will outlast the kite every time so unless you are too tight to buy a new bar with your new kite, don't ever worry about it, rinsing it has no benefits.

Never ever rinsed a kite or a bar in the last 9 years and my gear is lasting exactly the same as anyone else.

The only time I had issue is when my garage got flooded by rain and the bar actually got into some fresh water and mould appeared.

Got fixed by going back to its usual diet of salt water only

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Bigwavedave said..
I wasn't happy with the wrinkles in my kite so I ironed it

Lmao!

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mywisdom said..

bigtone667 said...
I think I do more damage when I am setting up the kite for a launch on the beach with my wet bar. It might be sand free when I drop it down for set up but it sure is not by the time I launch. I immediately give it a dunking when I hit water but I can hear and feel the damage as walk to the water.

Why would your bar be wet before launch and how could this be frequent enough to be a problem?

I kite three times a week and usually a couple kite changes etc in a session. I nearly always have a wet bar and lines. My kites are generally dry (although sandy), but wetsuits/bar and lines and always wet.

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bigtone667 said...

mywisdom said..

bigtone667 said...
I think I do more damage when I am setting up the kite for a launch on the beach with my wet bar. It might be sand free when I drop it down for set up but it sure is not by the time I launch. I immediately give it a dunking when I hit water but I can hear and feel the damage as walk to the water.

Why would your bar be wet before launch and how could this be frequent enough to be a problem?

I kite three times a week and usually a couple kite changes etc in a session. I nearly always have a wet bar and lines. My kites are generally dry (although sandy), but wetsuits/bar and lines and always wet.

A couple of kite changes a session? Sorry to hear that. Must be painful kiting wherever u live.

For those who are obsessed with washing and rinsing gear you may also be interested in these

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harry potter said..
For those who are obsessed with washing and rinsing gear you may also be interested in these

Gay ,

, my kite is either in the air or in the bag , if I'm not using it for half an hour or more it gets packed down or put in the shade , or you just tuck it in behind someone else's kite and let theirs cop the wind and sun

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harry potter said...
For those who are obsessed with washing and rinsing gear you may also be interested in these

This is the gayest product on the Internet.

My North centre line swivle was locked up solid, a few hours soaking in hot water and it was good as new. Definately an as required rather than every session thing though.

I have to get myself a kite cover! What a great invention....It might extend the life of my kite by a couple of years that way I can get greater re-sale to a Noob by selling old equipment that has been totally outdated!!!!!! (NOT)