Leading edge/bladder question

Bill C · Since 15 Sep 2005 203 Posts Portland Stoked

I was out kiting yesterday on the north end of Seaside. I was the only fool but I couldn't pass up the wind even though it was mid-40's air temp.

Anyway, about a half-hour into the session, I look up and see the leading edge ruptured about a foot and my bladder is sticking out like a basketball. The bladder did not burst. I plan on getting it repaired, but I am assuming the bladder is OK once I get the leading edge repaired.

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2622 Posts The 503 METAL

Wow, pretty amazing it didn't burst. I would say if the bladder didn't get too stretched your probably OK. I had one squirt out the end of the sleeve and explode. It was so stretched I couldn't repair it.

Having a LE burst in the middle of an outgoing estuary could get ugly!

Shocked

Bill C · Since 15 Sep 2005 203 Posts Portland Stoked

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1780 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

You might be ok on a stretched out bladder. If its mine, I'd probably throw a big patch over the stretched bit if its not too big. Easy and cheap to do, you need some bladder material and contact cement. I hang on to old blown bladders for this reason.

Hit me up for info if interested. Cheers Marc

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

I remember looking up at my kite and thinking "why is there a balloon stuck to my kite?". Two seconds later I realized it was my bladder pushing out of a rip in my kites LE. Two more seconds and I had a popped LE bladder and I was making self-rescue plans.

Twice I have had an LE blow out and twice I was glad I had a standard pump kite and had well inflated struts to ride on a long self-rescue swim.

Unless the cost of a new bladder is too much for your current budget, buy a new one. Stretched bladders are very weak and not worth the risk IMHO.

At minimum, I would follow Danglers advice and add a patch over the weakened section of the bladder.

I had an LE repaired with a similar tear to your kite. The repair worked great. Unfortunately, there were other areas on the LE with detectible damage and the LE blew out in a different spot the next time I pumped my kite hard. You may be chasing good money after bad money. Consider that it may be time to retire the kite before going ahead with repairs.

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1780 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

To fix or not to fix that is the ? Offhand I'd say definetly say worth it. Worst case, $80 leading edge repair, $120 new bladder = $200 Nice GK good to go. Might get by for $80 but I wouldn't want to go in the ocean or chilly columbia w/sketch bladder. I would with a well patched one, but I agree the stretched one is too sketchy.

So $100-$200 for decent used kite as opposed to $350 plus out of classifieds. Even If you preferred a different model or newer kite, fix it and sell it for $300+ as a repaired kite. I always guarantee my repairs even to subsequent buyers. Gives some peace of mind and facilitates sale, as some people are leery of repaired gear. A good repair is actually stronger than it was before it broke.

This advice may be shooting myself in the foot, if people followed it, but always be VERY careful when flipping kites on the beach. Guarantee it was something sharp on the beach that nicked it, then the flying does it in. All it takes is one little cockle shell, or a pop top, or a twig, or a .... well, you get the picture, it's the ground that gets em. Those Chinese girls are too good to miss a stitch.

Bill C · Since 15 Sep 2005 203 Posts Portland Stoked

Thanks for the advise.