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My bar has blue balls.
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Post new topic   Reply to topic    Northwest Kiteboarding -> Gorge / Portland / Oregon Coast
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splaterwin

Since 17 Nov 2005
165 Posts
Vancouver
Stoked



PostSun Jun 14, 09 9:53 am    My bar has blue balls. Reply with quote

One thing that I liked about my Cross Bow bar that Slingshot and others does not support is bungee bar line keepers. So being the danger-neer that I am (that’s engineer on steroids) I designed a change. It’s worked out so well I thought I’d share.

Cost of change - about $1.00 per bar.

Ease of mod – very easy.

Time to mod – about 10 minutes.

Bar change – completely reversible.

First buy some Bungee Cord tarp and canopy keepers. I think you can get these just about anywhere. Picked up mine at Sportsmans Wherehouse for $4.99. They are long lasting and handle UV very well. Next will let the pics do the talking.


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My kite not pink it's magenta damit!

Last edited by splaterwin on Mon Jun 15, 09 8:49 am; edited 1 time in total

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Hein

Since 08 Mar 2005
1314 Posts

Possessed



PostSun Jun 14, 09 11:58 am     Reply with quote

blue balls = black eye

nice work bench Smile

not sure I'd be melting bungee cord over the back of my ski Shocked

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mikeinhoodriver

Since 23 Apr 2009
432 Posts
down wind somewhere
Obsessed



PostSun Jun 14, 09 12:05 pm     Reply with quote

my buddy Jeff, uses velcro. When not in use, he attaches it to his grab handle on his board.

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ronp

Since 05 Jul 2007
79 Posts
west linn
 



PostSun Jun 14, 09 12:46 pm     Reply with quote

In general, the idea seems pretty handy and convenient on other bars but be careful of those balls. Anything that can catch a line, or in particular hardware on a line, could cause a problem. The situation is when the kite is down and powers up hot, something might get caught. It would be rare but it is possible.

An alternative is to just wrap the lines around once on each side as you finish winding your lines.

Yesterday, my kite wrapped a little on itself so I dropped the bar and expected the fifth line would correct things like it almost always does. However, it went into a death spiral and pulling me by the safety line. I had to release the kite and was confused how it could happen. After I was back on shore with the gear I found that an outside line got caught in the fifth line cleat.

Thanks Bolstads!!! surfing me in to shore, towing my kite near shore, and letting me use the kayak. Your crew is getting more skilled and more famous but still super helpful and ambassadors to the sport.

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blowhard

Since 26 Dec 2005
2027 Posts

Windward



PostSun Jun 14, 09 1:08 pm     Reply with quote

do you know what a half hitch knot is?

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bwd

Since 04 Aug 2007
385 Posts

Obsessed



PostSun Jun 14, 09 1:10 pm     Reply with quote

ha!
I had a 5th line caught in the big cleat one time, similar effect: kite became a propeller, spun about 15 times, 500m sleigh ride. I had to ride it out, so I could self rescue, it was in a river mouth, not too fun. Somebody eventually returned the board. Now I run the 5th line through the tunnel behind the cleat, like it should be! (Or just 4 lines...)

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SalmonSlayer

Since 27 Nov 2005
648 Posts

Addicted

CGKA Member


PostSun Jun 14, 09 3:33 pm     Reply with quote

I just use a half hitch, but I allways find off-the-self solutions interesting. The wheel barrow tire tube/GoJoe is one of my favorite.

It seems as if you could eliminate the blue balls and just use a bungee loop. Does the Blue Ball provide a function other than making is easier to grab and move the bungee?

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Gman

Since 11 Feb 2006
4911 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped



PostSun Jun 14, 09 7:07 pm     Reply with quote

you take them off every session? If not you are screwed - blue balls of death

lets enumerate potential issues:

1. finger slides into bungies as bar slips from hand - broken fingers or torn off
2. you drop kite and the balls catch and tangle in your lines
3. a giant sturgeon thinks its blue power bait
4. you get so mesmerrised by the bouncing balls on your bar you get run over by a barge

Half hitch works pretty good - if you are OCD you can put in two

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Blue

Since 03 Jul 2007
469 Posts
I used to be
Obsessed



PostSun Jun 14, 09 9:20 pm     Reply with quote

blowhard wrote:
do you know what a half hitch knot is?

Simple solutions are always best Thumb's Up Thanks for showing a way Exclamation
And a clove hitch when your lines are still attached to a kite.

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stringy

Since 23 Jun 2006
1734 Posts
vancouver
XTreme Poster



PostMon Jun 15, 09 8:32 am     Reply with quote

here's another quick solution to adding loops to your bar ends. I just looped some shock cord (bungee) through the leader line under the bar floats and then just tie a knot. make the loop long enough to loop over the lines and bar. the lip where the plastic meets the rubber grip on the bar is enough to retain the bungee so it won't fall off. while riding you can loop it over your bar so they aren't in the way.

here's a shot of the bar and how it looks.


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splaterwin

Since 17 Nov 2005
165 Posts
Vancouver
Stoked



PostMon Jun 15, 09 8:57 am     Reply with quote

Knot works, but for me this is simple. Haven't had an issue with line getting caught but something to consider Very Happy
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Gman

Since 11 Feb 2006
4911 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped



PostMon Jun 15, 09 10:47 am     Reply with quote

maybe just girth hitch them on and off the bar at the beginning and end of the session (takes about one second)

Random shit happens - I've got whipped in the eye from my wetsuit zipper line on super windy day Surprised

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Kodiak

Since 01 Aug 2005
1114 Posts

Slidey



PostMon Jun 15, 09 5:17 pm     Reply with quote

Gman, did your parents ever tell you that you were "special" growing up?

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Gman

Since 11 Feb 2006
4911 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped



PostMon Jun 15, 09 8:17 pm     Reply with quote

why do think i wear the headgear
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pkh

Since 27 Feb 2005
6549 Posts
Couve / Hood
Honored Founder



PostMon Jun 15, 09 8:31 pm     Reply with quote

Gman wrote:
why do think i wear the headgear


too late

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Kraemer

Since 24 Apr 2006
1736 Posts
Sky Pilot
Unicorn Captain



PostMon Jun 15, 09 8:39 pm     Reply with quote

yeah but Gman & Hein are spot on. Random shit happens and for christ sakes, who wants blue balls. Although you could probably sell them to those go-joe fanatics.

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jahmbi

Since 28 Jul 2005
622 Posts
MORE HUMAN THAN HUMAN
River Troll



PostMon Jun 15, 09 8:42 pm     Reply with quote

MIKEHAWKMIKEHAWKMIKEHAWKMIKEHAWK.......troll
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