The last little bit...

melokitegirl · Since 28 Oct 2008 396 Posts Where the wind blows Obsessed

Kite pumps... i have many....a collection. Hoses, parts and bric-o-brac. Here is the deal. Manual works until that last little bit. I hate asking a random guy to help me with that. I've seen these electric pumps. Do they work well? Worth the money? Just want to b a bit more self sufficient. Before you start making cracks about what a wuss I am or some crass remark...I broke both my wrists into chicklets years ago and have arthritis...

I have an air compressor that I use at home. I'm looking for portable.

Dern · Since 11 Jul 2010 545 Posts Vancouver, WA Addicted

Could you use a foot pump to top it off?

Sella · Wed Mar 20, 13 11:45 pm

What about locking your elbows and using your back as leverage for those last 5 pumps to make it "ping" tight?

Mel how big do you rig? With more leverage you should be able to top off at least a 10M with not needing too much pressure I would think? If your chicklets can't pump...how the heck do you ride? Not dogging on ya....just saying functioning wrists and elbows are fairly essential in this habit we call kiting so I'm kind of lost with your inflate dilemma.

You can go electric pump, portable air compressors etc but that's just more bs to haul around in your car plus the "lazy tool" badge it exudes is more taboo than boardshorts over a wetsuit. Brians Windsurfing "50 cent a pump" retirement plan and it's obnoxious Event Site air compressor noise is the epitome of total hack.

The minnow · Since 26 Jan 2009 395 Posts argentina Obsessed

Sure I pimp everything, when you ride 12m-16m-20m pumpin your kite is no fun.
I have counted over 200 strokes on fillin a 20m.
so yes I bought a portable electric pump and got a killer deal 235dls delivered.retail is 299. I got dealer pricing. its the italy made one.
I bought it form some store that sells speed riddin, para glidding, ectra
caNT REMEMBER NAME, BUT ITS THE BIGGEST And works great.
its two stage, and is very fast and accurate.
honestly I found it on E-bay and counter offered.
I say yes get one, even if you only ride 8m, all your friends will want one, or use it.
I believe two beers is a fair price to pump your kite,
Just dont go to the movies, and dinner this month, and its yours.
sell all your pumps accept one , for 20bucks a pop.
the secret agent

Locke · Since 16 May 2012 19 Posts The State of Jefferson

Search 'raft top off pump' and you will find narrow bore long-stoke pumps that can do the job manually. There is no shortage of electric inflators either - and raft gear is usually made to stand up to abuse.

Not cheap tho.

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1489 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Guys love it when a surf chick says "can you finish me up with a few extra hard pumps"?

Nak · Thu Mar 21, 13 8:14 am

Hey Melo!

Electrics work well, are a bit heavy, and wear out annually in my experience. Longer if not used around sand. Expensive to buy, cheap to run.

I've settled on CO2. Expensive to get started. Doesn't wear out. If you use it just for top off, you can get many fills off of one canister. Used as a top off they're pretty reasonable to run. Lighter to carry than electric. If I'm not hiking in I fill the volume with this: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Rechargeable-Air-Pump/9870597. No pressure, but fills the volume which is 2/3 of the air. Then top off with CO2. Doing this you get a bunch of kite fills. Straight CO2 you get about 2.5 10m kite fills per 20 oz CO2 cannister. Straight CO2 will lose about 1 psi per hour or two. Topped off CO2 will hold full PSI for hours. (CO2 will slowly leak right through the bladder membrane.)

You might try pulling the top seal out of your manual pump. That way it only pumps on the downstroke. Far easier on the wrists and back. Lots easier to pump up a kite overall. You may need a pipe wrench to open the top of the pump the first time. The seal can be easily re-installed if you find you don't like single action.

If you decide to go CO2 I can give you more info.

chrissmack · Since 08 Jun 2005 526 Posts portland Addicted

would one of the little hand pumps work (like the guys making balloon animals?

they fit in the kite bag easy enough, and have a tiny bore.

fisherman · Since 06 Aug 2007 113 Posts Stoked

I've had the portable kite pump sitting in my garage for years. I never use it. All you would have to get is a new battery. I think those are available at Batteries+Bulbs stores. Let me know if interested.

Anthony · Since 07 Oct 2008 362 Posts Salem Obsessed **CGKA Member**

Ryobi 18-Volt One Plus Cordless Green Infiltrator. I have not bought it yet, but it gets goods review at Home Depot. It looks like it would take some minor modification at nozzle.
Model # P731
Internet # 203060297
Store SKU # 673596

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 901 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

Pepi · Thu Mar 21, 13 9:49 pm

I'd PM Nak for advice. I've witnessed his pumps and they are tight/fast and he researches the hell out of things to make sure it works and does what he needs it to do.
My 2 cents.

wylieflyote · Fri Mar 22, 13 4:39 am

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1735 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

you sound like a candidate for a foil kite. would fit in perfectly at SPI not sure about the gorge though. check out peter lynn or flysurfer. or even ozone.

but if you don't want to replace your quiver, you might give the sea eagle single action SUP pump a shot. its much taller than a kite pump and takes less effort. Its designed for use with a inflatable SUP, but with a slight modification to the hose, it works great with a kite.
I've never went back to a kite pump after using this one.
http://www.seaeagle.com/accessories/pumps

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 901 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

If you are going to use a traditional hand pump, then go with a smaller diameter and you can pump to a greater psi. Physics formula:

Pressure=Force/Area

Your force is a constant depending on your body weight, thus less circular area of the pump plunger will yield greater psi in your kite bladders. You need to have gotten at least a "C" in pre-algebra to understand this concept.

Wink

Mike D · Since 28 Apr 2011 195 Posts Hood River Stoked

I figured out when pumping up inflatable SUP's that for the last couple PSI you have to do very short pump strokes. If you pull the handle all the way up even all of your body weight won't get that thing back down.

Just a way to make it work with what you got.

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed

Whaaa my back is sore . Ya Arthritis and age .
I'm 55 and pumping sucks when I have to but I still can and do .
I did however buy a 12v pump and many places here and elsewhere I can use the electrons to do my work for me .
It's a pump for inflatable rafts and has a regulator . It cost me $135 I think as it's been about 3-4 years ago I bought it online . Works in the winter as well . It doesn't have it's own battery but my truck has one of those already . I like to use it when I have to pump a big kite .
I thought of making a cart for it and include a battery but thats just too much crap to carry around and as we all know there are those that like it when others buy stuff for them so I just use the truck batt.
When we kite on the frozen lakes we can drive out on the ice . I like that as there is sooo much room and your vehicle is the pumping station / warming shed / coffee shop and kite anchor .
I get cracks made that I'm lazy but those come from the younger dudes that have no back issues ...... yet !
Kite on
JackZ