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8.
KITE MAINTENANCE & CARE
NOTES ON CARING FOR YOUR KITE
FOLDING THE KITE:
After landing and securing your kite, detach your lines and wind them up. Leaving lines on the ground can be hazard-
ous.
Note:
The Octopus valves are not designed to hold air overnight or for long periods of time.
• Never store kite wet.
• Let it dry and remove excess sand from the kite before rolling it up. Use a hand broom to help remove sand from your
inflated kite.
Carefully folding the kite is very important to prolong the life of the kite and to prevent twisting the leading edge blad-
der. Before folding your kite, dry it out completely.
TO FOLD THE KITE:
1.
Deflate all of the struts.
2.
Open both valves on the leading edge – deflate valve and inflate valve – to fully deflate air from the main bladder.
3.
Lay the kite flat on the ground and flatten the leading edge.
4.
Start folding the kite at the wingtip towards the center making sure that the leading edge stays flat.
5.
Fold both sides together.
6.
Fold the kite into three sections.
Pulleys & Swivel-
Make sure that all the pulleys/swivel are in good working order before each session. Rinse them with
fresh water after each session to keep them sand and debris free.
Sun-
Ultraviolet radiation is the enemy of all fabrics. Your kite will last a long time in even the most extreme sun, but
care should be given not to subject the kite to unnecessary exposure. For instance; If you have more than one kite
rigged on the beach, put the one you are not using in the shade.
Wind-
Leaving a kite that is not being used sitting in the wind can cause the canopy material to flutter. This fluttering
can wear down the material. If a kite is not being used either pack it up or leave it in the shade out of the wind.
Heat-
Bladder pressure increases when the air inside gets hot. Be careful of kites left on dark surfaces (black sand,
asphalt) as the pressure in the bladders may cause damage to the kite. Don't leave struts fully inflated inside a hot car.
Sand-
Try to keep sand from sitting in the crease between the inflated frame and the canopy. Sand left here will act as
a constant source of abrasion.
Rocks-
Rocks, coral, sticks and other beach debris are potential puncture hazards for any kite.
Bladders-
Keep sand and water out of the internal bladders. If deflating the kite on the water, close valve afterwards.
Storing-
The combination of a kite stored while still wet, and or heat can cause colors to transfer. Only pack your kite
away after it is completely dry. Never store your kite in hot temperatures (over 40C or 104F) for example in a hot car.
Doing so will damage your bladders.
Pump-
Apply even pressure on both sides of the pump handle to decrease the possibility of handle failure.
Self-launch-
Use caution when self-launching in windy conditions as this puts a lot of strain on the leading edge.
Leading edge-
Do not allow the leading edge to bend backwards. Use care when handling on the beach during launch-
ing or landing to keep the leading edge in its proper "C" shape. The kite is not designed to be bent backwards. Straight-
ening or bending the leading edge backwards puts tremendous strain on the fabric.
Shore Break-
Even a small shore break can be brutal on a kite. Not only does the shorebreak carry sand into every
crevice on the kite, but moving water can rip the kite skin.
Miscellaneous-
Impact zones, shore breaks, power lines and trees are even the most durable kite's worst nightmare.
Use only properly designed and manufactured parts from a reputable supplier (helmets, harnesses, etc).
Line checks-
Check all of your lines, including bridle lines, before and after each use. Check lines for fraying, change in
diameter and color loss. Compress line together and look closely at braid for evidence of wear. Replace any lines that
have any signs of wear. Change out bridle lines every 3 to 6 months based upon use and condition.
22
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