I thrashed my 15m the other day.
Its not my favoured kite but my most used due to my size. I ride older & cheap kites coz I thrash my gear. I have every intention of riding hard and flogging my kite to death.
So inevitably I tore my canopy from LE to TE.
Its probably not worth paying to have repaired as the repair would cost what I payed for it.
I know I can repair the canopy tear, but at the LE the canopy has torn about 10cm of conopy from the LE. Its a straight tear from TE to LE, and then at the LE it turns 90 degrees for 10cm.
I've been told to repair it means unstitching and opening up the LE. This is obviously where the price of repair comes into play.
I'm not sure if I can repair this myself, but I'm willing to give it a go
Has anybody done a repair like this and could give me some advice, hints, YouTube videos, links etc???
Worse comes to worse I will pay to have only the LE repaired and do the rest of the canopy myself. I've got the equipment just not the know-how.
Its an old ****ty kite, so I guess its good to practice and learn on.
Any info or help would be super cool.
Thanks.
I have torn a couple of kites in a similar manner, and think from memory it was about $90 for a nice professional repair from Nautilus Sails
Hey Rags. I've repaired this sort of damage before by hand, but the leading edge tear is going to be the hardest for you, as you'll have to un-stitch around the damage until the point of where it starts and do the whole thing again.
Because of that, I would recommend you send it off to a reputable repairer and have the lot done. It'll be worth it.
I would do it, but I would have to pass on the LE damage to another local, plus postage, just may not be worth it. The canopy tear is easier to repair, and yes it has to be stitched, zig-zag cross stitch like it is everywhere else.
Hi Ragz, if your not worried about looks and are happy to repair the canopy yourself, just do the canopy and tape the small section on the LE. The LE attachment isn't highly loaded and probably won't get any worse unless you trash it again, and then you'll have more problems anyway.
Alright......
The kite is a 2008 REV..... I got it for $100. I ride cheap kites coz I like to hot launch and trash gear!...... That guy at your local spot with the brand new Cab who is too scared to ride hard incase it breaks...... That's just not me!
So..... I can't justify a $100 repair when it costs as much as a kite.
Yesterday I unstitched the bladder. ....... I took a gamble on which section to unstitching. Common sense told me it was the long stitch that runs lengthwise along the LE. (Heat sealed and has a fold in it)
So that's open!
I repaired the canopy area onto the LE. So that looks tough as f#@k now. Having some problems lining up the canopy just perfect though...... Can't I.agine its normally a 1man job.
Small tears are no problems. I'm just fi find it a little tricky to hold the canopy in place with one hand, and put my repair tape on clean with the other. ......
Any tips??
Once the tape is all good I will sew around the edge of all the tape.......
Fi gets crossed.
On the upside, its a cheap kite so its a good chance to play around and learn, right??
Select to expand quoteRagzilla said..
Alright......
The kite is a 2008 REV..... I got it for $100. I ride cheap kites coz I like to hot launch and trash gear!...... That guy at your local spot with the brand new Cab who is too scared to ride hard incase it breaks...... That's just not me!
So..... I can't justify a $100 repair when it costs as much as a kite.
Yesterday I unstitched the bladder. ....... I took a gamble on which section to unstitching. Common sense told me it was the long stitch that runs lengthwise along the LE. (Heat sealed and has a fold in it)
So that's open!
I repaired the canopy area onto the LE. So that looks tough as f#@k now. Having some problems lining up the canopy just perfect though...... Can't I.agine its normally a 1man job.
Small tears are no problems. I'm just fi find it a little tricky to hold the canopy in place with one hand, and put my repair tape on clean with the other. ......
Any tips??
Once the tape is all good I will sew around the edge of all the tape.......
Fi gets crossed.
On the upside, its a cheap kite so its a good chance to play around and learn, right??
Exactly. Well done. You'll be flying in no time. Did you use TearAid strips for the canopy? You have to do both sides.
