hey all.
just torn a new kite. still kicking myself over it. Be f***ed if i know how / where / when.
two small tears close to the LE.
some photo's attached.
anybody with much experience in kite repairs please have a look.
not sure whether i should just put a small circle patch on it or get a roll of kite repair tape.
1 hole approx 2cm turning 90 degrees and 2cm tear other direction.
and
About 7cm away there is another spot which has a fair amount of wear. May not even have a hole, but as we know it all starts with slight wear and progresses. I figure a pre-emptive repair on the wear spot can't hurt.
problem is, that both spots are very close to LE.
im worried that a small circle patch just won't hold up, and if it doesn't my LE will completely blow out.
questions-
should i just throw a quick little patch on it ??
or, is it worth just getting kite repair tape and covering both areas??
Do the patches come in different sizes ? ( stupid question? I'm aware )
somebody told me to throw a patch over both spots, and cover with kite repair tape also?
anybody else gone to these lengths ?
I'm just paranoid that a half ass'd job will ultimately lead to my whole LE ripping.
take a look at the pic and let me know what you think.
in my opinion, once the canopy is has a tear ( rather than just a small hole ) i should be using kite repair tape so that it can't rip any further? I'd rather be safe then sorry, as i said, it's a new kite. literally less then 15 hours on the water.
i tried yelling, screaming, and kicking the hole?. but it just wouldn't go away !
( for anybody in Victoria, you can imagine my pain when un-rolling on Sunday, when the wind finally arrived and finding this )
cheers in advance.
any shops in VICTORIA that stock fluro orange or clear tape & patches please message me ASAP, as you all seem to be out of stock.
photo- 1 close up of hole.
photo- 2
left is wear spot
right is hole?.. ( obviously )
black w/ white stitching is LE
black w/ black stitching is strut.
hole is approx size of 20cent coin 
If it was my kite and especially being brand new I’d be taking it to a kite repairer for a professional job - whatever that might be…
I'd take a trip to whitworths marine and get spinnaker repair tape same color too match,cut a round piece.... Square ones lift on the sharp edges eventually. Stick a nice neat patch on it. About $10. Done. That's all is needed! 
Select to expand quoteBrisbud said..
I'd take a trip to whitworths marine and get spinnaker repair tape same color too match,cut a round piece.... Square ones lift on the sharp edges eventually. Stick a nice neat patch on it. About $10. Done. That's all is needed!
^^^^
Exactly this.
I would add
Put patch on underside or one on both sides.
Tear aid type a, cut a circular patch, on the other side of hole put a piece of paper tape , ie masking tape, this will hold the hole in its original pre damaged position, lay on a flat surface and place tear aid type a patch over hole, then take off masking tape,as tearaid is clear you'll struggle to see it, as longevity I've repaired some locals in higher stress areas and it's lasted 3 years and is still going, make sure you clean with a alcohol wipe and thoroughly dry , a hair dryer helps and a small nylon roller, also make sure it's tearaid type a , the are similar products but they don't bond anywhere near as good imo
Agree with two posts above.
Round patches both sides with a bit of kitefix glue (think that's what it's called) and a quick hit with a WARM iron and those patches are there for good.
You might find the wear is from inflation valve or strut clips etc. If so I do the inside patch a bit bigger or else there will soon be wear right next to the first little patch.
Select to expand quoteSammyjay said..
Oh dude, 15 hours old, i'd still be crying. Good luck with the repairs.
Which is why I never buy brand new. new kites are a rip off (pun intended).
That's definitely a warranty job. If they refuse take em to Fair Trading.
But if you must have it repaired, it's no big deal. Plenty of answers above. I would use KiteAid. Great repair kit. Every kiter should have one in their glove box.
called every kite shop , every sail makerSelect to expand quoteharry potter said..Brisbud said..
I'd take a trip to whitworths marine and get spinnaker repair tape same color too match,cut a round piece.... Square ones lift on the sharp edges eventually. Stick a nice neat patch on it. About $10. Done. That's all is needed!
^^^^
Exactly this.
I would add
Put patch on underside or one on both sides.
Called every kite store, sail maker, and chandlery, and nobody had what i was looking for …….. except Whitworths.As i am a very poor bastard, I was trying my very best to avoid a $15 dollar fuel trip for $10 tape. Whats done is done..Thanks all for your help and advice. On a lighter note, my lines were a tangled & knotted mess, after a cracked the ****s when i found the tear ,and didn't bother rolling up my lines properly….. so i paid my 7yo step-son $5 to un-tangle them. Almost 6 hours later and a 10pm bed time …… it was the best $5 ever spent. You got'a get yourself one of these ! !
so everybody is suggesting a small patch on both spots , rather then a 10cm strip covering both.i figured this would be fine for a small pin hole etc , but not for a tear. my previous kite had a hole, but it wasn't torn, so patch was not a problem.
i will take your word for it… but if it doesn't hold, I'm warning you….. IM COMING FOR YOU !!
Select to expand quoteharry potter said...Brisbud said..
I'd take a trip to whitworths marine and get spinnaker repair tape same color too match,cut a round piece.... Square ones lift on the sharp edges eventually. Stick a nice neat patch on it. About $10. Done. That's all is needed!
^^^^
Exactly this.
I would add
Put patch on underside or one on both sides.
A proper stitched repair costs $20-$40
True but it is not necessary........
if done properly spinnaker tape will easily hold up for the life of the kite. I had a huge L shaped rip from leading edge to trailing whilst I was camping in Denham WA with a kite repairer or sailmaker not an option i used the tape. The kite not only lasted the rest of my trip but the rest of the season .........it is in fact still intact in my garage 6 years later.
For anything on the leading edge or bigger than 10-15 cm I would generally use a sailmaker. But smaller tears no so much.
Try tedlar tape , can get it at briskites . Had t 2 rips similar to those n held all season
Man I wouldn't risk it! Id be buying a new kite. But tell the missus you need it in a smaller or larger size ;)
A few options you can take-
-The ripstop tape will work but won't be permanent unless it is sewn on
- Tear Aid will fix those fine, it's expensive stuff though. Don't fix anything over about 7cm with it.
- Tedlar has less stretch and is cheaper, just tends to get a little sand stuck around the edges after a while.
There is another fix that is cheap and easy just takes to long to explain in writing. Give me a call in the shop and I can talk you through it.
Jas
