I have a 10cm neat tear to the end panel on my kite. I have taped both sides with rip-stop sail tape with plenty of overlap and rounded corners. Do I also need to stitch, or should this hold?
Select to expand quoteBurkeyBoy said..
I have a 10cm neat tear to the end panel on my kite. I have taped both sides with rip-stop sail tape with plenty of overlap and rounded corners. Do I also need to stitch, or should this hold?
Mate that's like asking how long is a piece of string.
It's better to sticth a patch if you can, as they holds the fabric tightly together and actually outlasts the patch, as the glue on some patches weakens over time and pow! You have another tear. But don't go stitching it yourself. You need special sewing equipment and needles for kite canopies, as they are not too thick to create further weaknesses in the material for another tear somewhere else. The sewing thread has to be unique too.
From personal sailing experience, unless the tear goes through or very close to a stitched seam, you should be fine - as long as the two patches you make aren't of the same size. If you do that you get a fold line along the edge of the patch which develops a weakness.
10cm =100mm Stitch this every time. It will hold for a while but needs to be super clean before you stick it down.
correct me if wrong but I use an iron on lowest setting with sail tape to melt glue for a much better bond. Then stitch too.
Cheers guys. The patches I've put on are the same size, so maybe I should re-do one side? This is my only kite at present so not keen on sending it away to be sewn. Is it really a problem to sew yourself?
Clean area with metho, use your tape both sides with min 20mm from tear and repair will outlast kite.
Rub sticky back down hard and allow some time to set.
I have repaired leading edge to trailing edge rips this way and they last for years.
Select to expand quoteBurkeyBoy said..
Cheers guys. The patches I've put on are the same size, so maybe I should re-do one side? This is my only kite at present so not keen on sending it away to be sewn. Is it really a problem to sew yourself?
I wouldn't worry about stitching or redoing. That sail tape is a real bitch to hand or machine sew, the glue gums up your needle and ends up scrunching up your work. I've had a double patch with no stitching (about 4cm X 4cm L shape tear) on my 17m for months now and it looks good, even after a few dunks and sand rumbles. If it turns into something serious then take it to a sail maker.
Select to expand quoteBurkeyBoy said..
I have a 10cm neat tear to the end panel on my kite. I have taped both sides with rip-stop sail tape with plenty of overlap and rounded corners. Do I also need to stitch, or should this hold?
Its more about where the cut is located, end panel is low load area, but can get loaded with water when relaunching so make sure you clean it well and get good adhesion.
If the kite is torn closer to the centre and in the upper half (LE being up) of the panel, then it would need sewing or you can fix it with Kitefix, kitefix is a permanent repair that is actually stronger than sewing.
Don't worry about the overlap now that you have done the patch.
Select to expand quotekiteboy dave said..
correct me if wrong but I use an iron on lowest setting with sail tape to melt glue for a much better bond. Then stitch too.
I just give it a going over with the Mrs hair dryer
Select to expand quoteLoftywinds said..
Do my comments mean nothing to you mate!? Geesus
Don't take it personally man. Did read your comments as well as reading the comments of all the others and decided to see how the sail tape goes. After some squally weather the last few days the kite has had a serious work out and been dunked a few times when dropped unhooking and the tape looks as good as new. Thanks to all feedback.
