So I started packing up today and found a little tear on my 12m
Now its only fairly small, max ~5cm just wanted to know how i should go about fixing this! Does it call for a professional repair or can I just grab something like the KiteAid on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Kite-Canopy-Sail-repair-kit-KITEAID_W0QQitemZ320440146806QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Sport_Surfing?hash=item4a9bb89b76#ht_1562wt_939
For future reference when should I do something myself (i.e. small pin holes) and when should I take something in to be repaired? and does the position of the tear also dictate the 'expertise' needed?
Hey SMWAM,
It all depends where abouts the tear is. Generally, small tears mid canopy to the trailing edge aren't too bad, but anything in the forward half of the kite should really be repaired by a professional. Products like tear aid and the sticky non stretch stuff we use are great and will certainly get you out of troubl for a few weeks to a season but it is always better to get a repair done properly for peace of mind.
A small tear in the wrong place and a bad crash which loads in the wrong spot can turn a hole the size of a 5cent piece into a two piece kite.
If you are going to do the repair yourself, make sure you do it properly. Ie, use a mild detegent and warm water to wash the effected area on both sides of the kite, then rinse and dry COMPLETELY! Then cut your patch and stick it on making it 1inch bigger radius than the nearest part of the tear and with rounded corners.
As I said, depending on where it is, it will last a long time but it is always better to get sticky back sewn onto the kite to do it properly.
Here's a link to repair advice www.kiteboardingschool.com.au/index.php/beginner-newbie-tips/tip-20-simple-repairs-to-the-canopy.html
Cheers,
KH
Hi Sillyman,
The crew here use a local repair guy called Damien who lives in lauderdale. Most of the local windsurfers use him too and he does an excellent job for a very good price. If in doubt, take the kite to him and he will tell you if it is a backing tape or a stitch job. PM me if you want his number.
In general, pin holes can be fixed by backing tape and some minor tears in the canopy. Where you get tears on a seam, I would always get a professional repair done - especially if you intend to sell the kite.
After being caught out a few times, I now take a bag to the beach with some backing tape, a screwdriver, aquaseal, small bladder patches, board screws, magic tape for valves..and after today... some cable ties! At home I keep some epoxy resin and filler for small board dings.
Good luck with the repair and watch out for those random killer oysters!! I hope your feet survived!
Cheers for the reply's!
6oz spinaker sail tape is the go. get it from a sail maker, or Lisa may have a bit in her handbag, like all good kite chicks! The stuff they make the sail numbers out of.
Kitehards tutorial is on the money, only in Tas don't worry about the heat melting the patches off.
I fixed a 10in tear in my 2 session old 9m with it yesterday, surfboard blew off the kite and handily the nose went through the canopy 
It did a pirouette and lunged at it the bastard!
it's always damn good to find it in your kite bag when this sort of thing happens at the start of a session. No fun watching clean, long right handers and 20knots from the beach!
SMWM,
Check out Kitefix on Youtube - They cut 2 kites in half and join them together with a kitefix kit. Pretty impressive, but wasn't sure. Anyway a mate that I kite with here in East Timor (not a lot of kite shops and repair stations around) ripped his kite from front to rear and decided to use the kit. I was suitably impressed as he has smacked that kite in the water a few times after the repair and it performed just as it shows in the video. If it happens at the beach, you can repair in an hour and be back on the water asap.
I am not advocating this as an alternate to a panel replacement or the use of tape, but it has been a god send whilst over here and would be a must if travelling with your own kite.
<
I got some kitefix tape from kitepower earlier this year. It works heaps well.
It cand do some fairly large rips as well. Looks slightly ugly but you hardly notice it when it's in the air.
There will be a new Australian website for Kitefix very soon. This is a great product and doesnt at all stand out like dogs balls if the job is done right. Quick, easy and youcan travel with it where ever you go.
On our latest trip to PNG, One of the riders got a small rip in his new Fuel, so we used Kitefix to repair it. Took 5 mins to apply and 20 mins to dry / set.
My suggestion would be to ask your local shop if they have it otherwise, ask them to start stocking it.
Repaired just before we rode here....
Wow amazing product - it generates wind also :)
I havent got a pic on hand, but to make the job neat, I suggest using masking tape to line the edges of the strip before gluing. This way you can get a straight line no probs. Dont leave the tape on too long after applying the glue, otherwise it will dry and make it difficult to remove.
there are plenty of tutorials on www.kitefix.com
I need to fix a full canopy blo-out today, ill take some photos of the job.
Joe
