I have a 09 12m switchblade ids kite brand new only a few weeks old. the seams burst on the leading edge just beneath the pump hole while the kite was in the air doing nothing! the bladder subsequently burst as well. i wanted to see if this has been a problem for any1 else and if their 12 month warranty covered the problem?
Yep- I had the stitching come undone at the front central leading edge on '09 SB4 12m- but fortunately got it sewn up while it was only a few cm long. No probs since. I bought it second hand so didn't consider warranty (and the repair only cost a few dollars).
A mate bought a brand new 09 Switchblade 10m and the LE stitching split a little, twice. The local store sent him around to their sail maker who fixed it immediately for free.
If it happens again he will escalate to a warranty claim but it's been good since the last repair.
In my experience Cabrinha kites are last extremely well and their warranty service is excellent.
@Moustacheo:
Welcome to seabreeze.com.au. I'm guessing that Mr Float was suggesting that this topic may now be invaded by the resident "cabrinha baggers".
Cabrinha have excellent support & customer care. They didn't get to be one of the worlds major brands just by running glossy advertisments.
My suggestion is that whilst you may get some "special" advice & viewpoints here, you're probably best off dealing with the folks who can actually do something about it - which would be the shop you bought it from.
i have a 12 and a 10 .
At my 12 also a small area the stitching got off but it was only a few cm long. No probs since then.
With the 10 i don't had any issues at all!
I have a 09 12m Switchblade that is only 3 weeks old same thing hapend to me on Friday it has been sent off to Cab just waiting to see what they are going to do.
Hopefully they replace it.
Moustacheo, definitely take it back to where you purchased it.
If there are no signs of damage on the kite from impacts, in the area where the damage is, then I am confident Cabrinha will fix the kite.
Yup. Same thing happened to my best mate a little while back. A nice new 2010 12m Switchblade, just launched, up in the air and BANG!! Bladder blew out the leading edge, stitching was popped the whole way along.
Could have understood if it had been hammered into the ground or water. But it just happened for no reason, and he had only had that kite for less than two months.
It was apparently a manufacturing fault, and his kite was replaced.
I love Cabrinha gear, but with that happening, having a kite release itself while kiting, and all the rubber coming off my bar (less than 3months old), and a host of broken donkey dicks, I wonder is it me or is the gear a bit dodgy????
I think you will find that the problem of faulty gear isnt limited to just cabrina, but most of the top brands are having some problems with qality of gear, with all the gear being mass produced it is common to have some faults, as well as the best quality materials arent allways used to try and reduce cost(not sure how much of the saving is actualy pased on to the end user.)
But at the end of the day its how these companies deal with the isues, waranty claims and how quickly they deal with it that counts.
well said Waxy- if it is faulty the good brands will replace it....so take it back to where you bought it- another reason to buy local and not off the net !!!!!!!!!!!
