The Problem: I've got about 12 pin holes in my Nomad after being too aggressive with a self-landing - it bounced into some very prickly dune grass stuff thingys. The Question: should I take the plunge and get the whole 4ft-sqaure section replaced to avoid a sudden tearm which is bound to happen without a leeward shore, and not have kite for a weeks while it's getting repaired, or just pray the tape holds up over each hole? Discuss, Beuller ....
Some of my older kites are held together with sail tape and they are still going today one of them has a 200mm rip witch is still held together by tape. You should get away with it if they are just pin holes . Just make your patches as big as a ten cent peice or bigger , rounded patches over patches with corners are better
If they are really just pinholes and not small tears, then the kite will not be weakened, after all there are thousands of pinholes in every kite where its been sewn.
If they are small tears, then patch them with a good quality stickyback tape, this stuff is excellent, its clear and once you put it on a cleaned surface it does not come off.
www.kitepower.com.au/collections/kitesurfing
Thanks. I have taped both sides. I was just thinking how long before I hear 'riiiiiipppppp' when I'm out the back somewhere. I'll throw it in for a proper replacement of the section this week because the forecast is not the best and I'll be on a fishing trip next week anyway.
If you take it anywhere that will take weeks - or even 1 week - to get it back to you then go elsewhere.
If there is any complication over repair time then at Kite Surf SUP we give you a loaner.
(and we dont even make anything on repairs we drop off & pick up from repairers)
We also do repairs absolutely free for up to 3 yrs (unconditional warranty) on any new kites we sell.
If you repair 12 pinholes correctly with sail tape then I'd be surprised if it ever rips
