Hi,
I've just bought a used wainman hawaii smoke.When I inflated it I found on the surface of the kite 4-5 very small 2-3mm holes.
What do you think?Do you think they'll get bigger?Is it better I fix them?How?
Thanks
Giacomo
Definitely fix them. They are caused by sticks and stones on the beach or by rolling up a kite on a hard surface like a carpark. Your local kite shop can sell you either sticky backed rubbery disks or sail patch you cut to shape and stick on both sides. Whichever way you fix them it must be done. Little holes turn into big holes or rips when you least expect them.
Yup fix em up! Remember if you buy some of that sail tape to cut it in a circle so no flayed edges develop!
wear and tear, happens a lot, cut two repair tape circles, 20 cent piece size or similar, clean area with alcohol swipe (like from a medical kit) on both side , let it dry and cover hole on both sides.
Check where they are?
I have a 2010 cabrinha switchblade, and had two small holes over a one pump valve on the centre stut, but when I checked the area around the other valves, no holes but the canopy was stretched so I patched them as well, Dacron on the inside, and colour matching repair tape on the outside.
Any one know a link or site too buy sail tape from just after some clear stuff for the emergencey time. cant get it around here so got to go to the internet .
any sail repair shops near you will have them, chandlerys might, heck windusrfing / kitesurfing shops should stock it too...
if you only get a small bit you can probs get it free from your local repair place if they have off cuts lying about.
.
^^^ Too true Toddws, I've done some amazing repairs with Kitefix, and I still reckon it works better than sewing for canopy cuts and rips, small holes like described tedlar tape will work well.
if it's just a small hole, ie: less than 2mm or so, i've just put a small blob of kitefix glue in/around the hole without any tape and then it's pretty much invisible.
Ok the repair kit sounds like the stuff . Do a lot of away from home in a remote spot for week to 2 week at a time trips and i think i would be realy pissed off if kite was broke and not abel to kite . This is in the good wind times , they do come back dont they ? just preping for summer i will contact kite power and get it . Thanks guys .
