Winterizing My Dump Valve

[Barry P]

My kites have dump valves made of clear vinyl plastic. Every winter when its cold the stoppers are hard to get in and even harder to get out. Inevitably I rip the top off the stem of at least one before spring gets here.

I've got a solution... a winter stopper. I made a little washer the goes inside the stem, drilled a hole through the top and washer, slipped a length of Q-Power line through and sealed the whole thing up with Aquaseal. Pop it in, leave the stock stopper hanging, wrap the line around and velcro as normal. On deflate, you can pull it out with no threat of damage.

[Mike W]

Good idea, Barry. Thanks for the tip.

[BSMITH]

Nice!

[enderbeanz]

My dump valves have the same problem and I am nursing a tear in one right now that hasn't fully come away. Easy to do in warm weather, but I know it will rip off completely this winter. I'd like to use the same fix you show here. Looking for a bit more detail on how you did it.

1.) Is the valve plug/cap you added the washer and cord do the original valve plug from the kite that tore off? If not where did you get the new one to modify?

2.) How did you make the black washer? Rubber?

3.) Why did you use aqua seal? Because it is soft and compliant? I thought I might try some two part epoxy. I wonder if that will be too rigid?

Thanks.

-Kyle