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I am about to get into kiting finally after about a year of lurking here I decided to purchase an LEI kite as I want to go out in the spring as well, and can only purchase one kite. One thing I have not been able to find out there is a product that can be applied to the Leading edge of a kite to protect it from sharp ice while on the ground. Does anyone have any ideas about this? It seems to me that a majority of the damage done to inflatable in the winter is to the leading edge...or is that wrong?
I have heard possibly duct tape might work to some extent? I assume most materials would affect the performance of the kite as they would add extra weight. But I can't help wonder how beneficial it would be to have say a spray on or applicaple material (that could even be removed later?) that would help reduce abbrasion to a kite...with a possible slight performace hit.
The big advantage is obviously that if leading edge kites could withstand the ice, they might be more viable in winter, and people might not have to have 2 quivers...one for winter and one for summer right?
I'm new to all of this, so take all of this with a massive grain of salt
I'm surprised others haven't posted. I've seen some interesting ideas. Duct tape has to be put on when the kite and tape are warm. It lasts only awhile. There is this stuff called Shoe Goo for rebuilding heels of running shoes. Maybe you could put a few lines of that on the LE. Not sure how you'ld get it off in the spring...would you really need to? I've always wanted to glue a few patches of skins, like they use for backcountry skiing uphill, onto the LE. It would protect it and provide good friction to roll the kite for relaunch.
My latest hairbrained idea is to have a small set of claws attached to the leading edge by the pump leash attachment and the valve velcro. It would stick about an inch off the surface and dig in enough to get the kite to roll and also hold the LE off the ice
Main thing, keep your kite in the air. On water or on ice, cool relaunch system or roll and launch method, relaunching is a pain. You're going in with good thinking. No matter what relaunch system you use, your kite may be down temporarily...so how to protect it.... other ideas??
I have been thinking about the same things. For LE protection I was thinking of double-sided carpet tape, which is pretty sticky, and some of the thick foam playroom floor pads they sell at Home Depot. The idea would be to cut the pad into pieces that could be placed in about five spots on the LE. Just enough to give it some clearance and protection. That stuff is pretty light weight. I am sure that a hiar dryer and Goo Gone would do a nice job on removing the carpet tape in the spring.
What about a few strips of industrial strength velcro...the mail side. Offers the advantages of two sided tape, but a little more agressive bite to the ice for relaunch. Might be a bit heavy though.
I wasn't thinking that the 2-sided tape would provide friction. It would be used to tape the pieces of padding to the LE. The padding would provide some friction, but probably not enough. Its real purpose is protecting the LE.
I think the ideal solution provides both, protection and friction to roll the kite for relaunch, unless you've rigged a fifth line or have a bridle then just protection.
The male velcro isn't a bad idea.
I've also thought about making something that looks like a wide wristband that you would place around the LE before inflation. Once inflated the "collar" would be held on by the LE pressure. Then on the collar there could be an assortment of options to provide resistence.
Don't be too concerned with additional weight. If centered on the kite, the only time you might notice it is in very light air. As long as we're not talking about something that weighs over a pound.
Yo,
Im here in China, working on the new kites.
We are installing a EVA bumper that actually protects the LE.
Same material that is already on the kites for protection but attached perpendicular to the standard bumpers.
It is a strip about 4 cm wide that prevents the LE from wearing out on the snow/ice.
It goes from tip to tip right where we need it.
Should be ready this afternoon, the speed at which these kites can be made is amazing.
....more to come.
AP
Sweet! My idea is part of current innovation in kite design. Maybe if the manufacturers see my plywood board they will want me to be part of the design team too.
Velcro might be a nice way of attaching the padding to the kite, but I would be worried that pads might get ripped off during use. I think I will put my carpet tape/playroom pad idea to the test.
Last edited by Mike W on Fri Nov 21, 2003 10:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
sounds interesting Alex. I assume these are winter kites you are working on. It would be great to have something that you could remove in the summer. Will your EVA foam provide enough friction to relaunch or are these kites gonna have your super cool new innovative relaunch system?
Hey, I'm the proud owner of a North Rhino2 12M that I'm hoping to make my main winter kite this year. I had to make a small reenforcement patch on the leading edge near the conjunction of the batten and LE tube ...
I'm having a hard time getting "Goop" to adhise to the LE. Any suggestiosw?
Not sure why you would want to use Goop, Eric. I would think that some good repair tape would be the way to go. The clear stuff at Xtremebigair.com is bomb proof. You can even sew through it like a patch. They may have that tape at West Marine.
I found a great solution to the LE protection puzzle. Axman Surplus on University Ave. in St. Paul has hollow blue EVA foam tubes that are about 4 ft. long. The idea is to bend the tube in half, cut a hole in the middle, and run some line around the strut through the tube and up through the space in the existing bumper. The result is a light, inexpensive, and removable buffer for the LE. It may provide enough grab to flip the kite too. No glue of tape needed. I tried one yesterday and it works great.
yeah most of last year's kites had a gap in the stitching on their bumpers, which I had considered using as well. Most 2004 have either eliminated the bummper all together or reduced it significantly to lighten the kite. I like the idea of a removable winter bumper. Wish the manufacturers would design in an attachment method. You method sounds like a good one.
Have you any of you guys actually worn through the LE of an inflatable from winter use or are you just being very cautious? I'm just a beginner with kiting, but I'm just wondering if I'm gonna beat the crap out of my inflatable right away learning. I'm just curious as to how many of you guys have actually worn through because of the snow and ice?
rudeboysaude wrote:Have you any of you guys actually worn through the LE of an inflatable from winter use or are you just being very cautious? I'm just a beginner with kiting, but I'm just wondering if I'm gonna beat the crap out of my inflatable right away learning. I'm just curious as to how many of you guys have actually worn through because of the snow and ice?
A.
The biggest problem I had with them was trying to get them to relauch by fliping them in the traditional way. I noticed alot of abrasion in only one session on my 2001 SS 14M. Truth be told though, if you are with some other folks, your kite will hardly ever rub on the ground. they just don't fall out of the sky like they used to.
The worst surfaces are rough ice and rough hardpack. I'm looking forward to all of the relauch ideas and devices I see in the works this winter.
I tested out my EVA tubes yesterday at the Polo field, and they worked impressively. The snow was soft, so they weren't really needed, but in the right conditions I think they will help quite a lot. I would highly recommend this system. $1 per tube at Axman.
I decided to purchase an LEI kite as I want to go out in the spring as well, and can only purchase one kite. One thing I have not been able to find out there is a product that can be applied to the Leading edge of a kite to protect it from sharp ice while on the ground. Does anyone have any ideas about this? It seems to me that a majority of the damage done to inflatable in the winter is to the leading edge...or is that wrong? 