Power Kite Forum

kite lines

raycapp1 - 22-8-2006 at 12:28 PM

HELLLLLLLLLLLLLP

I bought my kite second hand and want to replace the lines but what do i get its a 3 meter kite i use for bugging.

I mean there is wax lines pre streched lines and the endloss list of weight of the line:puzzled: some 1 point me in the right direction

awindofchange - 22-8-2006 at 02:49 PM

Most of the time a lineset in 250# to 300# top lines and 150# to 200# bottom lines will work just fine without the worry of breaking. Make sure you get a good quality linset preferrably 100% spectra. Sleeve your ends to insure the line doesn't break at the knot.

Pre stretched lines are good, but even pre stretched lines will have some creap over time so it really isn't that big of a deal. If your lines are not pre stretched then just give them a good solid stretch before you hook them onto your kite. This will help insure that the lines are fairly equal in length the first time you fly. They will stretch out over time tho, the more power you fly with the sooner they will stretch. Why? Because spectra is actually a braided line and as you fly, the braid will get tighter and cause the line to creap. The creap will not rebound back like dyneema and other lower quality line and will stay stretched, thus the advantage of flying with spectra over the other line types. Once your line creap is done just re-tie your lineset so that all lines are equal once again and you should be good to go from then on.

An easy way to compensate for line creap without having to re-tie your lineset every couple weeks is to attach some short leader lines on your handles with several knots spaced an inch or so apart. When your lines do stretch just move your attachment point up or down to the appropriate knot to compensate for it. If you have extra long leader lines (most newer kites come with this) then you dont need to add an additional line, just tie knots in the leaders and use that for adjustment.

Hope this helps!