Power Kite Forum

Converting open cell to closed cell

loftywinds - 13-6-2014 at 09:06 PM

Has anyone dared (dare devil crazy) convert an open cell depower foil kite (Ozone Frenzy, Montana, etc) to a closed cell?

I imagine you would need some serious equipment and spare cloth, lines, etc to do this, as you would have to literally take the kite apart and close some cells off as well. Then you would have to design an air intake system good enough to allow the kite to inflate, but durable enough to last crashing the kite in water and of course denying water to enter the inside of the kite.

I am sure it can be done with perseverance.

erratic winds - 13-6-2014 at 11:02 PM

Reinventing the wheel, eh?

loftywinds - 14-6-2014 at 12:55 AM

Quote: Originally posted by erratic winds  
Reinventing the wheel, eh?


Some wheels do need re-inventing

Kamikuza - 14-6-2014 at 03:39 AM

Socks in the intakes are probably all you'd need... the positive air pressure in the kite is mostly what keeps it inflated in the water. The Speed3s have dirt-outs so there's always a couple of inches always open.

I'm sure someone has done it already. Be something fun to play with but probably won't yield great results...

abkayak - 14-6-2014 at 06:38 AM

i have an old PL closed converted to open....eaisier

loftywinds - 14-6-2014 at 04:03 PM

Quote: Originally posted by abkayak  
i have an old PL closed converted to open....eaisier


Thanks! Is that because you simply reach into each air intake and pull out the sock and cut it off? How did you go about it? Obviously I want the opposite, so I could use what you did in 'reverse'.

abkayak - 16-6-2014 at 07:35 AM

i acquired the kite as is do not know what it originally was...pretty much someone put a scissors to the leading edge and then added some reinforcement..it is a 2 line now...probably was from the beginning..no kite i have seen has as much cross over on the bridles as this one.. u2 me an email address and i will give you pictures