ratindahat - 29-4-2007 at 05:41 PM
Hey all. I managed to rip a rib on my 2.5 pro-foil that i bought a few weeks ago.
Anyone know where would be a good place to get it fixed? It ripped at one of the vent holes close to the tailing edge.
Thanks for the help.
-Dusty-
Bladerunner - 29-4-2007 at 08:26 PM
Kite shop, Sail shop, Qualified taylor / seamstress as a last resort.
ratindahat - 29-4-2007 at 11:56 PM
I'm in new mexico. No kite shops that do the stuff. No sail shops. Not sure about qualified seamstress either. I'm in a virgin kiting state.
Taper123 - 30-4-2007 at 06:16 AM
If it's just a small rip, can you get inside it and use some sail repair tape??? But if it's a long rip.... and on a cell with an opening at the
front, roll both ends up to that cell, and turn the kite inside out at that cell... and take a look at it. Big key to repairing a rib is to keep
the original shape, since it's what forms the profile of the kite.
ratindahat - 30-4-2007 at 08:08 AM
The problem is that it ripped itself out of the seam at the trailing edge. The skins are still connected well, but the rib seperated at the tail and
then ripped forward to the reinfirced bridle point. So i don't think that the tape idea will work.
I'll post a picture later tonight.
-Dusty-
B-Roc - 30-4-2007 at 09:17 AM
can you send it back to Ted himself for a repair?
Bladerunner - 30-4-2007 at 09:18 AM
Sounds like a defect to me. Is it possible radsail may repair it for you ??
ratindahat - 30-4-2007 at 09:20 AM
I don't think Ted wants to deal with it. I've been told, by him, to use some rip-stop tape and call it a day. I was wondering if it was a defect as
well.
Opinnions?
B-Roc - 30-4-2007 at 09:26 AM
Before calling it a defect you really need to take an honest assessment of what caused it to rip - if it was a powered dive into the ground - that's
no defect. Cells burst - fact of life.
I'm not saying it couldn't be a defect but I wouldn't immediately jump to conclusions. I've damaged enough gear and been around enough damaged gear
in the 10+ years I've been kiting to know that the overwhelming majority of damage to kites is caused by the user.
Not beating up on you - just being honest based on what I've seen and experienced.
ratindahat - 30-4-2007 at 09:29 AM
I didn't jump to conclusions. I know that it was probably a fully powered ground scoop that sorted it out. I don't even care if it was a defect.
Bottom line is that my kite is out of commission until i get it fixed. Now if i use the tape method could i still sew it to make sure it's gonna stay?
I don't see why i couldn't.
The other thought i had... Could i just get a little section of ripstop and sew it in there to fix the bad area? I do know how to sew pretty well. I
can get ripstop in town where as the tape would have to be shipped.
-Dusty-
B-Roc - 30-4-2007 at 09:36 AM
get the ripstop and use that to line the cell / seam up with where it belongs. Tape it on both sides if you can if it is torn right on the seam but
at least on one. Once you are happy with your placement, sew threw the tape and material.
Many kite makers have employed two sided tape to line seams up and then sewn threw that for the finished product.
If you are handy with a needle or machine than go for it - my only concern would be if you are sewing up to the bridle attachment as that will be
under load - but I'm no good with a needle or machine so I rely on what others can do in that area.
Good luck - if you get it done and get it right you're one step ahead. Damage will occur and if this gives you the confidence to fix it up right -
that's a great skill to have.
Taper123 - 30-4-2007 at 09:38 AM
Ok... I looked at my 2.5 Profoil... We're talking where three pieces of cloth meet, two panels of the lower skin, and the rib... with the rib
being the part that ripped out?
Tape might work pretty good if it's not a really long run/tear. Since there are no D-ribs in these, you could turn it inside out, sew a re-inforcing
piece of ripstop to the rib, and then stitch that back in place. Unless it's just a really big rip, I'd either go with the tape or re-inforcement
before picking the seams apart and doing a major repair.
ratindahat - 30-4-2007 at 09:41 AM
The bridle attachment point stayed in place which is good. Without that reinforcement i think it would have ripped all the way to the front. That was
the only thing that stopped it. :-D
Guess i will go pick up some ripstop and doublesided tape and give it a whirl. There is a reason i bought the 2.5 as my first kite. I figured i would
mess it up at some point. And at the price, if it gets destroyed, it gets destroyed. I think i can manage it.
-Dusty-
B-Roc - 30-4-2007 at 09:43 AM
Good luck!
ratindahat - 30-4-2007 at 09:45 AM
taper,
The rib ripped out from the bottom and started at the tail edge. It actually ripped a nice rip in the rib, so the rib has to be replaced/reinforced
now. It went all the way to the first dacron ribbon which stopped the rip. It doesn't look to hard to fix. Just need to do it i guess.
I was thinking that i shouldnt't have to rip the seams. Guess we'll see how it works out.
ratindahat - 30-4-2007 at 09:47 AM
Thanks.
B-Roc - 30-4-2007 at 09:49 AM
So its the rib itself that ripped and its the middle of the rib as opposed to where the rib attaches to either the top or bottom skin of the kite?
That I would think you could fix on your own with one pass of tape(or two if you wanted extra strength) and a proper weight thread.
ratindahat - 30-4-2007 at 09:54 AM
the rib ripped at the seam. The seam is fine on the skins, but the rib ripped out of it. That started another rip through the middle of the rib toward
the first bridle point.
Wish i had my camera here so i could post some pictures.
B-Roc - 30-4-2007 at 09:58 AM
I think I got the picture now - one rib both pulled out of the seem and then ripped in the middle further up where the seam held - correct?
Seems like some work will be needed to fix that but nothing is ever a lost cause - do what you can and don't worry about it - might cost more for a
professional repair than you paid for it.
I almost welcome (minor) damage these days - takes the bloom off the rose and then you don't have to worry so much about really putting the kite
through the paces.
ratindahat - 30-4-2007 at 10:05 AM
hehe.. You explained it completly.
ratindahat - 30-4-2007 at 10:23 AM
Ok. here are some crappy pictures, but you should get the idea.
I put a paper towel in the opening to give some contrast.
There are some notes on the pictures so you might have to view full size.
There are some notes on the pictures so you might have to view full size.
matthewlavin - 30-4-2007 at 11:55 AM
the best kite repair in the buisness www.windfiredesigns.com
they are true artists when it comes to repair.
matthew
Taper123 - 30-4-2007 at 05:26 PM
Looks like what I did to one of my kites... You could sew a piece of ripstop to both sides of the tear... then mark them where they would both
align correctly to the original shape... then straight stitch it there. Then just tape the parts that you could not reinforce this way.
Several people on here make kites, and I'm still new at it... but that's what I did to one of the ribs on a kite I have, and it's held up quite
well.
btw... almost ready to join the two halves of this kite and then bridle it 
(It's my tribal 4.5)
Pablo - 30-4-2007 at 05:54 PM
Just go for it, get some ripstop and give it a try, you'd be suprised how much damage a sail can take, My buddys Radsail's still flying after blowing
out the front of 4 connected cells. Some tape and it's been together for a year. If you change the canopy shape by 1/4 inch the kite may look a bit
funny in the air and lose the optimal performance, but the chances are it'll still fly more than good enough to have some fun with and get dragged
around the beach.
ratindahat - 30-4-2007 at 07:53 PM
I bought some ripstop and am going to give it a shot.
It was actually still flying about right with the ripped rib.
ratindahat - 4-5-2007 at 09:11 AM
got it up in the air yesterday. Profile is not perfect on the repair, but it is pretty close. Still seems to fly just fine.
-Dusty-
B-Roc - 4-5-2007 at 10:13 AM
Kites can take lots of abuse. If you're not hard core racing or jumping - a little damage is nothing - gives character to the kite 
ratindahat - 4-5-2007 at 12:28 PM
hehe, I don't think i am doing much jumping with the 2.5