Power Kite Forum

Stopper balls

macboy - 29-4-2008 at 09:02 PM

Are these a common sailing thing or kite specific? I'm finding myself in need of a couple after taking a good look at the bar that came with the Lift 16 (putting together another bar / line set). We've got a sailing shop in town if they happen to be a common part - that's where I got my pulleys and strop supplies, otherwise no idea where to get 'em.

OreBeamer - 29-4-2008 at 09:33 PM

They probably have them.
Or order them here: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte...

macboy - 29-4-2008 at 09:44 PM

Are those the same as the ones that nestle into the bar ends used in making a safety? For some reason they look different (maybe I should go snap a pic of the ones I have here). Of course - they may work just fine....thanks for dogging them up.

krumly - 30-4-2008 at 07:02 AM

Stopper balls are a common item. I like Annapolis Performance Sailing in the states as a mail order supplier for sailing line and hardware at good prices:

http://www.apsltd.com/Home.asp

The Airrush Knotless Stopper Balls are what you are referring too. Can buy them from Airrush in Hawaii, but shipping will be steep for such a little item. Try Murray's:

http://www.murrays.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Prod...

krumly

Bladerunner - 30-4-2008 at 09:05 AM

If you are planning on using the one bar on more than 1 kite look for an adjustable stopper for the bar stop. Then you can mark your fifth line at the correct spot to move it for the different sized kites.

macboy - 30-4-2008 at 09:16 AM

Glad you popped in - I never thought to ask you directly and I think you've just answered the question I'm about to ask. I had planned on using the same bar / lineset that came with the 16 on the 9 I got from you - which means by what you've just said that I'll have to adjust the 5th line that is already installed on that bar for the 9? I think I know how to do that. (Shorten it up so the kite sits as shown in the 5th line manual you sent along - right?)

I'm setting up the extra bar you sent me to use with the Guerilla I bought off domdino so I won't need the 5th line but do need to set up the safety line to work with that kite. I am assuming that I set a stopper ball on one of the brake line leaders so the bar runs far enough up the line to lay the kite flat?

[EDIT: I just ran through the PL Twinskin manual and it clearly shows the leash attached to one of the front lines just after the "Y" - I better consult those here who have these / have flown these so I set it up right. Any words of wisdom?]

I have an Airush wrist lease with a QR so I'm safe there as a last resort. It'll be something to get used to - letting the bar fly away when it all hits the fan....I think I've been spoiled by the safeties on the Access bar ; )

Bladerunner - 30-4-2008 at 01:37 PM

YUP, the bar will have to travel farther up to bring the nose of the 16 down compared to the 9. I think the 9 just may like a shorter bar. It should work on the longer one just don't use as big a motion when turning the bar.

With the arc you will need a stopper up the length of the kite to save it !

krumly - 1-5-2008 at 09:39 PM

There is some debate about which is better for flagging a PL Twinskin - single frontline or single rearline attachment. FWIW, my GII is set up on an Airrush 50 cm bar, flagging on the left rear line. Never had a problem with it spinning - just flags and falls.

krumly

macboy - 1-5-2008 at 11:13 PM

Do you run a leash up the line or attach through the bar end so the bar shoots up toward the kite?

Bladerunner - 2-5-2008 at 07:33 AM

YES,

You run the fifth line through the bar . Same ( center ) hole as the trim strap and then attach your safety harness to the 5th. Try to run the line through something around the trim strap area above the bar. Something like the ring at the top of the trim strap should work. That will keep the 5th line from dangling down and getting in the way.


How far the up line the bar travels depends on the size of the kite. Enter the adjustable stopper . The size of the pigtail on the 2 kites will also have to be different if you are using a single bar to match up properly.

macboy - 2-5-2008 at 08:36 AM

Sorry, meant the 4 line bar for the PL BUT while it's on topic, I noticed the 5th line a wee bit snug going through the bar. It ran through no problem but not freely if you know what I mean...it didn't snag or anything and required little to no effort to slide through. Is that proper/OK? Figured I might as well ask - I've never seen a 5th line bar so I don't know if it's a retrofit or a proper 5th line bar.

Bladerunner - 2-5-2008 at 11:08 AM

I chose to go with an Ocean Rodeo bar because of that concern. The hole is bigger. The hole on my Flysurfers don't leave much room and the FDS Mod' I had done snapped in exactly that spot the 1st time I actually needed it. :wow: So the gamble is there ?


Quote:
Originally posted by macboy
Sorry, meant the 4 line bar for the PL BUT while it's on topic, I noticed the 5th line a wee bit snug going through the bar. It ran through no problem but not freely if you know what I mean...it didn't snag or anything and required little to no effort to slide through. Is that proper/OK? Figured I might as well ask - I've never seen a 5th line bar so I don't know if it's a retrofit or a proper 5th line bar.

krumly - 2-5-2008 at 10:48 PM

I don't run a fifth line through the older Airrush bars. The hole is too tight. I have modded one of those bars by adding a small ss lined nylon fairlead just below the hole. The ss liner has a rolled edge so the line slides through at various bar angles. The older Airrush bars have a crappy SS bushing without enough of a a roll, so your depower line has a lot of friction when the bar is at an angle to the line. Adding a fifth line would make it worse.

Through boltedwith some small (#6) ss screws and acorn nuts. Now, drilling those 2 little holes thru the bar may have weakened it...

My PL GII on te Airrush bar: My leash is attached to the left leader that runs through the plastic bar end. The other end with the QR is set up on the loop welded to my Wichard shackle, so I can unspin it with the bar. I also have a couple Airrush small diamneter chicken loops with the spinning leash attachment point, and those work well on a standard spreader bar if I don't use the Wichard shackle.

krumly