I've been considering this for a while now. I would like to replace the bridle on some of my largest kites with thin spectre maybe 100 - 150lbs. Obviously this would be quite an undertaking.

So, does anyone have any efficient ideas on how to sew the ends. I have thought about using a template that holds the loop in the correct position with a guide mounted to the sewing machine.

I've done some repairs to my own kites and friends but sewing the bridles seems to be on a different level.

Any suggestions would be helpful!

There is a thread on Kitebuilder.com about making a template for sewing the bridle ends. Might be a couple of days, but I will see if I can dig it up.

The bridles on the Ozone Flows are unsleeved, I will have to take a look at what they did.

ATB,
Sam

Depending on the kite I would see if an unsleeved bridle is available from the manufacturer. Making a bridle for a foil is a heck of a task even when you have the old one to go off of. Just getting the old one off and putting the new one on labeling everything as you go is like an Obama highway project. Seemingly endless pain in the butt. You might pick up a little performance but I wouldn't think it would be a huge gain. You can buy a guide foot for the sewing machine thats made to do line but sometimes it's easier to make your own. I'm sure Sam will find the Kitebuilder link. Let us know how it turns out

Over at http://www.wingine.nl/ under building techniques and tools they show their bridle sewing tool. You can just crank some out of tag board to fit the specific line your using. I've made a couple and they work pretty good.

I use a cardboard cutout guide. Just cut a slot that is the same width as your sewing machine foot and will hold the folded over line side by side. Slide it under the foot and stitch forward and backwards with a zig-zag and your done. It really is quite simple.

To make the cutout, use some heavy duty cardboard strips glued together so that it is about 3/16" - 1/4" thick so that when you lay the lines inside the slot, it holds them securely and also doesn't let the foot step outside of the groove while you sew.

Hope that helps.

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Originally posted by kteguru Depending on the kite I would see if an unsleeved bridle is available from the manufacturer.

Yea, Not available.

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Making a bridle for a foil is a heck of a task even when you have the old one to go off of.

I agree

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Just getting the old one off and putting the new one on labeling everything as you go is like an Obama highway project. Seemingly endless pain in the butt.

I've now done it three times, no big deal when you have the diagram that tells you where the lengths go. The last time all I had was the new bridle with no guide. After a 1/2 a day trying to figure out how to approach it. It dawned on me that I would go from shortest to longest matching old to new. Surprisingly, it worked great and the kite flies better than with the old (prototype) bridle. (BTW nice try with the not so subtle interjection of politics on this forum)

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You might pick up a little performance but I wouldn't think it would be a huge gain.

Tell that to the Libre Spirits, performance definitely improves.

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You can buy a guide foot for the sewing machine thats made to do line but sometimes it's easier to make your own.

Yea, looked into a cording foot. Doubt it will do what I want.

Thanks rudeboysaude & awindofchange thats exactly what I needed. Never thought of using the foot (duh) as a guide. Kept thinking I would have to mount a guide some way. Another Occam's razor solution.