Hi I've got a 3m" radsail and i noticed the other day, a hole and split seam on the inside of the kite, between the two layers, in the end pocket. Is the end pocket supposed to be completely sealed up? And can I just sew it up, or is it more complicated than that? Thanks!

It's not clear where your hole and split seam is.

Do you have a hole in the top or bottom skin of your kite? Smaller holes can be covered with nylon cloth tape, easy to find at sailing shops.

Is it at the back / trailing edge of the kite, right in the corner? Sometimes there is a dirt-out there.

The ribs between each cell (like your 'pocket", I think) of the kite will have holes in them, these are essential for allowing the kite to fully inflate.

It sounds as though the top or bottom skin has come loose from the rib. This can simply be sewn up.

But you don't don't want to sew up the cross-venting between cells. The end pocket needs to be pressurized in flight so there should be a vent in the rib.

However, there shouldn't be any holes in the top or bottom skin of your kite. Those need to be fixed and the top and bottom skins should not be loose from the ribs.

Hope that helps.

pics would be a big bonus, eh?

Quote:

Originally posted by roo Hi I've got a 3m" radsail and i noticed the other day, a hole and split seam on the inside of the kite, between the two layers, in the end pocket. Is the end pocket supposed to be completely sealed up? And can I just sew it up, or is it more complicated than that? Thanks!

Hard to tell without pics, but it sounds (my interpretation, at least) like you have blown an interior cell wall/rib.

You should be able to sew it as long as there has not been too much fraying. Again.... hard to advise without pics.

The end cells on many newer kites are closed. On an Ozone Flow (for instances), cells 1, 2 and 5 (from the wingtip) are closed. These cells fill by air that passes through crossvents in the internal ribs. They are closed to resist collapsing when there is a lull in the wind.

ATB,
Sam

Ok thanks you for your help. It's not the skins, it's the rib next to the end cell. Looks like it has just come away from the seam, although there is another hole next to it in the fabric (so not on the seam). I'll have a look into sewing it up, and if it's not that staight forward I'll look into getting photos up. Thanks again.

Shouldn't be any holes where you don't expect them. Check for puncture marks where a sewing machine needle has gone through. If those are there, there's supposed to be sewing on that location. Dirt-outs should have velcro around them to close it up.

look on the other end of the kite and see what the difference is, that will tell you what is and what isn't right. pics would help.

Got it sorted, thanks guys. I'm ashamed to say that after looking at both ends, at looking at the holes closer; they are supposed to be there. They are all cut circular so couldn't have just ripped. I guess they are the cross-venting...
Sorry for my ignorance, guess it's good to check though huh!? And I'm saved the job of having to sew them up :-) . Thanks for your patience...

Thank goodness you sorted it out before you tried to patch the cross-vents. I expect that would have made for some truly frustrating flying

ATB,
Sam

P.S. If it makes you feel any better.... some years back, I took my car back to the audio installers because the balance controls no longer seemed to be working. Keep in mind these were the people that installed the equipment. 90 minutes later it was determiend that the balance controls worked much better when the "surround sound" button on the equalizer was deactivated . Everyone was a little redfaced and it was determined to be a really bad cased of ESO (Equipment Superior to Operator). I have liked that term ever since.