My brother has a kite that I bought used for him that did not come with handles and lines. As well, I am debating buying another NPW which also will not come with handles and lines. Seeing as we are both on a budget I was wondering about how feasible it would be to take line sets off of one kite to use on another?

Is that just a big huge hassle and do you risk getting the kite bridles all in a mess once the lines are temporarily detached? Or is there a way to bundle the loose bridle so that it's easy to re-attach the lines once they are ready to go back on the kite?

I would recommend getting another set. Life is much easier when you just open up the kite, shake out the wrinkles, and you are off.

Whenever I pack up a fixed bridle kite, I detach the lines. What I do, so the bridles don't get all tangled up is take one of the bridle lines and make a larS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s head loop and stick the pigtail in that. That way the end of the bridle is not weaving itself in and out of all the different bridle lines. If you need more detail, let me know and I can try to explain better.

It's no problem at all sharing linesets between different kites. Your bridles will not get tangled or messed up in any way. Just disconnect your flying lines from the bridles, lay the bridles on top of the kite sail or fasten them to the velcro tabs (if your kite has those installed) - then fold the kite up from the wing tips to the center - keeping all the bridles inside the kite as you pack it up.

The easiest way to transfer from one kite to the next is to lay the first kite out with the lines fully extended and untwisted then just switch the lines from one to the other. The only issue you may run into is that you might have to do some fine tuning of your brake lines when switching from one kite to the other. This can be done very easily at the leader lines of your handles if you have adjuster knots already tied in.

Many people do this on a regular basis so no big worries at all. In fact, most all higher performance kites are sold as kite only just because most pilots who fly these have custom linesets that they prefer to use for all different sizes.

It is easier (and much more expensive) to have a complete handle/lineset for every kite but if you are on a budget, the same lineset will work fine for all of your power kites.

Hope this helps.

There should not be any problems using one lineset for multiple kites provided it is strong enough for all the kites that will be flown on it. I use one lineset for both of my Ozone Flows, especially since they use the same strength linesets. I have one set on the handles all the time and just switch from one kite to the other and make brake adjustments if required.

I tried to share a lineset, but I've concluded that changing lines in the field when the wind is blowing is a drag
more hassle than I wanna go through, especially when I could be playing...

I think it depends a lot on what you are used to.... and possibly how many ground stakes you have handy (if the winds are howling).

Staking endloops while they are waiting to be attached can become second nature.

And if you are waiting for winds.... well, sometimes you have all the time in the world.... watching grass grow is still in contention for becoming an Olympic sport.

ATB,
Sam

I would suck at that sport. I do not have ADHD or anything like that. But I can not sit and stare at something. :dunno:
Well maybe I do have a little attenti... Hey look a duck.

Quote:

And if you are waiting for winds.... well, sometimes you have all the time in the world.... watching grass grow is still in contention for becoming an Olympic sport. ATB, Sam

LOL :roll:

Quote:

Originally posted by rocfighter Well maybe I do have a little attenti... Hey look a duck.

SQUIRREL!!!

(I have been training with my dog.... no, still haven't seen "UP!" yet... time and tide... sigh).

ATB,
Sam

After NABX I found I had a real love for my PKD handles with the camcleat rear line connection. Since it's so adjustable on the rears I can hook most any kite up, a quick cleat setting and away we go! As a result I swap for the most part unless the kite happens to have a set on already. The hornet, Reactor and 4.7 all have lines and handles, all the rest get 'em as we go. Next NABX though, I'll bring two sets of PKD handles and only the kites. The rest of the handles can stay home.

I swap lines/kites all the time. What Rdavis said, larkshead the bridle ends to a bridle line and fold it up.:bigok:

This is really helpful guys!

I think I've just found my way to having more $$ for buying kites.:D

Different question on this topic: all water kiters I've seen disconnect their lines every time they are done with a kite. I just got one. Why is this and is it possible and good to just leave them connected? Thanks

Depends if you're talking LEI or a foil. All the Flysurfer guys I see leave everything connected and roll the bar up in the kite - I've done the same with my FSers. My Ozones will never have the bars taken off either. The Peter Lynns however don't have bridles to get all knotted up nasty and because of this and the fact that I do not leave the bar connected (though I could if I wanted to pack the kite spars-in) means as a bonus I can fly the same bar setup with all my Peter Lynns. For me this is huge as it means the safety system is always the same and in the same place and behaves the same way.

I think you "could" leave the lines connected to an LEI but can only imagine it'd make the process of packing and unpacking something different than the norm.

Couldn't stand swapping lines all the time - and you'd have to be more cunning when taking a kite out of the bag and getting it attached to the lines before it got blown into a mess.

But if you're on a budget, you'll have to make do sometimes.

... my dog would go tearing out the door and charging around the yard if you said "Cats!" in just the right tone of voice

Quote:

Originally posted by Kamikuza Couldn't stand swapping lines all the time - and you'd have to be more cunning when taking a kite out of the bag and getting it attached to the lines before it got blown into a mess.


Hmmm... I am trying to figure out where the mess comes from. If for instance, the lines are wraped on the handles...


1. Stake out the left and right hand lines.
   
2. Walk the lines back.
   
3. Stake out the brake loops.
   
4. Unstake the lines at the kite end & attach the kite
   
5. Weight the trailing/edge
   
6. Unstake the brake loops.
   
7. Launch

Probably more complicated to write it all out than do it.

The two qualifiers that should be attached here are that:

1. I own an obscene amount of stakes.
   
2. Originally started flying dual lines so disconnecting/sharing lines was never a big deal one way or another.

ATB,
Sam

The mess being discussed is the possibility for lines to twist independently of the kite if disconnected. If they remain connected, the worst I ever have to correct (unless someone else like my boys found a "new" way to wind lines I don't know about :ticking: ) is a few twists of the handle and I'm flying. I couldn't get past the inconvenience of having to secure the kite AND lines separately while it is all laid out. I can see this as a short term fix while I'm saving my money for lines and handles but not a long term plan of action.

Most kites have their own line sets.... got a set recently for the Blurr which came KO. The NPW might be an orphan. The short Q PowerLines that Kent made up for me floats between different kites.

Lemonade: If set up takes a extra few minutes, it's time well used for purging my mind of work related thoughts. No reason to take my work day frustrations (... and there are so very many :ticking: ) out on the poor defenseless kites.

:wink2: :wee:

ATB,
Sam