So I was kiting today in strong gusty inland winds with my 3.5 Ozone Cult. Cruising on the buggy with the kite at the edge. Loop the kite to get speed and pop...Main line breaks. Using 330lb/220lb FF line which I just bought.

Funny thing is,,it doesn't look like the line broke...just looks like it came out of the sleeve???

So I have a few questions that I'm hoping you guys can answer:

1) Has this happened to anyone before - in this particular place?
2) Do you think it's a defect in the line?
3) Can it be repaired (note - I have no sowing machine)
4) Does anyone sell just single main lines (Note - No Q-Powerlines (sp)).

Here's a pic -

Ok...can you tell I've never attached a pic before.

Hopefully this will work

Image was too big...geez it was 256k.

OK now it is 73kb

I've had a line snap in gusty strong winds, and it popped on the kite end of the line, during loops, on the downstroke, right where the sleeve ends. So yes, same spot, assuming your line broke at the kite end. The sleeve was sewn in, so I couldn't just untie and slide it down like i've done with my pansh lines... Went with figure eight knots after equalizing, put the knots on the handle end of the line, and I don't use those two in strong winds with that kite anymore.

There's a couple folks on the forum who can make up custom lines (so can likely make you a single line), but can't remember who they are!

New lines breaking, that's got to be a bummer!

Youre better off getting a sleeving kit and resleeving all your lines... at least you didnt lose much line!

I'm kinda nervous, because a lot of my kites fly on the same line, and I just bid on a couple more sets, too.

What was the wind like?

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New lines breaking, that's got to be a bummer!

Yeah, I was at local park during my lunch hour all alone and no soccer players and had just about 20mins left. Thought I was going to get cooking on the 3.5 (had the 2.5 previously and was underpowered), when bam...it happens...I was bummed to say the least!

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I'm kinda nervous, because a lot of my kites fly on the same line, and I just bid on a couple more sets, too. What was the wind like?

Yeah, I had just bought two sets of that exact same line strength...in the past I had always went stronger on the mains. I think I put my other lineset on either my RM+ 5.0 or my PL Reactor 4.9...can't remember. But, I have flown both really powered up with no problems so you should be fine (well, I guess it all depends on the kite size and wind strength). I think I probably just got a bad set/line. If I had to guess, I would say the wind was 12mph gusting to 25mph...North winds around here are soo gusty

Definitely give an email to Wendy Brook.

Wendy@flexifoil.com


I wouldn't doubt it if they replace it without questions. They are very good like that. Especially if you just purchased it.

Thanks Baluk.

I bought the lineset from ExtremeAirStore and although they appear to be selling linesets on ebay, they don't appear to be answering there phones.

I've sent an email to Wendy so I'll see what she says...worth a try I guess...

Although I don't think that line strength played a part as I was told by other people on this forum that it should be strong enough, I think I'll just play it safe in the future and purchase 485lb mains. Probably add a little drag but I like the piece of mind. I'm also 220lbs and probably closer to 230lb with helmet, pants, etc...

...I hated having to call it early due to a busted line!!!

BTW...I'd be curious to here what other people are using.

I'm using 300 pound Q-powerline mains carefully tied with figure 8's over 80-150 pound brakes. :tumble: Has worked for me for the past 9 years going on 10 by the middle of next year. I'm 210 pounds.

Make sure your first bridle line attachment points are 485 pound minimum line otherwise your just adding drag.

Scott

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Make sure your first bridle line attachment points are 485 pound minimum line otherwise your just adding drag.

Not quite sure I'm following you on this one...Are you suggesting using 485lb max as the main line...anything over is adding drag....Please clarify?

...and if you are suggesting that over 485lb main is overkill...I wonder what kind of effect that drag will have.....??? I would think that would depend a lot on the wind speed and size/type of kite...

I think what he is saying is that there is no point to have lines that can withstand a weight if the kite/bridle attachment cannot handle it, itself.

Baluk is correct. Many of the main bridle attachments I've seen aren't super strong. I've had a couple break on "lesser" kites years and years ago. The best ones I've seen are on older Quadrifoil kites. They used sleeved kevlar lines for the bridle/main and break line attachment points.

Scott

Thanks for the clarification guys...yep, that makes a lot of sense...never thought of that :wow:

yeah, it's one of those blinding flashes of the extremely obvious.

In a recent thread someone brought up the amount of pull a wakeboarder can put on the line behind a boat. It was compared to kites as a reason for very heavy line.

However, kites don't work like a boat. The boat is very heavy, with a very powerful engine moving a prop pushing water backward. A kite is very light weight, and produces very little lift compared to a boat. When you lean back against a kite you effectively pull the kite down some i.e. you leaned backward. Even though the "feel" of the kite seems like it is pulling hard it's not really because you were able to lean backward.

I'm not a physicist and can't explain all the details but having super heavy kite line isn't the answer to broken lines. It's more about how neatly you tie the knots, how neatly the lines are sewn and damage seen and unseen in the line.

As an example of unseen damage to kite line especially the braided type spectra that most people use (i.e. Flexifoil). When the line is not under tension sand grains get into the braid. When the line is put under tension the sand grains are still there and will slowly cut the line from the inside out one micro strand of specta at a time. Salt crystals can do the same thing but not as well as sand.

Scott

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When you lean back against a kite you effectively pull the kite down some i.e. you leaned backward. Even though the "feel" of the kite seems like it is pulling hard it's not really because you were able to lean backward.

Interesting...never thought of it like that!

Mr. Apples and Oranges in a Tin Can,


Have you received a reply from Wendy/Flexi yet?

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Mr. Apples and Oranges in a Tin Can, Have you received a reply from Wendy/Flexi yet?

Hey Baluk,

I sent an email to Wendy but it appears she normally works for Flexi. Sent an email out to Sales and Info but no response yet. Hopefully they're a little late on responding due to the holidays. We'll see if I get another response in a week or two...

BTW, what does Mr. Apples and Oranges in a Tin Can mean?

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I sent an email to Wendy but it appears she normally works for Flexi.

Oops...Meant to say she no longer works for Flexi...

Ah, I see.

Mr. Apples and Oranges in a Tin Can = Mr. Lunchbox

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Mr. Apples and Oranges in a Tin Can = Mr. Lunchbox

Ok...that will work :wee: