I would dip it in formol but my friends generally advise not to follow my advice...

Hi Kiteclone,

Just need to wash the kite down with fresh water and then completely dry the kite. Neatly fold the kite and put it in it's bag.

Wash the bar and lines thoroughly in fresh water and allow to dry completely. Spray the zips on the bag with Lanotec or some other lanolin based spray and put the kite away inside the house somewhere dry and away from natural light.

It will last longer than you will!

Good winds,

Thanks Kitehard, that sounds a lot safe and simpler way to treat it!

Speaking of the life time, I wonder whether the kite material deteriorates over time or not?

If not, is the used kite rinsed and dried properly last as long as the new kite never been used?

Not convinced there is any need to wash the kite in fresh water.?
I have got some used kites upstairs in our used section, that were never washed and just stored in their bags out of direct sunlight and they look as good as when they were put away.
We opened up a 2004 15 Yarga a few days ago, and it was fine, and had no mould or mildew on it anywhere.

Kites that have been rinsed in fresh water go mouldy and get spots of mould/mildew. I'm not sure if the spots and discolouration affect strength
and in my experience, mouldy kites seem to hold up fine.
Spots and mould all over the kite will affect your love for it and others love for it and could have deep pyschological and financial consequences for your loved one.

Rinsing any metal parts and spraying them with Inox or what Darren said would be a good idea, especially zips.

A cool dry place out of sunlight is the best place, but not a place that can get humid or damp.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

you think any of them sailors ever had a problem storing sails for years in there damp boats kept on moorings. nup.. they do go 'off' over time but thats more to do with stretching and sun damage.

Just take a look at Steve, he's like 100+ and still looks good as new! I heard tho he sleeps in a bubble and is kept at a constant pickle rate of 3 beers per hour!

I agree with carbine. Sell it. Get your 5% interest in the bank and then buy a new kite when you need it. Your 2008 kite will be worth jack sheite in 2011.

Kitehard said...

Hi Guys,

Reason for washing in fresh water is to remove the salt. Salt attracts water. If you wash the kite in fresh water, you must dry it bone dry in all parts otherwise, as Steve says, it will get kite AIDS (mould) and will look aweful. Kite AIDS is almost impossible to remove.

On the other hand, I put away a 5m Wipika Classic sodden wet with salt water and heavily crumbed with sand and stuffed it into it's tight little bag, then left it in my dark dank garage for 5 months when I went to Hawaii. Upon my return, I dragged it out and spread it on the beach, it was still wet! After it dried, it was like the day I put it away, no change to condition at all.

I'd still wash and dry it (your kite) for a prolonged hibernation if I were you, I just never had time tithe the little 5m Wipi.

Good winds,

@ Peaniticus - shut up! Aren't you shorter than me?

@ Darren/Kiteclone and anyone else interested.
Salt or sodium chloride, when chrystallised, is anyhydrous, it attracts h2O, as Darren said.
However that water that is attracted, is attracted to the surface of the nearly pure sodium chloride molecules in chrystalline form in low humidity situations. At this point they form a super saturated solution and remain "wet" in humid conditions. Mould will not grow in a super salty environement.
Chrystals and chemistry is a fascinating subject and our world is full of this chemical structure. I've probalby not explained the whole deal regarding salt and water very well, but needless to say mould will not grow in a salty environment.
Google up the word chrystal and anyhydrous if you are really curious.

The plastic fibres that sailcloth is made from are impervious to the presence of sodium chloride on their surface.
If you really want to wash the kites in fresh water, then make sure they are super dry when you store them and I would store them in a vacuum bag, with a heap of those silica crystal bags, which you can buy at bunnings and various places. Silica chrystals are even more anyhydrous than sodium chloride crystals. They will attract and hold any moisture still inside the vac bag, moulds and bacteria require the presence of water to grow.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve