Just curious whether many people lock off their strut bladders after inflation. Is there a reason for this to be done routine;y or is it only useful if you want to roll the kite up partially inflated?

I just don't get the purpose of them.

Cheers,

ALWAYS close your struts valves when kiting in deep waters, why ? because S**T happens!

If you kite on a regular basis, chances are you may experience an accidental deflation over the years.

Personally I have dealt with 3 leading edge deflation's in deep waters over 6-7 years. Things like:

- leading edge bursting upon strong impact
-Deflation valve popping off upon strong impact
- Rubber tube between LE and strut coming undone upon impact
- Valve cracking or leaking valve
- etc.

Even though things like these are rare, they can still happen. The latest one was an inexplicable tiny puncture in a central strut while I was out far from the shore last season. Because I closed my struts before going out, I was able to fly the kite reasonably well back to the shore without air in the central strut. If I haven't close that strut, that would've been a very different story...

antisense said..

Just curious whether many people lock off their strut bladders after inflation. Is there a reason for this to be done routine;y or is it only useful if you want to roll the kite up partially inflated?

I just don't get the purpose of them.

Cheers,

Here comes a realistic answer to your connundrum Mr Antisense....

When your a couple of k's off shore, all going along nicely.. Then you crash you kite on the LE and it rips from A hole to breakfast and deflates...

Your gonna wish those struts were locked off like a mutha fker..

It's a lonely swim in with no flotation dragging a soggy kite.. Especially with Great Whites looking to much on some legs..

At least you can have a few inflated struts and roll the kite up, Whack your harness around it to secure it, safety leash clipped off to your board handle and doggy paddle your heart out

lock them off, only takes 10 seconds. no brainer.

But remember to UNLOCK them when deflating and packing up. This is because when you pop the valve to release the pressure, the air molecules all follow each other out like a chain and deflates the kite better and more quickly. If you release the straps after you've deflated the leading edge, the air takes longer to escape and you could risk poping a strut bladder if not deflated properly.

I've had inflate valve pop open landed kite closed valve and opened strut clips the pressure in them was enough to get kite to fly and get back home instead of having to swim across a river.

Talk about tempting fate JEEEZUZ!!

Was out on Sat flying my switchblade about 100m off shore... Kite sitting at 12 putting my feet in bindings, then oh crap.. down like the hindenburg.... LE had deflated on me... Performed self-rescue and swum in. Kite totally drowned then covered in sand. Turns out the hose from centre strut to LE bladder had popped off.. If I didn't have the struts locked off I'd have been royally screwed...

There's a little plastic ring that holds the hose onto the nipple that has disappeared.. I assume I can pick up one from most kite shops pretty easily. If any water got into the LE bladder is this going to be a massive problem long term?

Loftywinds said..

But remember to UNLOCK them when deflating and packing up. This is because when you pop the valve to release the pressure, the air molecules all follow each other out like a chain and deflates the kite better and more quickly.

Is this the biggest crock of **** ever written?

I only lock off my middle strut, coz I'm a rebel.

Living life on the edge.

Sometimes I think about locking the others off but I'm too lazy.... I guess I'm just a crazy mo foo, tempting fate.

Haters bring the hate.