Preventative maintenance tips

Here are a few preventative maintenance tips I have been meaning to jot down for a while.
Following these basic suggestions will save you $$ in bladder repair costs and Kite sail damage.

Drying and storing your kite
There is no real reason to wash down a kite after use.
I rinse off the bar and lines and occasionally maintain the pulleys etc. But I never wash down a sail. And for good reason.
Fresh water is the cause of mould on your sail and salt water pickles your gear. Well keeps it mould free at least.
So avoid rinsing out your kite under the hose when you get home.
Potentially a lot of damage can be done to your kite when you rinse it under a hose then dry it poorly and end up storing it damp.

Avoid the summer kite bake.
Leaving your kite flapping on the beach in the summer heat for hrs will kill it faster than you think. But all modern kites have some level of UV inhibitors in the fabric so a but of sun dry time is ok.

To dry a wet kite.
Just pump it up leave it in the sun for 10-15 mins and it's done. It's not like drying out old cotton jeans, kite fabric does not soak up water. It's a form of plastic and the water sits on the surface. So let it evaporate and your done.

Washing and damage.
The most damage done to kites is often trying to wash and dry them . Avoid at all costs washing in chemical solutions, spot wash with sunlight soap is about my only suggestion to remove a particular problem. It's bio degradable and I've never had a problem with it damaging a kite. A solvent based solution has the potential to damage the fabric coating and permeability.
Just dry your inflated kite in the sun and dust of the mud/sand etc.
It's the best way, and requires the least amount of effort.

Hanging the kite up to dry.
Avoid hanging up your kite on a line or rack to dry , especially if it's been washed in fresh water, rain etc. As the bladders become shiny smooth and clean and then shift out of position very easily if the kite is moved or flaps in the wind. We see a lot of damage caused by this.
The salt helps stick the bladders in place. If they move out of place they can rupture when inflated as the try to stretch back into position.
Regardless of the situation, kites that have been fresh water washed or lake used, and kites that have been only salt water ridden both should not be dried out deflated. Drying any deflated kite can cause the bladders to unseat.
That's why it's always best to inflate your kite , sit it on the grass to dry. Just sit back with a beer and watch your kite dry.

Hope this helps.

Lee McClelland