Hi everyone!
After reading through a lot of posts, I thought maybe the forum could be further enhanced by adding some posts specifically towards tuning techniques, by either us here at best or anyone that wants to help out.
TUNING TIPS: (example) Kite Lines
The tread on kite lines was interesting but did get fairly technical. As it was pointed out we use high performance fibers for tethering the kite to the control bar. The mentioned names are usually registered trade marks.
The factory we work with sources out from a few larger rope manufacturers, and we wind up using the manufacturers source. The lines used for our brand ‘Bestkiteboarding’, are also used for other brands.
You can be assured that the lines meet the 500lb. load requirements and are pre-stretched.
An area that I believe others may benefit from is; What happens to your kite lines with extended use? They will do a minimal amount of further stretching. In most cases it’s the front lines that may stretch more than the rear lines. (they may not stretch evenly).
Occasional inspections and calibrating are important and should become part of your maintenance program. You can stretch the lines from a single point; however it is more accurate to use a tool such as the ‘line stretcher’ shown. (or a piece of wood with lag hooks works).
The benefits from this are that you can check each individual line as to the amount of stretch by how much they “sag†downward. It’s usually not much maybe a few cm’s but it does throw the kite off balance, enough to cause it to drift laterally. To compensate for any discrepancy it is best established the difference at the leaders, not the kites pigtails.
Regards,
John Bellacera
Best R+D
After reading through a lot of posts, I thought maybe the forum could be further enhanced by adding some posts specifically towards tuning techniques, by either us here at best or anyone that wants to help out.
TUNING TIPS: (example) Kite Lines
The tread on kite lines was interesting but did get fairly technical. As it was pointed out we use high performance fibers for tethering the kite to the control bar. The mentioned names are usually registered trade marks.
The factory we work with sources out from a few larger rope manufacturers, and we wind up using the manufacturers source. The lines used for our brand ‘Bestkiteboarding’, are also used for other brands.
You can be assured that the lines meet the 500lb. load requirements and are pre-stretched.
An area that I believe others may benefit from is; What happens to your kite lines with extended use? They will do a minimal amount of further stretching. In most cases it’s the front lines that may stretch more than the rear lines. (they may not stretch evenly).
Occasional inspections and calibrating are important and should become part of your maintenance program. You can stretch the lines from a single point; however it is more accurate to use a tool such as the ‘line stretcher’ shown. (or a piece of wood with lag hooks works).
The benefits from this are that you can check each individual line as to the amount of stretch by how much they “sag†downward. It’s usually not much maybe a few cm’s but it does throw the kite off balance, enough to cause it to drift laterally. To compensate for any discrepancy it is best established the difference at the leaders, not the kites pigtails.
Regards,
John Bellacera
Best R+D
