Dual Line Sport Kites
Part 3 - Kite tips for safety, maintenance, repairs and more...
Equipment : Lines, handles, winders
75 feet of 80lb spectra is a good length of line for doing tricks. If there is less wind use 65 feet or for more wind 85 feet. Some people use 50 feet or less to really get close to the kite so you can see what on earth it's doing. Precision flying is done on 100 - 150 feet of 150lb line, possibly dynema. Make sure your lines are of equal length. You'll need to adjust the length by undoing all the knots in the sleeve at the end of the longer line, and pulling some line through, redoing the knots, and checking the lengths of both lines to see they match. Dynema stretches after the first few flights, but should then settle so that you don't have to do any more adjusting. Learn a larks head knot and the few knots you might find useful for kite flying. Below - 2 stakes for your lines for use in strong wind. One is good for sand or loose gravel, the other, with a golf ball on top is easier to push into the ground in grass fields
Equipment : Health and care
Get sunglasses to block out all that bright UV light that does no good to your eyes. Looking up at the sky all day can certainly tire your eyes out, and in the long run even damage them, I think. Sun blocker cream is good to keep in your kite bag ( perhaps in a plastic bag in case it leaks ! ) for your face in Summer months, and a cap or hat can keep your brains from frying. Take some drink with you or leave it in the car, and a cardigan or top to keep you warm once the cool evening breeze sets in. You might find yourself flying later, you see, as the wind can be more consistent at the end of the day.
Maintenance : Parts which break !
Here are some parts that seem to bust now and then ! Don't be alarmed, kites break, especially when you are learning tricks - but the important thing to remember is that nearly everything can be fixed ! Maybe a few spares can help save the day, and keep you flying your kite of choice without having to pack up and head home. In the picture below you can see from left to right a broken plastic wingtip and a new one, a centre T below, a leading edge fitting, two stop collars, and some super glue ( right now I need to glue the stop collars to stop my upper spreader from slipping.... one came loose and popped off, and the other must have come loose in a crash. )
Above : bits and pieces / keep some spares. Below : I need to glue 3 stop collars in place on the leading edges of my Phantom UL.
Warning : beware of dog attacks and don't kill people.
Stop flying altogether if people get in the way. A local kite club is worth joining if it can insure you. People have no idea how dangerous it can be to walk under a kite, and they'll happily stop for a chat right below your diving stunt kite ! Also, beware of dogs. I have never had a dog attack my kite, but I have experienced the threat and come close on several occasions. Dog owners might even pretend it's not their Alsatian madly jumping up and down waiting for the wind to die down and drop your kite in its jaws. I wear sandals, and the thought has occurred to me that if a dog is about to attack my expensive kite I can always take off my shoe and throw it at the dog to scare him off. Dogs hate that.... and you'll probably miss, and even if you don't I doubt you'll hurt it much... In any case get your second shoe ready in a threatening position ; maybe the owner will take note and call his attack dog off !
