I've got a wheelie bin full of fresh water next to my car, my bar and lines get a dunk after every session then hung to drip/air dry. The only bar/line issue I've had was a brand new bar snapping, which was readily covered by warranty.

Cabrinha recommend washing your bar "from time to time" by letting it sit in a bucket of fresh water (with the lines rolled up) for 5 minutes then hang up to dry completely before storing.

I was taught by my instructor that "fresh water = mould" and have never rinsed my gear but always made sure it is 100% dry before putting it away. Never had mould on any of my gear, even after a few (6) years in storage.

IMHO the residual salt crystals absorb any moisture from humidity during storage rather than the lines or fabric absorbing it, when it dries out, the salt crystals are there for next time. Just my opinion.

Rinsing lines is a good idea so long as you hang out to dry. Sand and salt crystals are abrasive and can wear lines.

I never really bother though unless there the bar is quite sandy.

fresh water rinse everytime, so far, so good. Even my north depower line is holding up lol!
Hey Wheels, what model is that one with the magnets?

I have the same bar, done 2 season,s on it now and its as good as new but has been washed in fresh water after every use & hung up to dry.

Same with the harness, kites are a different story because they are hard to dry out but if you have sand trapped under your leading edge....

I wash my ozone bar in fresh water and my magnets have cut the neoprene also. Lasted 1 **** season then a good one. Maybe Ozone should used some glued heat shrink ott before sewing them in.

Apart from rinsing bar and lines I do the following to help maintain these items.

1. As soon as I am on the water, I do a run into deeper water and drop the kite in the water, on both sides, to help get sand out of the bridals and pulleys. At the same time I dunk the bar, depower, quick release under water. This is simply to remove some of the sand that has built up during the set up and launch phase. It is not necessary if you do this on grass.

2. After the session, and winding the lines onto the bar, I walk toward the end of lines as I wind. The alternative is standing stationary when winding - this means the lines will be dragged thru the sand, for example the line ends will be dragged around 20 metres. Remember what sand paper is made out of.

I do got look after your equipment

After each session I drop the bar in the plastic tub, fill it with water to cover, swoosh it around, then hang it in the shade to dry.

After that I swoosh the wettie, harness, whatever else.

I get about 150 hours kiting most years. My current kites have about 130 hours each and I have a bar for each kite. The kites are 3-4 years old. All my gear is in near new condition except for some minor cosmetic wear and tear and the bungies that hold the wrapped lines onto the bar are stuffed. The rubber inside the bungy has perished. I will replace the bungy this weekend.

I wash my bar and lines every session, salt and sand are the biggest killers of kite gear over time. I always tend to release my quick release and run water through it also, take care of you gear and it will take care of you.

My 2008 bar and lines from my old Cabrinhas and they look like near new, I learnt on, traveled and used these kites extensively.

I've taken a look at buying some second hand gear before and it's amazing how destroyed the gear is from people not looking after their lines, I now only buy new because of this fact.

P.S - My 2008 kites are FU**ed though - I've had repairs on each, one leading edge popped in Brazil and the other needed attention while in Egypt.
Thought about selling them but they are worth nothing, even though they fly sweet, will use them in the waves now.

ActionSportsWA said..,
salt crystals will form within the weave of the lines

Do you reckon salt likewise affects the canopy long-term?