5th Element/5th Line

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Vance
Vance
WA
65 posts
WA, 65 posts
29 May 2005 4:50pm
hey all
Whats peoples thoughts on 5th line systems?

Im thinkin of putting one on my kite and just wanna hear how it is?
Is it as good as the kite companies say it is?
pros/cons

Cheers
dachopper
dachopper
WA
1806 posts
WA, 1806 posts
29 May 2005 7:23pm
pro's - bigger wind range, as stops kite " bending" in strong gusts and funneling wind to the center of kite, and smothens out the gusts slightly.

relaunch the kite without swimming while leaving your board on your feet in minimal time

ride with a leash and safety that's easy to use and to re-attatch in the water

cons - some 5th line producing companies havn't put a stopper on the 5th line... so when you engage your safety.. your bar will fly to your kite and create a BIG mess, aswell as nearly being impossible to relaunch in the water due to the tanglethe non stopper 5th line safety causes.... so make sure you get a stopper standard, or fit one that has been properly adjusted before hand.

yes you can wrap your kite up in the 5th line : when........ if there is no wind, is it possible for it to twist wierd ways when jellying / luffing or even on relaunch due to the low wind ammount, and not enough aerodynamics for the 5th line to take up the slack, and keep the kite in it's proper shape... It has happened to me.. and your kite will not rip in half if it does happen due to low wind.. just pull the 5th line in untill it unwraps.. If there is enough wind to kite upwind.. i have never had it wrap up, and the only other time it could happen is in the surf... and it could destroy your kite.. but surf destroys all kites, 5th line or not... atleast you have a faster chance of relaunching it with one attatched.....
also some people comment on having 5 lines out from your bar? if thats a problem you can allways run your front lines of a single line for 5 meters and then split it into two.. so you still have four lines at the bar... your best opinion will be after you've tried one
Andrew
Andrew
WA
148 posts
WA, 148 posts
30 May 2005 9:16am
Ive mucked around designing and creating 5th line systems... and at the end of the day Ive come to the conclusion that the disadvantages of the 5th line out weigh the advantages. Maybe if you flew in continuous and very gusty conditions and are a learner, then maybe you would prefer the 5th line for the instant de-power... but then why would you be learning in these conditions anyway? 4 lines are so simple and easy to use... especially when compared to the 2 line set-ups we used to use with no depower!
Trant
Trant
NSW
601 posts
NSW, 601 posts
30 May 2005 12:07pm
For me

Pros : Spinning leash, super quick relaunch, greater wind range, Rhino Vs don't fly without 'em.

Cons : Exponentially increases set up time, that additional line just seems to entangle so much more easily. Freaking out whenever I drop the kite in surf. (Yet to rip a kite though) North setup needs retrimming after a few sessions.

Bit of give and take really, I only find it a disadvantage off the water when I'm setting the kite up, other than that, it's all good.
not on board
not on board
210 posts
210 posts
30 May 2005 10:58am
I have converted two old kites with the 5th line. For one it was to improve relaunch as the kite is a 20m and hard to roll over. The second had canopy stretch and was doing a bit of the jelly but 5th line has noticibly improved the kites ability to handle gusts and maintain proper shape. Have not rolled either over in waves as yet.
NJPornstar
NJPornstar
WA
790 posts
WA, 790 posts
30 May 2005 4:41pm
Seting up 5 line is easy for me?

-keep your lines straight-unroll your lines the same way you rolled them up
-dont let your girl friend or anyone else roll up the bar.
-Unroll your bar, up wind of the kite so when sorting the lines all the tangles get blown down wind
-When you use it and play with it some more there is too many advantages to even consider using 4 lines again?
Vance
Vance
WA
65 posts
WA, 65 posts
30 May 2005 7:59pm
Thanks for all the input guys
It was mostly positive so im gonna end up putting the 5th Element setup on my kite soon.
Thanks again.
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