VIC
428 posts
Had the misfortune to break my pump yesterday - picked up a brand new spiffy one with a pressure guage...only problem now is that instead of pumping the kite up by "feel", I'm now wondering how many psi is right?
I'm thinking less pressure for higher winds and higher pressure for lighter winds. Always been careful not to explode the leading edge - but whats reasonable???
I fly Naish Aero 2's, 12 & 16.
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...that name again is Mr Plow
SA
70 posts
Ive ridden on Naish for a couple of seasons now and I pump them up pretty hard. I pump until im stuffed. when i flick the bladder it makes a hollow kind of noise, so thats what I go by. Naish bladders are pretty good, out of my last 12 or so Naish kites only one has had a hole. Cheers
WA
320 posts
Makes you wonder why the manufacturers don't specify a working preasure.
A hard bladder certainly makes it easier to relaunch from the water.......more rigidity. I can't see that a floppy shape would be good for aerodynamics either.
WA
1097 posts
WELL MOST LADIES LIKE IT HARD.
I WONDER WHAT THE FOIL GIRLFRIENDS THINK...
IN ALL SERIOUSNESS I RECON A KITE SHUD BE AS HARD AS POSS WITHOUT OVERPUMPING.
THEY ARE DESIGND TO BE RIGID AND IF THEY ARENT PUMPED PROPERLY THEY JELLYFISH LIKE AN OLD WIPPICA (YES WE ALL REMEMBER)
ITS LIKE NOT PROPERLY INFLATING UR LOW PROFILE PERFORMANCE TYRE. IT MAY BE A HIGH PERFORMANCE BUT IF IT DONT HAVE THE CORRECT AIR PRESSURE IT WILL HANDLE LIKE A TRACTOR TYRE.
THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH SUCH A RIGID DESIGN THESE DAYS IS IF THE KITE TURNS ITSELF INSIDE OUT IT BASICALLY SELF DESTRUCTS.
THE WAY TO AVOID THIS IS DONT DROP UR KITE.
WA
206 posts
Mr Plow,
I don't think you can have a PSI measurement that will be correct 100% of the time. Things like air temperature and more importantly water temperature, in the case of dropping the kite, will alter the pressure inside the bladder. Our ocean is fairly cool compared to the outside temperature on a summers day so the pressure will drop markedly if the kite is left in the water for an extended period, e.g. if you're having troubles relaunching. Also the river temperature in winter gets mighty cold, if you kite there. For this reason I generally pump the bladders up a little bit harder rather than softer. I agree with the point of easier water relaunchability of a more rigid kite. I couldn't tell you what a starting-point PSI would be, but when you do find out, keep all these other factors in mind.
WA
13 posts
the new slingshot pumps come with the PSI meter, they recomend you pump up to about 6-7 psi but keep in mind this is for a brand new kite, bladders will eventualy loose there capability to hold as much air as they did when they were new
