BACKGROUND: Had a little incident last weekend. Long story short, the monkey fists on the pulley (centre lines) of this kite are too small, it's always worried me and sure enough I had one slip off. So kite loops and washes up, ended up with a few minor cuts in the kite (none bigger than 2 inches). One of the cuts was on the leading edge (15mm; no bladder puncture) but got that patched up too as its a stress point.

This morning before going out, I put an extra knot at the end of the monkey fists on each side.

Anyhow: went out today in gusty 24knts and holy ** balls, does this kite now fly like a TURD! It's used to be such a sweet flying kite... Basically it was flapping up and down, tips open and closing as it shifted up and down. Under load it got worse: as if the kite was too flat, too "open". I came off the water to land the kite because I thought I had a flat leading edge - seriously that's how bad the kite was flying! Relaunched to try again and it was so bad it was throwing itself around like a ADD child on speed, having an epileptic attack. It was just not rideable.

I've checked the bridle line distances and dimesions and all are exact to manufacturer's lengths.

WHAT COULD IT BE:

1). Extra knot in the monkey fists has shortened the centre lines (by maybe 3cm): would that cause such a degradation of performance! I thought by powering up the kite slightly I could compensate for the 3cm shorter centre lines...

2). Was the bladder not put back in correctly after the repair to the leading edge? I didn't notice the kite lying down in any asymmetrical way - just that it seemed too wide spread, too open. Even on its back, walking it back to the car. I couldn't see the slightest fold in the leading edge. But I suppose it could be this...?

3). The fabric has stretched and/or the repair patches failed to keep the original proportions of the kite. I doubt it: the repairs are tiny. Nothing that should be able to alter the curve of the leading edge...

I've reverted the monkey fists lines back to the original, so will try to see what it flies like tomorrow. But I'm curious to get some feedback from you guys, what do you think could be the cause??

Thanks

Dutch

I took my 8 out yesterday arvo too at cronulla, not sure where you are but the wind was super gusty punchy style also massively switching direction a lot. Obviously if you've removed x amount from the rear lines you must pull on x times 2 on your depower line

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Had the kite pumped up to 6.5psi.

It's on a 4line set up, no 5th.

Yeah it was super gusty, but I was out with 4 other kiters and none of of their kites behaved like mine.

I remember reading a thread on here about bladder semi twists. Can't find it anywhere though.

WA Surf said...
strange, as we teach on evo's 2012 & 2013, and have taught on almost exclusively Norths for the past few (3-4) years and I don't think we have EVER had an issue with the size of the knots on the lines.

Don't want to sound like I am trying to tell you how to rig, but perhaps make sure you are pulling the loop down hard against the knot and then pulling the lines to bed it in.

Cheers WA Surf. Yeah I make a habit of doing that. Even wet the knot (spit if I have to) and pull to put tension in the connection. Couple of mates in UK and Spain have had the same issue, all on 2012 kites Evos and Neos). Bought a 2013 2 months ago and the monkey fists are 2x the size!

Went out today at Deewhy, with the monkey knots back in original trim (ie without the extra knot) and the kite flew like it used to. So; lesson learned. Take 3cm off length of the monkey fist line and the kite becomes unflyable!

Anyway, happy to be flying high again. Thanks all of you who gave some feedback.