Hi everyone,

Im a newbie and in the past, ive used a 4 line kite but I picked up a 5line 2008 Ozone Instinct sport 9m. I took it out yesterday for the first time and when it was in the air, it looked like the there was alot of slack in the back lines. I did not have any real tension in the bar and I reckon there was about 17 to 20 knots. I found the kite unresponsive and difficult to control.

When i lay the lines on the ground, the 5th line is about a metre shorter than the other 4 lines. Is that the way its supposed to be?

Thoughts and comments would be appreciated.

Not sure about the Ozone but on the 5 line kites I have used in the past the 5th line is the same length as the others --> the 5th line attachment point on the kite had a line pre attached to bring it in line with the pigtails on the tips.

Depending on the length of any 5th line attachment on the kite, sounds like you have a short 5th and may need to add an extension.

If your other lines are even, and had no trim pulled in then this is what it will be.

Some 5th lines need a little slack, some like the 2007/8 Slingshot fuels were designed to be trimmed with tension depending on conditions. Check with a manual or hopefully someone here who knows the kite will reply.

It sounds to me that the backs are too long relative to the fronts. I own these kites, and pretty sure it's supposed to work like this; the front lines should be 1-2 inches longer than the rear lines. The fifth line is 1 metre shorted than the fronts.

1. Tie the front and back lines to a post with a hitch.
2. With the trim at full power (released fully), and sheeting in all the way to the chicken-loop, the rears should be 1-2 inches shorter. ie the bar should not quite reach the fully sheeted-in position on the chicken loop.
3. Ensure that the fifth line is 1 metre shorter than the fronts.

The back lines have adjusters at the end of the bar, pull them in - and if it's still not tight enough and steering properly, you may need to stretch the fronts a little bit to make the backs relatively shorter still. The fronts should stretch in though, after use.

yep, the manual is misleading and i believe is incorrect. The lines themselves are all the same length (when detached), it's the length of leaders on the bar and the 5th line connection at the kite which makes up this difference. google it you will see for yourself. i've had an ongoing nightmare myself trying to get this right. great kites btw once there set up right, just a shame ozone couldn't have made this clearer in the manual.

You will know if the fifth line length is incorrect as the kite just does not feel right, if you change it even slightly the feel goes from the kite. If it still doesn't feel right at these lengths, then the lines have probably been stretched out and need replacing. don't go changing the lengths radically with extenders, you can totally lose control - just a little bit at a time.

Cheers,

Thanks guys for all the feedback. Ill take at all onboard and will check the line lengths etc. Ive been told that the bar on the Ozone instinct 2008 doesnt have alot of tension on it so not to worry about that.

mickeeH - I think ill try pulling in the rear lines a bit. I put the lines out on the ground and the front and back lines were the same length so if ill try shorting the back lines using the adjuster and see how i go. I might give it a go tonight if i get the chance.

Blakeeddas - The kite doesnt have the knots on the lines to move up or down along unless i made a knot there myself.

Thanks.