I recently bought a second hand kite and discovered shortly after that the centre lines are way longer than the back lines. The back lines have been fully lengthened. To correct this somewhat I've been able to adjust the knots where the bridles attach and fly with the trim strap pulled in. This is not ideal as I effectively now have no depower left. Are there other ways of shortening the centre lines? Or would a better alternative be to just go out and buy brand new lines?

Just add a set of short line extensions (few CM) to your back lines, problem solved.

An easy solution is to use a lighter to gently heat the lines.
The heat will make the plastic material in the lines shrink up to 10%.
so if you do this over a meter, you will get approx 10cm reduction in length

Thanks for the suggestion, but for now I'm gonna go with the option that doesn't involve holding a naked flame to my gear :)

flyingcab said..
Also an easy way to reduce your kite size if its blowing is to do the same method, once again takes about 10% out of the overall size.
So a 10m can easily become a 9m if you need.

I had to read this a few times. Are you suggesting heating up your kite to make it smaller?

flyingcab said...
Also an easy way to reduce your kite size if its blowing is to do the same method, once again takes about 10% out of the overall size.
So a 10m can easily become a 9m if you need.

Had this happen to me once in summer left my kite in my car on a few hot days turned my 12meter into a 9 u gotto be really careful with them and heat

HotPies said..

flyingcab said...
Also an easy way to reduce your kite size if its blowing is to do the same method, once again takes about 10% out of the overall size.
So a 10m can easily become a 9m if you need.

Wow, didn't know that. I wonder if freezing has the opposite effect. If I put a 10m in the freezer overnight will it turn into an 11m? lol

Thats just stupid, the polyester composite wouldn't react, it needs heat.