I've had a few lessons and now looking at getting some gear. Although I'll probably buy one new kite, I figure I'll keep an eye out for a good 2nd hand kite as my second.

I've read plenty here about inspecting 2nd hand kites and I guess obvious damage/repairs to the fabric, bladder or lines are a giveaway, but I'm wondering whether there are any particular things that as a noob I should look out for.

Dont forget to have a good look at the bar and lines as well and check for any knots or worn lines and ask if lines have been washed.I brought one new kite when i started and then a couple that were one season old. If i had the chance again i would not buy new when starting but would get a superseeded model or one that is a season old as alot of people upgrade every year. That way when you crash it or if you have to release it you will do it quicker if it only cost you $800 instead of $1800.

bene313 said...

SaltySinus said...
Check the pig tails for wear as these give a good indication of condition and time spent in sun/salt water.

Probably the best thing you can do to stack the odds in your favour is to pick your seller. Ask the seller what size kites they have in their quiver. If they say "just a 9m" then you know that 9m has been used in all conditions each day of the week. If they have a 7/9/12 combo then the wear will have been spread relatively evenly over all kites.

There are plenty of kiters (like me) who run 3 kites and upgrade every season or two. These are the people you'll be wanting to buy gear from. You can stack the odds further in your favour if the seller has a family and a demanding job, ie. not a lot of kite time!

Agree. Whenever I sell a kite I always show it in a pic with my other kites so buyer is aware of the quiver.

Some good points above.. also it depnds on how much you are paying and knowing enough to use it as leverage to get a better price/ as compared to relying on what the seller is telling you.

1)Know what brand SPANKNG new unused fabric feels like, little tears from landing on sticks etc don't bother me but if the general fabric is just worn then the whole thing could just tear down the middle the next time you crash it. then you have a kite not worth repairing either.. that line approaches quickly on old kites!

2)Blowing up and leaving for 2 hours is good advice, and don't be fooled into thinking "it's just a little leak" as they lose more air when being flown.

3)kite stores can be ridiculously flexible with last years models and make buying second hand with no aftermarket support look crazy very quickly.

4)buying brand new means you will never second guess your equipment or have it let you down and miss a session- pity you can't buy wind :,(

wow lots of info here:
www.seabreeze.com.au/Articles/Kitesurfing/About-Buying-Second-Hand-kites_3539609.aspx

The other thing I check on a 2nd hand kite is the line lengths, to be the same as each other. There are a few videos out there on how to do this. The centre lines usually are the ones to stretch the most, and for kites older than 3 seasons, the lines may stretch by as much as 5 inches! It's an easy and free fix, so well worth a check.

[b]Eaglelad said...[/

2)Blowing up and leaving for 2 hours is good advice, and don't be fooled into thinking "it's just a little leak" as they lose more air when being flown.

Good, but in most cases not practicable, two hrs is a long time to hang around chewing the fat with a stranger...and you cant leave and come back as seller may re-inflate...