Guys,

Im still a complete gumby so I generally end up packing up covered in sand, I give my bar and lines a good dip in the water before I leave so they are generally sand free. But when I get home I need to pump back up on the front lawn to dry my kite out and brush off all the sand.
I wash off my harness and board with fresh water, but thats generally it. I dont wash my kite (personally dont like mushrooms growing on my kite), or my bar and lines.

So Im throwing this one out there...Whats your ritual when you get home after a kite?

Cheers

General if you are kiting in salt water you don't have to wash it or dry it as mould only grows in fresh water. So never pack up wet kite that you have washed. I have a friend that left a salty wet kite at his folks house for 6 months. It was still wet when he unpacked it but no mould or damage.
It is better to let the kite dry and shake sand off the kite than brush off. Brushing off can scratch off the coating on the fabric.
The only thing I do is wash the bar and lines in fresh water. I soak my lines in fresh water for about 10 minutes. The reason I do this is salt crystals can form in the lines and cut the lines from inside out

Gotta be careful about storing wet kites, Colours will run.

dejavugraham said...

I wash my gear in fresh water when I get home. I then hang the gear up on hangers to drip dry. I figure that there are lots of rubber and perishable parts that with salt will perish. The bladder is rubber as well and this will perish more quickly if left salty. Once all is dry I pack up ready to go for the next day.

There is zero rubber in your kite. The bladders are made from PU its a type of plastic that is not affected by water or salt. Your entire kite and all of its components are made from plastic type materials, that are designed for use in salt water.

The potential to damage your kite by washing and letting it hang somewhere that wind may cause it to get cut on nearby stuff is real. Fresh water washing will cause your kite to grow mould.

Follow IanR's and particularly Waxmans method for a more relaxed and stress free life after kiting!

I agree with everynes comments on not washing your kite after a session. But just want to add if yu are using a bridled kite with pulleys. Give them a quick spray with wd40 every few weeks to prevent rust Killing the metal component of the pulley.