I was under the impression that north were defo one of the best kites on the market......

Last year i decided to splash out on a brand new Rebel 9m 2010 for the conditions in perth, was so happy with this kite that when i got news i was going to brissie, bought a 12 rebel 2008.... everthing was going well until, both of my kites got pin holes in very similar positions.......

Around my stick on valves.

2008 right up on the seam of my dump valve,

and

2010 is right up on one of the feeder valve to one of my struts.

So just to clarify both are just on the valve lips on the bladder of the leading edge.....

I wouldn't mind if it was from weatrand tear or crashing.... but these points are un-exposed.

should this turn me off north or... ????

Did'nt have a camera with me today,whilst trying to repair.
If i have to go at them again i will take pics for sure....

I have done some repair to them personally. but not sure how good the repair was.... hope it lasts.....

are new bladders available if my repair efforts are/were sh1t.

are they expensive of do you look towards new/used kites??

Kevin Toomey said...

Did'nt have a camera with me today,whilst trying to repair.
If i have to go at them again i will take pics for sure....

I have done some repair to them personally. but not sure how good the repair was.... hope it lasts.....

are new bladders available if my repair efforts are/were sh1t.

are they expensive of do you look towards new/used kites??

You do not need to purchase new bladders if you get punctures and even very large rips can be fixed with the product called "Tear Aid". Once a bladder is repaired with Tear Aid it is stronger than new and will not blow out in the area again. Check the large gash we repaired in the pic on this link.

http://www.kitepower.com.au/catalog/product_17085_Tear_Aid_Bladder_Repair_Tape_cat_325.html

Hi Kevin sound to me as if its the valves that have delaminated usually due to getting to hot in car, pretty easy to fix, and all brands can do it ,I can talk you through it but better over phone , than on the computer,will say most people get a pro to do this sort of thing , mainly because if you do it wrong it can get costly
hope this helps
George

VERY, VERY easy to repair, even after you have botched it, heres what you do.

buy some stormsure glue (this is a glue that cures to form its own patch)

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Stormsure-15-g-Kleber-Nylon-Neopren-Gummi-Latex-PVC-PU-/260702928382?pt=Tauchzubeh%C3%B6r&hash=item3cb31afdfe

some clarke rubber's stock it (call ahead, not all have it).

this stuff is especially good for fixing botch jobs, just cover any areas which are not sealed, it will stop the air as well as hold the bladder together.

let it cure overnight

done.

send me a message if you need more details, but trust me, this stuff is easy, i have fixed many bladders with it, including fixing completely detatched valves and holes near seams/valves

why would you want a Ferarri in the first place ?

very expensive, difficult to start, and many are owned by onboxious w@nkers [}:)]

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Gromets-Smashing-it-up-on-an-old-C-kite/

Usher is the Michael Jackson of our time... according to Usher!

North is only the Ferrari of kites... according to North!

This happens to all kites mate.

In anything over 30 degrees keep your kites indoors if you can and DONT leave them to cook in the back of your car for too long.

A couple of years ago I had three kites leak from the valves in a week when the temperature went +35. All the kite shops in Vic run out of replacement valves due to the demand, so I wasn't alone.

Valve replacement and bladder repair is easy. Bladder replacement isn't, as the U Stick orange bladder and struts are useless, I have had no end of trouble with them and now go back to the original manufacturer for bladder / strut replacement.