Broneah Kiteboarding – We Build Kiteboarders – kitesurfing, kiteboard, kitesurf, lessons, camp
Author: Matt and Keegan Myers, with PASA Examiner Chris Moore
Published: Kiteboarding Magazine, www.kiteboardingmag.com
Leaky bladders are no fun, but sooner or later you will need to perform some bladder repair. Lay the kite flat to access the damaged bladder. You will need to thread a line through the bladder housing as you remove the bladder. This will aid you in reinserting it.
If it is a leading-edge bladder, open the bladder housing at the wingtip and attach a line to one end of the bladder. Now, pull that side of the bladder out through the access pocket near the middle of the leading edge, which will pull the line through the housing at the same time. Repeat on the other side with a new line.
If it is a strut bladder, attach the line to the bladder nipple and close the valve around the line so it doesn’t slip out. Now push the bladder nipple through the hole and inside the bladder housing. Gently pull the bladder out the end of the housing. That will pull the line through the housing.
Fill the bladder with air and submerge it under clear water to look for escaping air bubbles. Wipe the bladder dry and circle the holes with a black felt-tip marker. Cut a round patch from the bladder repair kit that comes with the kite to eliminate the tendency for the corners to lift. Use a template such as a quarter to get a nice round circle.
Deflate the bladder and apply the glue and patch carefully to avoid wrinkles. Give it several minutes to dry, then check for additional leaks and allow the bladder to dry before reinserting it into the kite.
Reinsert the bladder by attaching the line to the end of the bladder (LE repair) or to the nipple (strut repair) and gently pulling the bladder through the housing. It is very important to have the bladder the correct side up, and there should be NO twisting nor excessive wrinkling.
If you are having problems, try these tips: Make sure the bladder is completely dry. Coat the bladder with talcum powder to help it slide in easier. Mark the seams of the bladder with a black felt-tip marker so you can see this line as you insert the bladder, and line up the inside seam with the outside seam on the housing.
