5 line/north kite problem

Donny Baker · Since 13 Jul 2006 80 Posts

Just got a brand new, 07', rhino 12m. Flown it twice and managed both times to crash and tangle the kite. Now Ive been flying bow kites (you can fly them fine tangled) and this is my first 5 line but doesn't fly so well tangled (had to back to beach). What's the trick to keep from tangling cause every time Im out, Im trying stuff, and crashing the kite? Should I get rid of the 5th line? Whats the deal?

boonedog · Since 22 Jul 2006 49 Posts Hood River

Are you the guy with the orange and blue rhino? Probably was'nt enough wind mon night when you were heading out, to have a sucessful relaunch, but the key to the north's 5th element is to pull a steering line to get the kite back into the relaunch position (on its leading edge down on the water). even if the lines are all fuckin' tangled you should get a solid relaunch and be able to fly in to the beach. Stay with it, at least you're not flying a bow kite! yeah buddy.

Donny Baker · Since 13 Jul 2006 80 Posts

That's not me (got black and yellow). The problems not with the relaunch either. I just think that it sucks if you crash the kite it gets a tangled and you have to go back to the beach, stop, and untangle. How to prevent?

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2624 Posts The 503 METAL

I think it's also key to keep some tension in the lines after a crash while your kites in the water. I've had the center line get around the back of the kite several times now and I have to pull hard on a back line to get the center line to get back around the wing tip.

Just never let the lines get so slack that the kite can roll over on itself.

Thumb's Up

forrest · Wed Jun 20, 07 7:00 am

I'm not familiar with the 5th Element bar. Are you crashing the kite unhooked? Do you have a stopper ball on the fifth line a couple meters above the bar to limit the travel of the bar up the fifth line?

h2okiter · Since 08 Aug 2006 12 Posts Michigan New Member

as I recall you want to release the kite to the 5th line when you screw up and slack all the lines. this way you have a chance of getting it going again with out a tangle. I have only a 50% success rate with this on my Rhino07 but I have only tried it a few times. And it does seem to be an easy kite to slack the lines and get screwed up, but I had the same problem when I switched to bow kites and I would invert them. Its all just part of the learning curve with new gear I guess.