What to Look for When Buying a Used Kite and Kiteboard

2nd Mitt Kitesurfing Buyers Guide

Buying a second hand kite can be a great way to get into kitesurfing and save yourself more a few dollars! But beware, there are enough of pitfalls that come up with ownership a second hand kite, and so here'due south what to practice and what to look out for when shopping for used kite gear.

How Old is the 2nd Hand Kitesurfing Equipment?

The beginning thing y'all want to expect at it is how quondam the kite is. The older a kite, the more issues you are likely to encounter. Additionally, the older the gear is the more difficult information technology will be to acquire with, to buy spare parts for, and to find information about.

Equally a rule of thumb, never buy a used kite more than five years sometime if yous can avoid it. There are exceptions to every dominion of course, but this a good guideline to work with.

The master issue that comes with age is Valve Delamination. This is the failure of the mucilage that attaches your valves to your kite's bladders (bladders are what contains the air inside the leading edge & struts, valves are the points where y'all pump them up or they connect to each other). Fortunately, this is something that can be repaired, simply it'southward a fiddly job and will cost you a scrap in spare parts (and many hours of your life) if you do information technology yourself, and can exist a bit expensive in labour if you lot pay an expert to do it.

Valves will delaminate from the bladders regardless of whether or non the kite has been used. What is far more important is how it has been stored, and in what climate/conditions. Don't be led astray past a kite that'south "new condition" or "never been used", there's a adept run a risk old valves will neglect regardless.

Some kites are more than prone to this than others. This upshot is much more than prevalent in hot & humid climates. Bottom line is, if y'all're buying a used kite more than than iv or 5 years one-time, expect to demand to replace valves within the first half dozen-12 months of using it and factor this into the price.

What Condition is the Used Kiting Gear in?

Next upwardly and closely related to the first is the condition of the equipment. This may or may not be related to the age of the gear, sometimes a kite was a 2 year old model when someone bought it and information technology hasn't been used a whole lot. Sometimes it's only a twelvemonth old only the passenger kites 5 days a week and crashes hard all 24-hour interval.

Key indicators of condition are the "crispiness" of the material, how crunchy or crinkly it sounds when y'all move it, as well as looking at common wear points for the kite. These include the trailing border, where information technology flaps in the wind you volition often see hairline creases and some softening of the material, and the scuff pads along the Leading Edge, where you volition often run across some fraying and loose threads appearing due to clothing/friction over fourth dimension.

The bar is also a good indicator of condition, how frayed, faded or "fluffy" the lines are, however go along in mind that the bar and the kite may not ever exist the same historic period, or there may not be a bar at all! Which brings u.s. to:

What is Included with the Used Kite Gear?

Yous're going to want to check what's included with this used kite. Does it have a bar? How about a pump? Safety leash? Pocketbook? Virtually of these things can exist bought separately, merely they're all an additional toll. Always account for this when looking at a used kite.

It's quite mutual for kites to be sold with no bar these days, many people run only 1 or 2 bars beyond their quiver of kites. If you're looking at relatively new equipment, many kites and bars are cantankerous compatible with only some minor adaptations needed. Still, condom systems and other performance differences can vary so it'southward nearly always a good idea to fly a kite on it's original bar, peculiarly as a beginner where issues may not be obvious.

You'll need a bar to suit the kite and a pump with the appropriate fitting to arrange the kite you're getting. You'll besides need a condom ternion (though these tin be bought separately quite easily) equally this is integral to a functioning safety/flagging system. Kites normally come in a bag, it'south not really necessary, but does offer a lot of protection and simplicity to using your kite.

Does it Matter if a Second Hand Kite has Repairs?

It'southward pretty common for kites to go damaged during use, afterward all they're only calorie-free weight canopy material and information technology's not all that hard to rip or tear at the end of the day.

People tend to worry nigh repairs a lot when ownership a used kite, but frequently it'southward not that big of a deal.  Canopy repairs, if they're professionally done, are largely a cosmetic consequence and it's very unlikely that your kite will fail in a place where it'due south already been sewn upwards, information technology'due south probably the strongest part of the kite!

Repairs tin have some effect on performance, they add weight and impact how the kite stretches and moves in the air, withal information technology's pretty rare for this to accept a noticeable impact. That existence said they're not completely without risk, and a dodgy repair can cause issues, and then information technology's always worth taking a conscientious look and seeing if you tin go the history behind a repair on a used kite.

Repairs are frequently better used every bit an indicator of how well the kite has been treated, and the thing to wait for hither is frequency rather than size.  One big repair might but be the result of an otherwise careful rider having a big stack and ditching it, or a stray tree branch floating in the water.  Half a dozen small-scale repairs is a practiced indication the previous owner is perchance a little less cautious with their equipment than others, or that the kite cloth is deteriorating and more prone to tearing.

Float repairs are also pretty common.  Unfortunately there's non really any way to know if a bladder has been repaired, not without taking the kite apart to find out.  This is a time consuming and risky procedure, especially for the inexperienced.

Mostly, if it pumps upwards and holds air for a decent amount of time you're going to be good.  Bladder repairs either piece of work or they don't.  If someone has done a dodgy abode-made repair it can potentially fail down the line, but there isn't a lot you can do almost it unfortunately.

Bladder repairs exercise oftentimes coincide with a sewn repair on the LE or struts though, and then if you can see a professional repair in these areas in that location's a good chance the bladder has been repaired too.  Best way to become here is simply ask the seller if the bladder has been repaired professionally, replaced, or patched by themselves.

What is this Kite Designed to do?

Not all kites are created equal. These days, the vast majority of kites from major manufacturers are quite easy to utilise and will accommodate a beginner fine. All the same, they nearly all yet make at least 1 high performance C kite for dedicated freestyle riding that isn't going to be suitable for a beginner at all. If a kite is significantly cheaper than other comparable year models, there's a adept chance it's because it's a much less popular model. This can be because it's fabricated for a very niche use (high finish freestyle/wakestyle, racing etc.) or simply because it was a bit of a dud model that year and nobody really liked it. This does happen from fourth dimension to time.

We'll practice a more than in-depth article on different types/styles of kites and features in the future, merely in this commodity we're but focusing on the basics of second hand kites in general, so nosotros'll leave it upward to you to further research the specific kites you're looking at. Just exist aware that 2 kites that appear similar but are being sold at significantly different prices are probably more unlike that you lot realise.

Who Manufactures this Kite?

In that location are a lot of kite manufacturers, many have come and gone over the years only there are a few that have stuck it out for a long fourth dimension, and there's generally a reason for that. Always look for a used kite by a well known brand if you can. You lot'll nearly always be able to find much more information on the performance and features of a kite from a well known manufacturer, so you'll be able to make a much more educated decision as to how suitable it is. You'll also find it a lot easier to get spare parts, suitable accessories (such as a bar), and even observe videos/manufactures on how to service, repair and change your gear.

Many major companies still have the specs, details and product information bachelor on their websites (archived under twelvemonth model) for older equipment. Online content creators and forums besides will frequently have reviews, discussion and write ups on these kites too.

Ownership an unknown is comparatively risky, you'll often salvage a niggling due to lower demand for less known used gear, just the risk is often not worth information technology, as y'all may stop upwards with something either expensive to repair or modify to make information technology suitable, or in some cases it might just be totally useless for you.

So What Should I Look for in a Second Hand Kite?

So to wrap that all upwardly for you, when you're buying a used kite you want to buy something that'southward non too erstwhile (regardless of condition) and not too worn out. Ideally a kite less than five years sometime that's been used irregularly or is role of someone's large quiver. Yous're going to want to make sure it has everything you lot need included (bar, pump, leash) and if not, let some budget to buy these separately. Yous as well want to practice a little inquiry (probably why you lot're here!) and figure out the specifics of the model and manufacturer to ensure you're getting something suitable and serviceable.

Hopefully this helps, nosotros've got a huge range of second manus kitesurfing equipment here on the site and are more than happy to help yous find something to suit your needs.  If you lot've got any questions feel gratuitous to contact us for more information on our used kiting gear.

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Source: https://www.kitesurfaustralia.com.au/blogs/articles-faqs/buying-second-hand-kitesurfing-gear