USER MANUAL 2013 BLADEKITEBOARDING

Transcription

1 BLADEKITEBOARDING USER MANUAL 2013

2 Table of Contents Release of Liability Safety First Bar Overview Kite Overview Wind Range Control System and Lines Mad2 (Multi-valve Airflow Distribution) System Attaching Control System to Kite Kite Tuning Kite Care Repairs Warranty Policy

3 WARNING Read this manual in its entirety and do not use this product until you fully understand the safety cautions, warnings and instructions which are for your safety and the safety of those around you when kiting. Kiteboarding can be a very enjoyable sport, but should be approached in an educated and responsible manner. This manual does not replace proper kiteboarding instruction and we strongly encourage you to seek professional guidance from professional instructors and experienced kiteboarders before attempting to operate this product. Welcome to the Blade family and thank you for purchasing Blade kites! We hope you will enjoy kiteboarding with our top quality 2012 kites. In the following manual you will find safety guidelines, precautions, and information on assembling and caring for your new kite. If any information you may seek is missing from this manual, please feel free to write us an with any of your questions or comments at support@bladekites.com. Enjoy and hope to see you out on the water soon! Important: For those under the age of 18, a parent or guardian should review this manual and statements. This product should not be used unless under the close supervision of an adult who has read and understood all aspects of this manual. Once again, no actual kiteboarding should take place without proper guidance from a licensed instructor

4 Release of liability The purchaser/user and the parent/guardian of users under the age of 18 are agreeing to be bound to the terms set forth below and require anyone using this product to be bound by such terms. Anyone who does not agree with these terms and is not willing to abide by them should return the product immediately before use. The use of a Blade Kite and any of its components exposes the user to certain inherent risks, dangers and hazards, which can result in property loss or damage and significant personal injury including permanent paralysis or death. The purchaser/user freely assumes and accepts any and all such risks, both unknown and known, while using this equipment. The risks inherent in the sport can be greatly reduced by abiding the Safety Guidelines listed in the User s Manual. It is also recommended that the purchaser/user seek professional instruction before attempting to use this equipment. By purchasing and using this product, the purchaser/user hereby releases Blade, its principles, directors, officers, agents, distributors, representatives, employees, volunteers, and their insurance from any and all liability, claims, and demands of any nature for any and all injury or damage as a result of using this product, to the fullest extent permitted by law. This agreement shall be effective and binding upon all heirs, next of kin, executors, administrators, assigns, and representatives in the event of the incapacity or death of the purchase/user. Safety First General Safety Be familiar with your gear and safety mechanisms.make sure to test them often, as this is the best way to prepare for emergency situations. Always check gear before going in the water. Never fly your kite with worn lines or a torn canopy. Make sure the kite is used with compatible gear (for further inquiries on which equipment is compatible, please us at support@bladekites. com). Never permanently attach yourself to the kite, control bar or lines. Never hold the kite by the Flying or Bridle Lines. Never use this product without a kite safety leash. A loose kite is extremely dangerous to everyone around you. Always secure an inflated kite when not in use. Make sure all users of this gear have proper training and are in good physical health when operating the equipment. Do not use this product if you are not a good swimmer. In entering this agreement the purchaser/user shall not rely on any oral or written representations or statements other than what is set forth in this Agreement Act. If you are reading this manual it most likely means you have already fallen in love with the sport of kiteboarding. In order to be able to continue kiting at your favorite local spot without harming you and those around you, take time to familiarize yourself with the safety related topics listed below

5 Weather Related Safety: Learn to use this kite in light weather conditions. Avoid offshore winds. Use extreme caution when kiting during onshore winds. Get information on wind, tidal, and sea current conditions at your kiting location. Be careful of wave conditions. Do not use this product in severe weather such as thunderstorms or lightning. Never use this product with winds stronger than your ability level. Be aware of changing and unpredictable winds. Launching Responsibly Your launch area should be clear of all obstacles. DO NOT SET UP YOUR KITE FOR A STRAIGHT DOWNWIND LAUNCH! This will cause the kite to fly through the power window and will endanger your life and the lives of those around you. In most situations, the safest way to launch would be when the kite is between from the wind direction (downwind is 180 when the wind is blowing on your back). When launching your kite, it is advisable for your partner to hold the bottom half of the kite. This will ensure the kite does not drag along the ground at the initial time of launching. Make sure you launch in a slow and controlled manner. Launch the kite at an angle, NOT STRAIGHT DOWNWIND! Location Related Safety Do not use this kite near power lines, telephone poles, airports and streets. Keep your kite and flying lines away from people and obstacles. Always fly in open and clear area. Make sure all spectators and obstacles are upwind of you, particularly when launching or landing your kite. Flying Lines Related Safety Flying lines and bridles can cause serious injury when under tension. Always keep your lines away from people. NEVER attempt to grab a kite by the lines or bridle. Never allow anyone to get in between you and the kite while flying the kite. Check your flying lines for knots before attempting to connect to the canopy. Do not make any additional knots in the flying lines, all necessary line adjustments should be made to the Leading Lines

6 bar overview Kite overview Front Flying Line Rear Flying Line Swiwel Leadind Edge Trailing Edge Rear Leader Line Bar Throw Adjustmant Tab Clam Cleat Foam Velcro Hook Strut Bar Stick front bridle Slider Cover Safety Ring Rear bridle Chicken Loop Donkey DIck 07 08

7 WIND RANGE CONTROL SYSTEM AND LINES The following chart is an approximate kite size vs. wind strength reference for a kiter weighing 75 kg on a 132cm x 41cm Sanchez board. Actual use may vary with body weight, ability level, board size, and water conditions. Use these numbers only as a recommendation. TRIGGER Size Wind (knots) Beginner Intermediate/Expert PRIME Size Wind (knots) Beginner Intermediate/Expert 7 N/A N/A N/A N/A FAT LADY Size Wind (knots) Beginner Intermediate/Expert Before your first assembly, it is important that you take time to learn some of the features in your new Blade Kite and prepare the kite for future launchings. Checking Line Lengths All bars come assembled with lines and pass thorough quality control; however, it is important to make sure all lines are at equal lengths before your first launch and every few launches thereafter. Lay out your control bar and lines, make sure that the lines are not tangled or crossed. Take a small rod and attach all four lines to the rod (see figure on opposite page). With the depower strap fully released, grab the control bar. Having a partner holding the rod taut, stand directly in line with the rod and pull on the control bar with even force on both sides, straightening the lines. Make sure that the bar is parallel with your shoulders. If the bar stays parallel with your shoulders when all four lines are in even tension and the swivel dome is not more than 2 inches (5cm) from control bar, the kite is ready for inflation. If the tension is not even in all four lines and the bar is tilted in even the slightest bit, the lines need to be adjusted. Do not adjust the Flying Lines! Make the lines shorter by making knots in the Leading Lines only. Note: This does not guarantee a perfectly tuned kite for all kiters and conditions. Finer adjustments can be made depending on each kiter s preferences (see Tuning)

8 The Slider Quick Release System The Slider QR System is important for releasing power in an uncontrolled kite and emergency situations. The newly designed system is made from composite plastic for longer lasting, corrosion free, and simple functionality. When activated while the leash is connected to the safety ring alone, the kite will lose all power and drop, remaining attached by one of the center flying lines. Always check the mechanism before attempting to launch. This device has a limited lifetime, and it is recommended to change the mechanism after 400 hours of kiting. Rinse the system in fresh water after every session. To Reconnect: Pull the safety line towards you until you can grab the bar. While holding QR slider in the open position, place the bullet pin in the chicken loop slot of the QR. Let the QR slider move down to its locked position. To Activate: Grab the yellow colored release slider. Force it up towards the bar. Once the QR is activated, let go of the system. Donkey Dick The control system is designed with a finger that prevents you from accidentally detaching from the kite. Before attempting to connect the loop and finger to your harness, make sure you have properly set your lines and attached them to the kite without any tangles or twists

9 Chicken Loop All Blade Chicken Loops come from the factory in one standard size. For those riders who enjoy frequent unhooked riding, Blade offers a bigger chicken loop that can be easily installed (see Repairs). Do take into account this will cause the bar to be situated further from the rider and is not compatible with the donkey dick. SWIVEL Adjustable Bar Throw The position of the depower cleat can be adjusted to add or decrease the bar throw. This can be easily adjusted on the beach within seconds: Loosen the bar throw adjustment tab. Pull the depower line so that the cleat is positioned at the desired position. To even out the lines coming out of the QR, pull the shorter one of the two until they are even. The swivel needs to be rinsed in fresh water after each session. For best results, soak the swivel with water before each use. The Kite Leash The kite leash should be connected to secure the kite to the rider. This leash secures the kite to the rider when the chicken loop is unhooked as well as when the Slider QR System is activated. To attach, simply connect kite leash clip to safety ring. Once the Chicken Loop is disconnected from the rider for any reason, the kite leash will pull on one of the front flying lines, causing the kite to lose power and fall to the water

10 ADJUSTABLE BAR ENDS The Uni Control Bar has two bar length settings: 44cm and 52cm. The bar comes standard from the factory on the 52cm setting. You can easily change the length in a matter of seconds: Expose the knots on the leader lines by pulling the float up 20cm. Untie the Lark s Head knot from the leader line and pull the line off. Attach the leader line to the inner knot using the same Lark s Head knot. Slide the float on top of the knot. MAD2 (Multi-valve Airflow Distribution) System MAD SYSTEM - INFLATING THE KITE WARNING: Do not over inflate; this may cause damage to the internal bladder. Do not under inflate; this will cause poor kite performance. The MAD2 system is Blade s second generation inflation system. This system allows inflation of all the bladders through the Leading Edge (LE) valve. The MAD2 units connect each strut to the LE bladder. The new molded valves come out in a 90 degree angle out of the bladder. This helps keep the kite s aerodynamic flows to the maximum. The new valves are smaller and more durable to crashes. Kite Inflation Using the MAD2 system: Unroll the kite and turn the kite with its Leading Edge (LE) facing the wind and struts facing upwards. Make sure you lay the kite on an even surface clear of any sharp or hard objects. The first time you unroll your kite you will see that all Bridle Lines are secured to a strut valve by Velcro. Release the Bridle Lines. Secure the wingtips with sand, it is suggested to use more sand than less as an unsecured kite can become very dangerous. Before attempting to inflate check proper connection on all MAD2 units. In addition, make sure all MAD2 clips are open. These clips are located under neoprene cover, in between the LE and strut. To get familiarized with the MAD2 clips, you can remove the neoprene cover, but it is not required to close and open the MAD2 clips

11 SECURING AN INFLATED KITE Once the kite has been properly inflated, turn the kite around as shown in the illustration. Make sure the Leading Edge is still pointing upwind and secure the kite by a weight. This weight should be sufficient to insure the kite does not fly away and becomes hazardous to the surroundings. Never leave an inflated kite unattended. KITE DEFLATION Make sure all MAD2 clips are open, then open the main deflate valve located on the LE. The entire kite will deflate. Face the kite with your back to the wind, so you are closest to the Leading Edge. With both feet securing the pump, attach the pump tip securely to the inflate valve on the LE strut valve and begin pumping air into the bladders. As you inflate make sure all struts are inflating as well. If they are not, make sure the MAD2 clip is open and the MAD2 hose is not twisted. For best performance of kite, do not over-inflate or under-inflate. An under inflated kite, can cause the wing tips to bend in, resulting in loss of power. A proper inflated kite is one that does not lose its shape when on its side in launch position. If you are equipped with a pressure gauge, Blade recommends pumping the kite anywhere between 8psi to 9psi. Once all bladders are inflated and firm, remove the pump tip from the valve, close the cap on the air valve and secure the Velcro cover on top. Close all MAD2 clips by firmly pressing until clip clicks. At no point should the valve be pushed inside the bladder, if the valve is pushed into the bladder, release the air (see Kite Deflation), pull the valve to the correct position, and re-inflate

12 ATTACHING THE CONTROL SYSTEM TO THE KITE KITE TUNING Unwind the lines and the control bar so that the ends of the lines are downwind from the bar. If you are facing the control system with your back to the wind and the bar at your feet, the red side of the bar should be on your left and the black side of the bar should be on your right. Make sure that there are no knots in the lines and the lines are not tangled or crossed. Layout the DePower Strap and the Quick-Release Mechanism. Make sure all Bridle Lines on the kite are untangled and that their pulleys are turning freely. Make a Lark s Head knot on the end of the 2 rear lines. Place the rear lines outside of the kite and attach to the rear Bridles of the kite. Slip the Lark s Head over the knotted end in the Bridles and pull to tighten. Attach the front lines of the kite in the same manner to the front Bridles. Only this time, make a Lark s Head knot on the bridle lines. In the directions on the previous page, we suggest general tuning for the kite and control system, but since kite performance depends on the kiter s skill and preference, several combinations can be made to suit the individual s personal style. Adjusting line length helps tune the kite in terms of turning ability and depowering qualities. Before we begin with the various adjustments, you should feel the power of the kite. The images below illustrate how the power of the kite changes with bar movement. The closer the bar is to your body, the more power the kite has; the farther away the bar is, the less power the kite has. REAR LEADER LINES ADJUSTMENTS There are several knots on the rear leader lines. More power and quicker turning is achieved by shortening the rear lines. The greater the tension on the lines, the greater the response is in the kite. If you experience difficulty steering when the bar is closer to you, shorten the lines for better steering. Be careful: there is a fine point where too much tension causes over sheeting of the wingtips. At this point the kite stalls and falls back towards the power zone. There are two knots on the rear bridle. The ties should be adjusted for different wind conditions. Knot A should be used for different light wind to average wind conditions. Knot B is recommended for stronger wind conditions. Double check that all lines are not twisted or tangled

13 KITE TUNING KITE CARE KITE TURNING SPEED ADJUSTMENT There are two options for tuning how fast your kite turns. For optimal performance, all kites are designed to be ridden as Fast Turning but sometimes when learning is involved slower handling may be desired.these settings can be easily adjusted when the kite is on the beach. To change the setting, simply undo the Larks Head knot on the rear bridle line from the white webbing strap and attach it using the same knot to the white webbing strap adjacent to it. Be sure to have the same setting on both sides of the kite. Note: All kites come out of the factory with the fast turning as the default setting. KITE TUNING FOR STANDARD RIDING AND WAVE PERFORMANCE (TRIGGER 5TH GENERATION) All Trigger kites have an additional Wave Performance setting. On this setting the kite has unique specifications geared towards wave riding. This setting can be easily adjusted when the kite is on the beach. Simply undo the Lark s Head knot on the front bridle line and attach it to desired style of riding. Be sure both sides of the kite are tuned to the same riding style. For optimal performance, the kite is designed to use the standard setting and this is the default setting it comes out of the factory. Please note that on the wave riding setting the kite will feel much different and many riders will not feel this setting is compatible with their riding style. Blade offers a one year warranty on all its products. The following are recommendations to help preserve the kite for many more years after the warranty expires. Avoid bringing the kite in contact with any sharp objects that could tear the canopy or puncture the bladders. Never rig equipment on abrasive surfaces or around sharp objects. The damage done in this case is not covered under the warranty. Sand and grass are the best surfaces for rigging and de-rigging your equipment. Make frequent inspections of the control system, canopy, lines, release system, pulleys, and DePower Strap in order to identify any damage before attempting to launch. Do not leave an inflated kite exposed to wind and/or sunrays for long periods of time. Between sessions, choose a shaded area where you can safely lay and secure your kite. Never drag the kite on the beach, always carry it with its struts facing upwards and make sure the kite stays clear off the ground. Careless handling of the kite on the ground may cause damage to the canopy that might only be noticed once flying the kite. Salt water does not damage the canopy. However, it is recommended to wash your control system, lines and Kite Bridles with fresh water and dry thoroughly before storing. Keep dirt, sand and water from entering the bladders or air pump. Deflate bladders for longer storage. Never store an inflated kite after it has been exposed to high temperatures; this may damage the internal bladders. Always dry kite and remove excess sand before rolling and packing away. Storing a wet kite may cause discoloring and mold. Pack kite with as few wrinkles as possible. This will prolong the life of your kite. Always store the equipment in a clean, dry, cool place in the supplied bag

14 REPAIRS REPAIRS Warning: Blade does its best to provide user friendly equipment that can be easily maintained by the rider. Some of the repairs and part replacements are more complicated than others and some can highly risk the safety of the rider if not done properly. If you have any difficulty performing the following repairs and/or replacements, it is critical you seek assistance from someone who does. Also, all equipment leaving Blade s factories undergo high quality control. It is important you perform similar, periodic equipment checks after all repairs and replacements. Bladder Repair If you experience air loss in your struts or Leading Edge, check the bladders for punctures. Avoid repairing bladders on the beach or in dirty, windy, dusty conditions: Lay the kite with its struts facing up. Make sure all struts and Leading Edge are deflated. In order to remove the damaged bladder, acquire a strong line roughly double the length of the bladder. Remove the MAD2 tube from the valve by cutting off the cable tie (be sure not to damage the valve and the tube). Disassemble the tube from the valve. Attach the line to the air valve and push the valve entirely into the strut. Open the Velcro closure at the opposite side of the strut, and begin pulling the bladder out. Once the bladder is out, the lineshould extend from each end. Untie the bladder from the reinstall line, making sure that the line is secure. For Leading Edge repair, you will need 2 lines. Tie each line to the ends of the bladder. You will also need to disassemble all MAD2 connections to the LE. Open the zipper near the middle of the Leading Edge. Release valves plug from Velcro strap, and push in the deflate and inflate valves. Pull each side of the bladder out from the zipper opening. Once the bladder is out you hould have a line extending to each side. Untie the bladder ends from the reinstall line. Inflate the punctured bladder, and insert the cap supplied with the repair Kit on the valve head. Submerge the inflated bladder in a tub of water. Air bubbles indicate the location of the hole. Be sure to check the bladder thoroughly, as there might be several punctures. Once you discovered the holes, mark them with a permanent marker or pen, and let the bladder dry. Deflate the bladder. Lightly roughen the area of the puncture with sand paper from the repair kit. Peel off the backing from the patch, and place on the puncture. Once again inflate the bladder and let it sit to make sure air does not escape. Lightly coat the entire bladder in talcum powder. To begin the insertion process for struts, lay the bladder flat at the end of the strut and tie back the insertion line to the valve.for the Leading Edge you will need to lay the bladder in the middle and tie the insertion lines to the end of the bladder. Insert one side at a time. Get a partner to help and pull the opposite side of the line while you make sure that the bladder slides back in straight. A twisted bladder will be damaged if completely inflated. For strut insertion, insert the top part inside the strut until the valve attachment, this allows for easier insertion. (See Picture) Once the bladder is back in place, pull the valve through its hole and insert the tube on the valve. The valve has a slot that should fit properly in the hole. Make sure the tube is inserted all the way over the valve. Partially inflate the bladder and check that it is inserted correctly with no folds in the bladder. If there is a misalignment or crimp in the bladder, reinsert again. Again, a fold/twist may cause damage to the bladder once completely inflated. Deflate bladder and store kite properly until next inflation

15 REPAIRS REPAIRS Kite Fabric Repair All major tears should be taken to a professional repair shop. Consult your dealer for good recommendation. Small tears can be repaired with the repair tape supplied in the kite repair kit. Lay the torn kite on a smooth surface. Clean the area with fresh water, and let dry. Cut 2 pieces of repair tape; make sure they are the same size and big enough to cover the tear. It is also recommended to round the tips of the tape. This will help prevent the tape from peeling off while kiting. Place one piece of tape on the tear and smooth it out. Place the other piece of tape on the other side of the kite and smooth it out. Depower Line replacement Due to the constant abrasion of the control bar against the depower line, you might find it necessary to replace the depower line. We recommend replacing it once it appears to be half the original thickness. Thread the depower line through the clam cleat, in between depower line knot and the middle of the cleat. Don t forget to also thread the depower line through the bar throw adjuster tab. Thread the depower line through the pulley and back down through the clam cleat. Thread the depower line through the Velcro hook and make a simple knot at the end of it. Cut the insignia tape off. Adjust the clam cleat to your desired position and pull the depower line tight. Using a thin line, stretch the bungee cord up and over the little hook on the Slider QR cover. Remove the thin line. Using a small flat head screwdriver, insert the screwdriver at the gap between the bungee and the cover, lift the bungee up and off the hook. The cover should now be easy to lift up. Remove and discard old depower line from the system. Take Insignia tape (or masking tape) and tape around one end of the new depower line. This will help you weave the line through the system. Make a simple knot on the other end of the depower line. Thread the depower line through the clam cleat and through one hole of the Slider QR system. 26 Thread the depower line back through the second hole of the Slider QR system, but leave a little bit of slack to adjust the bar throw later on. 25

16 REPAIRS REPAIRS Safety Line Replacement For the same reasons as the Depower Line, the Safety Line might also need replacement. This is usually the case once excessive discoloring has occurred. Detach safety ring and stopper ball from safety line. Be sure to not misplace. Remove safety line from rest of bar system and discard. Take new safety line and attach it to the flying line. Thread the safety line through the middle of the swivel and through the middle of the QR system. Thread safety line through stopper ball and using Lark s Head knot attach the safety ring. Chicken Loop Replacement Most likely you will NOT find it necessary to replace the chicken loop for the life of the bar, but if you enjoy unhooked riding, Blade offers a larger chicken loop that might be more convenient to use. Remove the bungee cord off the hook on the slider cover (same way as replacing depower line). Using a thin flat head screwdriver push out the pin holding the chicken loop. Using pliers pull the pin out completely. Take the new chicken loop and insert it until the hole of the pin lines up with the stainless steel cylinder on the chicken loop. Insert the pin through the hole. make sure the pin is completely through and even on both sides. Place the bungee cord back onto the hook on Slider cover (same as depower line replacement)

17 REPAIRS REPAIRS DONKEY DICK REMOVAL Remove the Slider cover by taking the bungee cord off the hook. Loosen the depower line a bit so the donkey dick is free to move. Holding the end of the donkey dick, push it up and out of the system. A little bit of force might be necessary. Slide the bungee cord back onto the hook on the Slider cover (same as depower line replacement). Bungee Cord Replacement Using a small flat head screwdriver, insert the screwdriver in between the bungee and the cover; lift the bungee up and off the hook. The cover should now be easy to lift up. Remove and discard old bungee cord. Insert the metal clamps on the new bungee cord into the slots.make sure it is firmly set. With the aid of a thin line, stretch the bungee cord through the Slider QR cover and slide the bungee line onto the plastic hook. Make sure the system functions properly

18 WARRANTY POLICY WARRANTY POLICY Blade warrants its products to be free of major defects in material or workmanship to the original purchase, for a period of 1 year from the date of purchase. This warranty is subject to the following limitations: The warranty is valid only when product is used for kiteboarding on water, and does not cover products used in rental or teaching operations. This warranty does not cover damage caused by misuse, abuse, neglect or normal wear and tear including, but not limited to, punctures, rigging with other than Blade components, damage due to excessive sun exposure, or damage due to over inflation of the bladders, damage caused by improper handling and storage, damage caused by use in waves or shore break, and damage caused by high speed crash or damage caused by anything other than defects in the material and workmanship. There are no warranties, which extend beyond the warranty specified herein. Warranty claims must be processed and issued a return authorization prior to shipping to Blade. Please call or write for claims processing to Blade Costumer. Service Department at: or support@bladekites.com This warranty is void if any unauthorized repair, change, or modification has been made to any part of the equipment. The warranty for any repaired or replacement equipment is good from the date of the original purchase only. Blade will make the final warranty determination, which may require inspections and/or photos of the equipment, which clearly show the defect(s). If necessary, this information must be sent to Blade costumer service, postage prepaid. If a product is deemed to be defective by Blade, the warranty covers the repair of replacement of the defective product only. Blade will not be responsible for any costs, losses, or damages incurred as a result of loss of use of the Blade products.this is the only warranty we make to you and is in lieu of all other warranties, express or implied. We expressly disclaim any and all liability for bodily injury or death and for incidental and consequential damages to the maximum extent permitted by law. This warranty extends only to the original purchaser of the Blade product covered by the warranty; it does not extend to subsequent purchasers or third parties

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