Date: Fri, 24 Nov 1995 19:45:39 -1000 From: drumurphy@aol.com (DruMurphy) Message-Id: <496ai3$koq@newsbf02.news.aol.com> Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Subject: Effect of salt water on kites Hello all.. I'm in Aruba on business, and am making sure I get in an hour or two each day flying on the beaches here. The wind blows almost all the time, and is often too strong to fly (+ 30mph) . Around sunset, it usually drops into the 'teens, and flying is as nice as you could ask for. I'm used to the freshwater environment of the Chicago Lakefront, and I was wondering if anyone out there who flys on the ocean can give me some guidelines on the effects of salt brine on my stunt kites. I've been washing them down with fresh water each time I take them out, and am wondering if this is worth the effort, as it makes quite a mess in the small apartment I have use of. Please EMail as I'm not picking up the Newsgroup while I'm here (phone costs are astronomical!!) Thanks, McGhee = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 26 Nov 1995 19:29:38 -1000 From: daveculp@bdt.com (Dave Culp) Message-Id: Organization: Beckemeyer Development, Oakland CA Subject: Re: Effect of salt water on kites In article <496ai3$koq@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, drumurphy@aol.com (DruMurphy) wrote: > I was wondering if > anyone out there who flys on the ocean can give me some guidelines on the > effects of salt brine on my stunt kites. I've been washing them down with > fresh water each time I take them out, and am wondering if this is worth > the effort, as it makes quite a mess in the small apartment I have use of. > I try to wash them down outdoors ;-) Usually there's a freshwater tap near other boating; marina, launch ramp, fish cleaning, whatever. (taste this last one before using it; sometimes they slip a salt water tap in...) There's no doubt that salt water will degrade the resin on most nylon kite materials over time (so will sunlight; so will simple flying... sigh), it's really just a question of time. If you want to have your kite longest, wash it (often) and dry it carefully. BTW, sailors learned long ago that it's the tiny salt crystals which abrade the fabric fibers in their sailcloth and do the most damage--they *always* wash the salt out. Ditto dirt particles. -- ################################################################### Dave Culp Speedsailing | e-mail to: daveculp@bdt.com 312 Flaming Oak Drive | Pleasant Hill, CA 94596 | http://www.bdt.com:80/home/daveculp/speedsail.html #################################################################### = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =