Leaderboard

Knots are weak points to be sure, so the knot you use is important. People have done comparisons of different knots and their breaking strength, you can find many comparisons at climbing web sites since they risk their lives based on the strength of their knots and ropes. Fishing sites also have comparisons of knot breaking strength. In addition to the choice of knot, the sleeve generally improves strength of the knot. Overhand knots are rather weak knots, giving about half the breaking strength, meaning a line that normally breaks at 100 lbs will instead break at around 50 lbs with an unsleeved overhand knot. Adding sleeving will add some strength, but it still breaks relatively easily. That means your 90# line with an unsleeved overhand knot breaks at about 45, your 150# line breaks at about 75, your 300# breaks at 150. Obviously not ideal. A figure 8 loop is only slightly more effort to tie and has a much higher breaking strength, around 70%-80% strength unsleeved and around 90% sleeved, and is the knot most climbers use for their harnesses. If you can spend the time and effort, a splice loop is nearly 100% of full strength, and will be strongest.

Finally got a chance to fly it a bit on short lines. Used my travel frame. Winds near Boston today were 18-25 and whipping pretty soundly.. Kite was great. It ate the gusts like they weren't even there. Nice balanced pressure across the entire sail area. Kite responded like a whip when the proper inputs were given. reaction time on short lines was crazy

Prism lines? Maybe not so bad then. Lines are your only connection to your kite. You can feel it, little gusts, lulls, how it reacts, better with them. Higher end lines also don't stretch as much during flight, again giving you better feel. It might not be quite as important on a foil, but you will definitely feel the difference on the framed kites. If you flew a lot on the original set - quite possible you might have nicked them and they failed due to that. Or they may have just simply worn out. I have older lines I still use today. But I'm careful to match kite and lines to my wind. Look at the lines - are they fuzzy looking? Probably fairly worn. Especially at the point the lines cross each other. Better lines use a tighter weave and handle the "crossing" . As with most things - let your budget be your guide. But try to get the best lines you can afford.