PJP

Hey Paul, Yes, I'm very familiar with double figure of eights having spent a lot of time hanging from a climbing rope with just that knot and nasty death between us. For creating loops, the fig of 8 works well but for attaching bridles to spars, I use a larks head around the connector with a single loop fisherman's knot to make it adjustable. Works very well, even on slippery rope as the tension tends to jam the knots together. Still have to be careful about slippage under tension. Also, I find that 100# spectra is only 1/32"ish in diameter. I find it kind of dodgy making knots large enough that your sleeved kite lines will attach on securely with a larks head. That's I think where the sleeved bridle line has the advantage. Thanks again for the insight! Paul

Thanks for the input guys! I've tried making bridles from plain braided Spectra before but it doesn't like to hold knots for long, it pretty slippery material. That's why I was looking for the sheathed material, something with some bite but still adjustable as req'd. However I've never tried using nail polish to fix it before either, that might help. LPG line isn't easy to get in Canada for some reason, doesn't seem anyone stocks it (always the case). I did find some 1.5mm dia Dacron covered kevlar (SWL 500lb) that might fit the bill that I can bring in. Thanks again for your thoughts guys, much appreciated! Paul

Hi, I'm looking for suggestions as to what to use for dual line kite bridles. All my kites have lines that are around 0.05-0.06" in diameter and are kernmantle type with a core and outer sleeve. I was thinking they're Dacron but they're crazy stiff and what I see offered on the net as bridle line just looks like limp dacron fishing line. Any thoughts on material and brands? Thanks, Paul

You guys are great, you've answered all my questions, thank you! I'll order a few more connectors and a spar and it'll be ready to go. Pix not necessary anymore. I do get what you mean about the length, it is very long to ship and I'm sure 4' spars don't ship cheap. Thanks again guys, Paul

Last thing LB, if you do have yours handy, can you give me a measure on the upper spar length? Mine is gone and I have to make up a new one. Cheers, Paul

Thanks for the quick replies guys, you pretty much answered all my questions! And yes, the lower line is the trick line, not the bridle. I assume it's intended to be stretched tight across the wingtips? LB - any chance you could shoot me a few pix of your kite? I'm curious how the trick line is run as mine just has some larksheads around the wing spars. Also, is the angle of attack changed by just retying the bridle line onto one of the other two knots at the end of the bridle? Thanks again guys, your help is much appreciated! Paul

Hi, I'm new to dual line kites and I just picked up an vintage XTC 2100 that sat in a closet for a decade unused. After changing the O-ring sail tensioners and regluing the collars, it's all together, sort of. There are 6 standoffs on the trailing edge yet only two connectors on the lower spar, so 4 are literally flapping in the wind. Two of the extra four would be long enough to reach the lower spar if there were connectors on it but the last two are nowhere near long enough to reach. There is also a 2nd set of leading edge connectors below the main set that appear to be unused. Does anyone have any experience with this particular kite? Does anyone perhaps still have a manual or pics of it assembled? Any assistance would be much appreciated! Cheers, Paul