Line options, Splice or Sleeve

[John P]

I saw on another forum a lot of people say don't sleeve, use a splice. I believe this was in the UK. I know how to splice 1/2 inch line but 50# is a whole nother story. What are the pros and cons of the two for quad lines?

[frob]

Both kite types work best when lines are equal length, but there's a major difference. Dual line kites can have a line stretch several inches and still fly great. Quad line handles you can adjust the length slightly with leader lines but pilots will often adjust knots when the lines have stretched even a half inch, some people prefer even less difference in the four lines, being as close to equal as possible. 

Splicing the line, or sewing the loop firmly in place which is sometimes done, are permanent actions that do not let you untie and re-tie as lines naturally stretch with use. Those can work with duals but are rare with quads. 

Sleeves reduce the weakening that happens at knot points and also make it easier to untie without damaging the line braid. 

[makatakam]

I think it's more work than it's worth. The advantages in performance aren't, in my opinion, enough to justify the effort.

[John P]

I think for my first line set I will stick with sleeving. That seems to be the most common.

[riffclown]

I still sleeve everything. I have yet to experience a situation where that made a difference I noticed. I do use some very small sleeving though. I pull the core from 100# bridle line which leaves a nice sleeve to use.

[Paul LaMasters]

No sleeving, not for decades.... use 50, 75, 90, 100 and 175 pound lines in all the variable length sizes.

cannot untie, only shorten (add more knots), use a longer loop for adjustment room as it becomes necessary

sleeving on the kite end can get tangled when slack lining, and it certainly can when flying one handed on that end too!

build the end point/stopper knot in the single strand, then form the loop, keeping this insert centered perfectly

NEVER  broken at the knots because I don't use any except the "figure of eight". Placement takes practice as this knot tightens in two directions, once set it will not move again and it's four thicknesses at the center.

the stopper knot works at night or in gloves to release easily.

set-up is simple because no leaders means the lines can slip passed each other more effectively when  laying out (or winding up at the end of the day directly onto the handles.

if none of these outlined issues apply to you,... well we fly very differently, that's for sure!

most of my flying time is alone, so spanking the kite is my go-to move, just add music