Vintage Hawaiian Spinoff - questions!

[AndyK]

Hey!

I got my Spinoff out of the attic yesterday to show my kids and try flying it after 15 years. There wasn't enough wind, so I gave the controls to my 7 year old while I went to check the kite for tangles, etc. A gust of wind came, and of course, the kite took off! My son didn't really know what to do with it, so, it flew for 5 seconds and then crashed into the top of a tree. Half an hour later, after wrestling the kite out of the tree, I expected the kite to be trashed. Luckily, only one of the swivels was bent open - the kite survived!

I need to buy new line since the ones I have are 20 years old at least! I realize modern kites don't use swivels anymore, so what is my best bet? Keeping the swivels and just adding new ones to the new line? Or, is there something else I can do to the bridal to get it to accept a knot instead of swivels?

Also, what line strength do I need for this kite? 150 lbs or more?

Thanks!

Andy

[Clutch]

Hey Andy! Is the bridle line in good condition? If so , and all that happened was a swivel clip opened up, you are in pretty good shape! Any new dyneema line set should work fine (pick a length that works for you) and a larks head knot behind the clip and ball of the swivel will anchor your flying lines just fine. If the bridle lines are frayed or brittle, you may have to replace those. I have done this once or twice for mine and the best advice I got while doing it was to leave the old bridle in place while measuring and attaching and flying the new one. Good luck! I am sure there is more info to be had here!

[AndyK]

The bridal is in great shape, since the kite wasn't used much even back in the late 80's! So I guess I can just get some new line, straps, and attach as you say, behind the swivel (as long as the swivel wont wear out the line at the lark's head knot?

Also, do I need 200 lb line for this kite?

Thanks.

[--Pete]

If you prefer to keep using those McMahon clips, I have a box of each of two different sizes. Measure from end-to-end (accurately) and PM me your address and I'll drop one or two (whatever you need) in the mail to you.

You have to leave at least the ring (of the swivel) in place since it is part of the bridle adjustment, so why not keep the clips? Your lines will have loops at the end, so just hook the clips on the loop. No need for a Lark's Head.

[AndyK]

If you prefer to keep using those McMahon clips, I have a box of each of two different sizes. Measure from end-to-end (accurately) and PM me your address and I'll drop one or two (whatever you need) in the mail to you.

You have to leave at least the ring (of the swivel) in place since it is part of the bridle adjustment, so why not keep the clips? Your lines will have loops at the end, so just hook the clips on the loop. No need for a Lark's Head.

Good point Pete, and thanks for the offer! I was hoping I could just replace the line swivels and fly on. The clips in the photo are fine - the smaller swivesl on my lines are the ones in need of replacement. Are those what you have extra of??

[--Pete]

What I have are the McMahon clips - the clip that lays across the little finger in the second picture.

Added:

As for swivels, proper line management (see several threads, here and on the Rev forum) will completely remove any need for swivels on 2 or 4-line kites. If you don't put twists in the line while winding and unwinding the lines, you simply don't need swivels. You cannot put twists in the line while flying.

Save swivels for spin-socks, bols, rotors and single-line kites that seem to spin around no matter what you do.

[AndyK]

I hear ya Pete. My updated plan is to leave the clips on the kite, and attach pigtails to them, so that I can lark's head the new lines to the pigtails - eliminating the need for swivels. Does that work?

[--Pete]

Sounds like a plan to me.