Leaving Kite Gear In The Car

You never want to miss a session on the water when the wind is blowing. The easiest thing to do is make sure you've got a kite, a harness, and a board in the back of your car, and then rush out of work on a windy day for a "happy hour" ride. But what about that summer heat?!

The heat inside your car on a hot day can rise 20 - 30 degrees over the outside temperature.Kite bladders are made of polyurethane, and while the melting point for this material is high, the glue holding the valves to the bladder does NOT fair as well in high temperatures. Once the glue starts to soften, a leak is inevitable. And if your kite is wet when you pack it up, this softening process is accelerated even more by the hot water. (Imagine soaking your kites in boiling water.)

What to do? If you plan to leave your kite in the car during daytime hours, here are two ways to minimize damage to your kite: 1. park in the garage or shade, 2. make sure your kite is in the trunk, separate from the glassed car interior. Better yet, take your kite inside with you (just tell your co-workers it's your lunch). 

If you must keep your kite in the car during daytime hours during summer heat, then go out to your nearest dive shop and invest in several tubes of Aquaseal, so that you'll be ready for a few hours of bladder / valve repair, followed by 12 hours to let it set completely. ... or not.