pongnut - 26-2-2013 at 04:09 PM
I had someone tell me that it's not even worth trying to fly closed-cell foils on freshwater because they saturate way quicker making it near
impossible to relaunch if it hits the water. He said just pick up an LEI and not even mess with foils on freshwater.
What say you?
markite - 26-2-2013 at 05:29 PM
I fly fresh water all the time - never had a problem with an arc filling with water - but I never put them in the water that much. Usually when they
went in, it was a really windy big wave day and then it was the waves that would roll a kite that were the concern.
Depends on the kite and how it's made how well it keeps water out.
mdpminc - 26-2-2013 at 05:31 PM
As above said
erratic winds - 26-2-2013 at 05:40 PM
Yeah, salinity doesn't really affect water penetration into a ripstop fabric, it's more a act of how porous (or non!) a material is...
I think this person either had a bad experience firsthand or heard tales of one..
Snake - 26-2-2013 at 06:36 PM
This should be the other way around! Nylon is hydrophobic meaning is repels water. the water will bead up and fall off the fabric. The way the kite
gets saturated in water is through the capillary effect. The capillary effect is when the surface tension of a fluid caused it to be pulled into a
small opening. The more worn a kite gets, the more little gaps between the threads for the water to fill. Now heres the kicker. Saltwater is heavier
than regular water and has more surface tension, so the gets absorbs more water that is heavier than regular water.
Michael Gaylan - 18-5-2013 at 03:31 PM
As "Snake" above wrote about the surface tension of the water, it can be lessened or weakened by many factors such as age, heat, and soap. Yes soap
can lower the surface tension and cause the fabric to absorb water quickly too which is how laundry soap works. When I read about this it reminded me
of the water bugs that walk on water, they do so because water tension.
I am not sure if spaying something such as "Scotch Guard" or similar product would work, but maybe there is a product that can be sprayed on nylon, to
increase water tension.
Just an arbitrary thought ..
Kamikuza - 18-5-2013 at 05:43 PM
Balls. Fly the Flysurfers on the lake all the time. Even swam in with the 21 twice and 15 once. Tonnes of float! and they're not brand new kites 
pongnut - 18-5-2013 at 10:17 PM
Cool! That's what I was kinda hoping you guys would say as I have a couple of kites I wouldn't mind trying on the water one of these days, and being
over a thousand miles from saltwater in any direction, its either sink or kiteboard in freshwater.
Kamikuza - 19-5-2013 at 02:00 AM
While we're at it - I see no bloody difference in the "float" of salt- or freshwater either... I sink just as well in both.