01/09/2012 20:35:13 Posts: 0 | Dear all, Some gennaker sailor has said that the kite needs replaced every year for racing. Well I'm not racing but would like to learn how you tell if a gennaker needs to be replaced. When I bought V158 I got 2 kites, an old one and a newer one. The new one had only 5 small holes which I patched. After a few times sailing, I switched to the old gennaker as training wail while I learn gennaker. In the old gennaker I patched about 30 holes and some loin the old (purple) gennaker. Now I use it during my training sails. To my beginner's eyes it works fine and the shape looks just as good as the newer sail. Do you know any common indications that a kite is worn out, besides holes? I assume that a gennaker, just like traditional sails, gets deformed, stretched, out of shape. I 'm just not competent to see those things, being a newbie with gennaker. Thus the question. Meanwhile, I keep using the old gennaker until it rips apart. Last Thursday we were twin crew and flying the old gennaker at fairly high speed. Edit: I have now learned that a gennaker can last for many years without much affecting performance. Thus for recreational sailing, I keep using and patching it until it rips apart. edited by per_akesson on 14/09/2012 edited by per_akesson on 14/09/2012 Tweet |