How To Make A Sled Kite

Dowel Sled: Template, Tips, Step-By-Step eBook

Here's how to make a Sled kite! The Template and Tips might be sufficient, otherwise try the step-by-step eBook for making the MBK Dowel Sled Kite. Every kite in the Dowel series is made to be transportable, rolling up into a convenient long, slim package like this Sled.

The Template and Tips below should be enough if you are keen kite person. If you have put together a number of kites before, with a few different kinds of bridles, the Dowel Sled should not be much of a challenge! Everything you need, apart from the dowels perhaps, might already be lying around your house somewhere. I'm assuming you know how to make a Sled kite with low overall weight and appropriate knots.

The MBK Dowel Sled Kite is a large vented Sled, with a shallow V cut into the leading edge. This kite is a good light wind flier and can cope with moderate winds. However, it likes smooth air to fly in! It will not tolerate rough air or turbulence. If you have trouble getting a decent flight out of it, just take it down to the nearest beach or find the widest, most open space possible. In smooth air, you will be amazed at how it parks itself almost overhead!

The template shown above represents one side of the kite sail of course.

How To Make A Sled Kite - Tips

• 5mm oak dowels worked well for me. You might look at using 3/16" dowels, which is pretty much the same.
• Try positioning the template so the edge of a bag becomes the center-line of the kite.
• For more durability, edge the sail with sticky tape.
• Cap each spar tip with a single piece of tape, wrapped around and stuck on both sides of the plastic sail.
• Short lengths of electrical insulation tape can be doubled over each towing point so the bridle line can be attached.

The step by step instructions for this Sled are also included in an eBook covering the entire Dowel series. It's a nice reference if you want to eventually make a whole range of different kites, of similar size. The info is pitched at the beginner, with very detailed instructions on a range of kite-making topics. Including the technique for making the kites transportable. This is explained individually for each kite.

However, the book is well-organized so the more experienced kite-maker can quickly scroll through and pick out bits of detail that are helpful or interesting. The long Table Of Contents helps too!

Click here for more info on the eBook 8 MBK Kites To Make - The Complete Dowel Series.

How To Make A Sled Kite - Flying!

You know how to fly, so I won't elaborate here. Except to say that we have had some good flights with this sizable Sled, particularly down at the beach. This kite will easily reach 400 feet above ground on a 50 pound flying line, after getting into smooth air.

The diamond-shaped cut-outs give this Sled an interesting look and help keep the nose pointed into wind. Sleds do pull a bit near the top end of their wind range!

The launch picture over there shows the Sled on its way up, in a light and gusty breeze.

Have fun flying, and I hope you've enjoyed seeing how to make a Sled kite the MBK way!

By the way, if you would rather make a smaller Sled that is half as tall as the Dowel design, why not try the 2-Skewer Sled kite instead. Or, going half as tall again, the tiny 1-Skewer Sled kite could be just the ticket!

Last updated: 9 Mar 2010