How To Build A Sled Kite
Step-by-Step - Page 2 of 3
The MBK 2-Skewer Sled
How To Build A Sled Kite
Making Spars
For this Sled, you need four 30cm (12") bamboo BBQ skewers. Also, you need to cut off 2 short 0.3SL (8.7cm, 3 1/2") lengths of skewer. The photos show how these are all glued together.
Both pairs of skewers are lined up straight, flat against the table top. These are the vertical spars. Well, almost vertical when this kite is ready to fly! To make sure there are no kinks at the joins, get your head down low and look along the skewers. Shift one a little, if necessary, before the glue dries.
How To Build A Sled Kite
Attaching Spars
- Snip off one point from each spar.
- Line this end up with a top corner of the kite sail, with the pointed end of the spar crossing the corresponding bottom corner of the sail.
- For both spars, attach the bamboo to the plastic with insulation tape, as in the photo up there.
Now for the bottom edge...
- At the bottom corners of the sail, snip the skewers to length so they are flush with the edge of the sail.
- Attach each bottom tip to the plastic in the same way as the top tips. These are the (nearly) vertical spars.
How To Build A Sled Kite
Bridle
20 pound strength Dacron line is ample for all the Skewer Series kites.
All the construction details for the bridle are contained in the large photos below. For a Sled kite, this is rather simple and straightforward. Just use 20 or 30 pound flying line for the bridle loop.
KNOTS:
If you are new to this, you might need instructions on how to tie the following knots...
ADJUSTMENT:
Once your kite + bridle looks like the photo up there...
Lay the kite on the floor, with the 2 spars touching each other along their entire lengths.
Stretch out the bridle, unlock the Prusik knot and slide it along until both lines are exactly the same length. Then lock the Prusik knot again.
At this point, you've finished making the 2-Skewer Sled!
To attach the flying line, just Lark's Head the flying line to the short bridle line as in the photo.
Need winders, reels, flying line?
We earn a small commission if you click the following link and buy something. The item does not cost you any more, since we are an "affiliate" of Amazon.
Click here to buy anything you need. Just use the Search box in there if you need different weights or lengths of line, for example.
P.S. Keep an eye out for books by kite author Glenn Davison, a prominent kite person in the USA.
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Wind Speeds
Light air
1-5 km/h
1-3 mph
1-3 knots
Beaufort 1
Light breeze
6–11 km/h
4–7 mph
4–6 knots
Beaufort 2
Gentle breeze
12–19 km/h
8–12 mph
7–10 knots
Beaufort 3
Moderate breeze
20–28 km/h
13–18 mph
11–16 knots
Beaufort 4
Fresh breeze
29–38 km/h
19–24 mph
17–21 knots
Beaufort 5
Strong breeze
39–49 km/h
25–31 mph
22–27 knots
Beaufort 6
High Wind
50-61 km/h
32-38 mph
28-33 knots
Beaufort 7
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