Kitebuilder.com

[Scott E. Spencer]

Some Rakakkus come with a string sewn to the sail. This is used to tighten the intersection between the center stick (vertical) blue in photos and the spreader stick (horizontal) yellow in photos.

Even though this is a convenient way to secure the two sticks together it can cause a problem. You can never get it tight enough and there is a lot of pressure on the sewn attachment point in the case of hard landings. At that time the string rips out of the skin leaving a hole in the sail.

I liked the string idea to secure the spars but hated the consequences.

I reverted to what I learned in the Boy Scouts. Square lashing was the solution.

Reinforce the area that the spars will cross. Not shown. Stitch a string or shoelace to the skin. When tying the two sticks together use the square lashing concept. This will secure the spars together, and minimize the pressure on the skin. See figures 1-4.

Figure 1


Figure 2


Figure 3


Figure 4


In short the process goes like this. String is attached in a diagonal position (fig. 1). Pass the string over the top stick (fig. 2) and under the bottom stick (fig. 3). Finish the process off by tying the string like you would your shoelaces (fig 4).
If the lace is long enough you can do the over-under thing twice. Twice is better.

Shoelaces work well since they are soft and tie easily.

Copyrighted 2003 Scott E. Spencer
Plans, images and written material are available for private non-commercial use only.
_________________
Always pushing the edges. Just so I don't have to live on'm

[KiteSquid]

Scott,

It looks very much like a Slipped Transom Knot to me...

But I could be wrong..

Very good way of binding the spars. I have used it many times and it has served me well.
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA


P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.