Wing Repair and Care For Ripped Wings, Popped Bladders, and Busted Valves

The sport of wing foiling is taking the water sports world by storm! Now that we are into the sport for a couple of years things are starting to break. So, if you have ripped a wing or popped a bladder here is a little help to get you back on the water quickly.

First up a few tips to keep your wing in tip-top shape.

• Never put a wet wing in the bag. Let them dry before placing in the bag and make sure not to let sand or any other dirt get into the wing. 
• Lightly shake your wing from the wing tips and leading edge before inflating. This will help get out and creases or kinks that may cause inflation issues.
• Take extra care of your valve when inflating. Try to over-rotate the hose in the opposite direction it loads on to the valve. This should help with repeated hose detachments.
• Take care of your hose and be gentle! Always take your hose completely off your pump when not in use
• Take extra care when rolling your wing not to crease the window.
• Do not leave your inflated wing in the sun for hours on end. Find a shady spot to store it when not in use.
•  Do not leave your wing in the trunk or other areas where excessive heat may build up. Heat can damage glued seams and bladders.

Even when you do everything right accidents do happen. Simple fabric rips can be fixed at one of our local sail lofts. These lofts do not stock wing bladders or valves so only count on them for fabric repair. With that said both shops offer exceptional service and do first-class work. 

• Quantum Sails 1230 Brickyard Cove Richmond, Ca (510) 234-4334
• Pineapple Sails  - 2526 Blanding Avenue  Alameda, CA  (510) 522-2200
• Leading Edge Sails - 1125 N Amphlett Blvd. San Mateo  (650) 347-0795. 

If you have popped a bladder or blown a valve you have some options. The first is to try SF Wingfoil Academy or the second option is to send it away for repair. While you can get do it your self-repair kits from Pro Kite Surf (see below) we recommend sending your wing to Airtime Kite in the Gorge or calling Josh Waldman. Bladder and Valve repairs are best done by the pros. Expect a 3-4 week turnaround time. Make sure to fill out a service ticket before sending it or bring it down to the shop and we can handle it for you.

SF Wing Foil Academy owner Josh Waldman offers professional wing and kite repair as well as bladder repairs! SF Wing Foil Academy is located in Marin County and can also meet you at Crissy Field.  The Airtime process starts by going to their website and opening a ticket. This ensures parts are on hand and allows for an estimate to be given. While not inexpensive we have found these repairs to be very high quality and have repaired wings that have many seasons on them,

• SF Wingfoil Academy Text for quotes on repairs at 415-350-5524. 
• Airtime Kite is located in Hood River Oregon. 

Not sure if your bladder is leaking or your valve is failing? Then fill a spray bottle with water and a few drops of dish soap. You do not need to add a lot. Once your wing is inflated then spray all over the wing looking for little bubbles emerging from the wing. If you are a do-it-yourself type small holes in the bladder can be relatively easy to fix. The hard part is getting easy access to the spot you need to work on. Some brands can be notoriously hard to work with. Valve replacements are also doable but a degree of difficulty is higher for sure. You can get all the parts you need from Pro-kitesurf wing repair kits and replacement valve parts.  You'll find a good how-to video below. 

How To Repair Your Wing Video for only $6! Warning does take some skills. 

A pro tip is to always keep some specialized sail repair tape in the glove box. Small canopy tears can be quickly and temporarily fixed so your day's sailing does not have to be ruined. You can get full rolls or buy some by the foot down at the shop.

Do note that wings do have a lifespan. Particularly some of the first-generation wings that used ultra-light materials. These wings and their canopies can stretch over time and create an unstable sailing platform. Sometimes repairing them is spending good money on a bad wing. Newer wings like the Duotone’s with MOD3 materials will last a lot longer and maintain more stable drafts over time.

Be extra cautious buying used wings and make certain you are aware of any repairs. Particularly to bladders, struts, and valves. There is nothing worse than sailing along and having your wing deflate.

If you have any questions or need a consultation feel free to give us a call at 415-524-8492 or just come on down.