Parawing damage: When is a patch enough?
Learn when a parawing patch is enough, when damaged line attachments need expert repair, and why checking bridle lines after foil contact matters.
Juan
11/6/20262 min read
A small hole in the canopy and a torn line attachment might look like similar fabric damage. But they don’t necessarily need the same repair.
This month, a parawing arrived at our workshop with two line attachment points torn out. We repaired both. It’s a useful example of why the location of a tear matters just as much as its size.
First, check where the damage is
Before reaching for repair tape, look at the area around the tear.
Is it a small hole in an otherwise intact section of canopy? Or does the damage involve a seam, a fabric rib or the point where a bridle line attaches?
That distinction matters. The bridle attachments transfer the pull of the wing into the lines. Repairing one means assessing the attachment and the surrounding fabric together, rather than simply covering the visible hole.
When can a patch be enough?
For certain small canopy tears, the manufacturer’s repair kit may be suitable. Some brands also provide instructions for specific repairs on particular models.
Use the instructions and materials recommended for your parawing. Fabric coatings differ, so a tape that works on one wing may not be suitable for another.
There isn’t a universal rule such as “anything under an inch can be taped.” A short tear beside a loaded attachment point is a different situation from a small puncture away from seams and reinforcements.
When should you have it assessed?
Get advice before using the parawing again if you notice a line attachment pulling away, torn stitching, an opening structural seam or damage extending through a rib or reinforced area. Cut or frayed bridle lines, lifting patches and tears spreading beyond a previous repair also deserve attention.
On the parawing pictured here, two attachment areas needed repair. Reconnecting the lines alone would not have addressed the torn fabric supporting them.
Foil contact? Check the lines, too.
After contact with your foil, don’t just look for holes in the canopy. Check every bridle line for cuts, fraying or abrasion, even if the fabric looks undamaged.
A damaged line may still be connected, so an intact connection alone doesn’t mean the line is sound. Inspect the attachment points and surrounding stitching as well.
If you find damage or are unsure about a line’s condition, have it assessed before your next session.
A quick check before your next session
When sorting your lines, follow them all the way to the canopy. Check the attachment loops, stitching and fabric immediately around them.
This month’s tip: Choose the repair by the location and type of damage, not just the size of the tear. After foil contact, remember to check the lines as carefully as the fabric.
Unsure what you’re looking at? Send a close photo of the damage and a wider photo showing its location on the parawing.
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