The physics of tow rope strength?

Tkmww

Tkmww

Tanner M.
Location
Jacksonville, Fl
I was thinking about this and wonder if there is a way to figure it out. Lets say you have a 350 lb ski, plus a 200lb rider which is 550 lb total. But with the drag of the water what should the tow rope break strength be? 1000lb?

Just a though....
 
Idok

Idok

F1pro
Location
Nations oldest muthaF+++kin city
the rope isnt the issue....the rope that I wear around my waist has a tensile strength of like 2200 lbs..



the carabiners are the issue...



to get ones with a working load of 400lbs they are stout and uncomfortable....especially in stainless




you have to consider constant stress ie boat skis just planing over the water..and you have to take into account the force that occurs when the rope goes slack and they jerk against each other
 
Last edited:
Tkmww

Tkmww

Tanner M.
Location
Jacksonville, Fl
Ahhhh...gotcha. So what working load carabiners are you running? What is the rope strenght I should use? Oasis was fun...we should do that from now on after a good ride.
 
JetManiac

JetManiac

Stoked
Site Supporter
Vendor Account
Location
orlando
Tanner, I just got in some nice tow rope ss ends from the company that makes the ss hood ratchets. The owner of the manufacturing company tows Blasters with them with no problems.
 
kevbo

kevbo

Location
dfw
I have towed many skis through rough water with a 1/4" nylon rope. In smooth water the strength needs to be only slightly greater than the thrust of the tow ski. Rough water greatly increases the peak load. Nylon will stretch enough to smooth out the shock loads if the rope is long enough.
 
red_ak_ranger

red_ak_ranger

Location
Texas
im too lazy to have figured out a way to easily tow my standup with my buddies jet ski. So I take a section of rope, tie it to the back of his, and then i hold the rope with one hand and hold the front of the jetski with the other and get dragged through the water.

Is there an easier way? I guess if i had a longer rope maybe..
 
Tkmww

Tkmww

Tanner M.
Location
Jacksonville, Fl
How much are the SS ones chris?

The shaker weight...hahaha. Saw it on tv again last night...I busted out laughing. And what made it even funnier was that it was only guys using it...hilarious! It looked wrong on sooo many levels.

My rope is only 10 ft if that.
 
ADDict

ADDict

Idok said:
hell yeah man......that was a blast

shaker weight FTW!


make sure yoiur rope is short too....none of this 20' long tow rope nonsense
Click to expand...

Seems to be a constant debate on this. I've always used one just long enough to keep us apart, but I've never ridden BIG surf more than a couple times. What is the advantage/disadvantage of the short rope? I see a lot of the west coast guys want really long tow ropes to stay way the hell away from each other when towing, I guess it just all depends on your normal conditions.
 
Idok

Idok

F1pro
Location
Nations oldest muthaF+++kin city
ADDict said:
Seems to be a constant debate on this. I've always used one just long enough to keep us apart, but I've never ridden BIG surf more than a couple times. What is the advantage/disadvantage of the short rope? I see a lot of the west coast guys want really long tow ropes to stay way the hell away from each other when towing, I guess it just all depends on your normal conditions.
Click to expand...

short rope keeps the boats traveling as one unit....if you have: ski--------wave-----------ski no good. you want ski---ski


biggest thing...you have to be mindful of the hull behind you and keep track of it with your foot......if it does come up on you it can spear you in the back..most commonly happens when you come in to shore..


long tow ropes sink into the water and get sucked up by jetpumps....they also get tangled around arms and legs and take forever to uncoil and get tangled......


I can have my tow rope off my waist and on my ski in 5 seconds......








red_ak_ranger said:
im too lazy to have figured out a way to easily tow my standup with my buddies jet ski. So I take a section of rope, tie it to the back of his, and then i hold the rope with one hand and hold the front of the jetski with the other and get dragged through the water.

Is there an easier way? I guess if i had a longer rope maybe..
Click to expand...

that might work in a lake or out in a calm bay..but when you have waves crashing on your head, that wont work
 
Fro Diesel

Fro Diesel

creative control
Location
Kzoo
short rope for all conditions IMO. If you can wrap it more than a few times around your waist it is too long. I like being able to put a foot on the ski behind me so if i let off the gas it doesn't try to use my back as a ramp. I have two ropes, one that is just long enough to go around my waist and one that goes around twice.

The catch is having a rope when you need one. I distinctly remember getting so frustrated that i ripped off a hood strap to get towed back in the channel. when riding out of a channel with two people in surf always take two tow ropes. That way if someone breaks an arm or leg you can strap them you their ski and get them back quick! Just think if your buddy superbailed and went unconscious...how you gonna get them to help? That holding the rope just doesn't cut it when your ski is full of water...it would be impossible to tow one in that way.
 
Last edited:
kraqus

kraqus

Site Supporter
Location
Great State of Texas
Short rope for surf, long rope for flatwater.
I would debate the whole weight to rope strength ratio.
I don't thing you need 1000lbs rated rope, remember you are pulling the ski not lifting it.
Wonder why you are able to push a 3k lb car once you get it rolling?

Benny
 
Tyler Zane

Tyler Zane

Open Your Eyes
Location
Panama City Beach, FL
one time i towed a 90 hp 27 ft boat with my stock 550sx 4 miles... lol guy gave me 100 bucks after i told him he didnt have to do anything but help me next time im the one broke down.
 
Last edited:
kraqus

kraqus

Site Supporter
Location
Great State of Texas
tzane said:
one time i towed a 90 hp 27 ft boat with my stock 550sx 4 miles... lol guy gave me 100 bucks after i told him he didnt have to do anything but help me next time im the one broke down.
Click to expand...

Exactly! Once you get it rolling....it's on.
BTW, I used a 150lb rated braided rope.
I can pull a stand up and we are both cruising at 15mph....standing up!
I used the same kind, shorter of course, as my limiting rope that doubles as Towing surf rope.


Benny
 
The Penguin

The Penguin

triple secret probation
Location
down by the river
I made a tow rope from flat (hollow) tubular nylon webbing with bungee cord in the middle. I put large carabiners on it because they are easier to handle - especially with gloves.

I have a loop sewn into each end and the biner just goes through the loop - no know required.

if you are tying a biner onto a regular round rope - use a bowline.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom