Ski Rope Sinks

[kcfromohio]

I bought a new ski rope from Wal-Mart. I hooked the end to the harness on the transom and threw the handle out in the water. I jumped in the water, put on my skis and looked for the rope and handle. It was no where. I looked at the back of the boat and I could see the harness and the float. I had my spotter check to make sure I had hooked the tow rope correctly, He looked and said the ski rope is still hooked on, it just sunk. I never heard of a ski rope handle sinking. All the ones I used to have were a round peice of wood with nylon rope that floated. I tied a soda bottle on it so we could ski for the day. A friend told me I need to get a float like they use on the ropes at swimming pools. My old ones never had that. Is that the way it is now days? Or shouldn't I have bought a ski rope from Wal-Mart that was made in China? I wonder how many chinese people water ski any way?

 

[guy74]

Re: Ski Rope Sinks

I had a rope once that would sink like that, but it would come to the surface when being pulled slowly with the boat. I put one of those floats like you are talking about near the handle and it worked ok. That fall if became a pull rope on my dumptrucks tarp, didn't have to float there

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Ski Rope Sinks

Out of curiosity, what brand was the rope? Personally I'd junk it and get a different one because both the rope and handle should float on a ski rope.

 

[Knightrider2]

Re: Ski Rope Sinks

Out of curiosity, what brand was the rope? Personally I'd junk it and get a different one because both the rope and handle should float on a ski rope.

Second that.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Ski Rope Sinks

Well to add a wrinkle in this, many tournament ski ropes/handles don't float as it's expected that you will be doing a dock start or at least have the handle in-hand when departing the boat.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Ski Rope Sinks

Well to add a wrinkle in this, many tournament ski ropes/handles don't float as it's expected that you will be doing a dock start or at least have the handle in-hand when departing the boat.

Really? All of the ropes I've got and my father in-law has float, and at least a couple of them are pretty nice comp ski ropes.

 

[skibrain]

Re: Ski Rope Sinks

I haven't had a floating tournament ski handle for about 15 yrs. And I buy a one or two of them every season because we wear them out.

Skier gets in the water, hand them the handle. When done skiing, pull the handle in. If skier falls, idle back to the skier and the handle trails behind the boat at the surface. It's is only when parked with the line out that it heads to the bottom.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Ski Rope Sinks

^ This.

 

[kcfromohio]

Re: Ski Rope Sinks

The Yellow and black nylon rope does float. The handle does not float. It is a very comfortable foam covered handle. I am not an excellant skier, but I do ok. I am in the water more than up on the ski's. I think I need a better driver than my blind, 56 year old, non driving wife. She slows down for big wakes while i'm skiing.

 

[hewittrd]

Re: Ski Rope Sinks

Second what Haulnazz said. I was at Rodgers lake when the WR was broken in 97. He started with handle in hand, but it sank like a rock when he let it go. It's all about the material the handle is made from. He needed a sturdy handle to deal with the pressures. However, I am sure they don't sell this one at WallyWorld. Put a piece of a swimming noodle around the line and call it a day. No sense in making this a difficult problem.

 

[SeanT]

Re: Ski Rope Sinks

I have a wake board rope and handle that we use for everything because it doesn't stretch and holds less water when pulling it into the boat. There are foam covers around the left and right sides of the handle, which help it to float. It doesn't sink when we are stopped.

 

[oops!]

Re: Ski Rope Sinks

it depends on the quality of the set up....

you can get several different types of rope/handle combinations, these vary from stretch to no stretch. float handles to non.....different materials....different weights.


.......how much do you want to spend! I have seen ropes up to 250 bux

 

[kahuna123]

Re: Ski Rope Sinks

Overtons sells very good quality ropes from 35 to 65. Anything over 65 for your use is overkill. It will last you many many seasons. A ski rope should never stretch. Thats an accident waiting to happen. We had floats in front of our handles. But that was 1965.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Ski Rope Sinks

Guess I assumed that they all float. Checked to make sure I wasn't imagining things this weekend, and all our handles float. They are all Straightline handles/ropes and only the wakeboard handle has external floats.

 

[marcoalza]

Re: Ski Rope Sinks

I would have thought that a rope that sinks would be the last thing you wanted.
Too much risk of the rope getting tangled in the prop if it sinks when stopping/circling.

I actually assumed they all floated!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Ski Rope Sinks

I would have thought that a rope that sinks would be the last thing you wanted.
Too much risk of the rope getting tangled in the prop if it sinks when stopping/circling.

I actually assumed they all floated!

I'd think that a slalom handle that drops would be a bad thing. The portable course we use has tubes and ropes 4-5 ft under the surface, sure wouldn't want a handle dropping behind one of the tubes and getting wrapped up. Not to mention just getting the handle tangled up in the weeds.

 

[DaveM]

Re: Ski Rope Sinks

There are ski ropes/handles that float? I'm not trying to be funny here, just can't remember using one that floated. If you are really concerned about this, just pull the rope in when someone falls and toss it back out. The handle should stay on the surface while moving.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Ski Rope Sinks

In my experience, cheap junky ski rope handles float (wood/plastic/injection molded rubber handles). Good quality/expensive ski rope handles sink (usually aluminum or alloy handles).

I'm a little surprised you found a cheapy at Wal-Mart that actually sinks! I haven't had a ski handle that floats in years.

As stated, keep the boat moving and it won't sink. I don't really see this as an issue that some are making it out to be, but I guess 10 to 15 years of skiing with sinking handles has made me adapt and not even notice it anymore.

To whoever said ski ropes don't stretch...this is inaccurate. Ski ropes MUST stretch to a certain extent. It's high-quality Wakeboard ropes that are non-stretch...and MUST be non-stretch.

Wakeboard handles usually have foam floats because they can survive normal wakeboarding speeds in the low 20's. But a good quality Slalom rope will never have foam floats, IMO because the first time that rope hits the water at nearly 60 mph when a rider wipes out pulling across the wake, the foam will get torn right off the handle anyway....so the smart rope manufacturers don't even bother putting the floats on.

All that said, carbon fiber is the next big thing in handles. Stronger and lighter than aluminum. And carbon fiber will also most likely float. So I suppose the very BEST handles out there, in carbon fiber, are actually probably floaters....if you want to spend $100 for a handle....without a rope.

 

[Skidaddle]

Re: Ski Rope Sinks

Wal-mart will probably take it back if it sinks.Thats not normal.
Tell them it could be a safety hazard. My handle is starting to sink after 10 years of use. Can anyone suggest a good recreational rope and source.

 

[Skidaddle]

Re: Ski Rope Sinks

Wal-mart will probably take it back if it sinks.Thats not normal.
Tell them it could be a safety hazard. My handle is starting to sink after 10 years of use. Can anyone suggest a good recreational rope and source.