Tips or tricks to keep tow ropes from getting sucked up?

[arew~SX230]

Last time were out, I sucked up a tow rope, huge PITA, and $25 later, I dont want to that again. Any advice?

 

[Julian]

Once you do it once (and like me, get so mad I cut myself cutting out the injested rope!) you will pay WAY more attention to where that rope is.

I always put an adult (my first mistake....allow a kid to watch it) on rope watch duty, and explain to them the consequences of if it goes under the boat. Then I also keep a VERY close eye on it.

Some have added floats (noodle) to their ropes....but I think you'd have to do it all the way along the rope to be effective. So from my perspective...vigilance is the only cure.

 

[GTBRMC]

Keep in mind that there is no true neutral on a jetboat (when the engines are on, the impellers are always spinning under torque)...so if you lose track of the rope and there is even the slightest possibility it is under the boat, turn off your engine(s) immediately!

 

[scokill]

I agree as above, if you are ever remotely unsure of the position of the rope, shut off engines.

 

[RightStuff]

Make it someone's only job in the back to watch the rope, and if they fail at their job hand them the knife.

 

[Glassman]

Make it someone's only job in the back to watch the rope, and if they fail at their job hand them the knife.

JUST FOR LETTING THE ROPE GET SUCKED UP??!!

OH MY GOD! THE HUMANITY!!

HOW COULD YOU....oh, wait.....never mind

 

[itsdgm]

I try to always maintain the following:

1. Forward motion if the rope is out
2. Little to no slack in the line if I'm waiting for a boat to pass or the rider to say "hit it"
3. If the riders done, I circle around so that the rider can get ahold of the rope/handle. Shut off the engines. Then pull the rope/rider in, coiling the rope as I go. I NEVER leave the rope in the water by itself. I pull it in with the rider.
4. Next rider gets ready on the swim deck, grabs rope handle and jumps into the water with the handle. Then I start the engines and idle away from the rider as the rope uncoils on the swim platform. If you coil the rope properly, it will pay out on its own. This also prevents fingers/arms/etc of a "rope assistant" from getting pinched by the rope.

BTW, pulling from a tower makes this so much easier because the first 10'-15' of rope is naturally lifted out of the water. I don't ever have the engines running if I see the line coming off the tower and next to the boat.

The above steps have pretty much eliminated sucking up ropes while I'm operating the boat. However, my wife does drive every now and then too

 

[MIDLIFECRISIS]

Yep sucking up a rope in one word SUCKS!! Especially when it windes backwardes.Did this last summer, all fixed now.

 

[haknslash]

In addition to the other suggestions, make sure you buy the brightest rope you can find. Don't worry about finding that favorite one that looks "cool" to you. Get the one with the highest visibility.

I sucked up a rope once on my seadoo xp. Luckily it happened right in front of our pier, otherwise that would have been a long swim to shore. That's a mistake I never want to make again and always paid more attention after the mistake lol.

 

[Scuba_ref]

I refuse to say anything about ropes and impellers as I don't want to jinx myself!

 

[MikeyL]

Once you do it once (and like me, get so mad I cut myself cutting out the injested rope!) you will pay WAY more attention to where that rope is. I always put an adult (my first mistake....allow a kid to watch it) on rope watch duty, and explain to them the consequences of if it goes under the boat. Then I also keep a VERY close eye on it. Some have added floats (noodle) to their ropes....but I think you'd have to do it all the way along the rope to be effective. So from my perspective...vigilance is the only cure.

THE Best Advice, @Julian ............ I have found you can, carefully, substitute "Adult" for "kid" above .......... LOL !

 

[DonWon]

When the rope is in the water and I'm getting ready to tow, I always put the kill switch lanyard around my right wrist. That way if I need to shut her down in a hurry I can pull the lanyard out much faster than using the ignition key.

 

[Julian]

I have found you can, carefully, substitute "Adult" for "kid" above

My experience is you CANNOT....I've only ingested ONE rope.....and a "Kid" was on duty. Won't make that mistake ever again. I can't blame a kid from getting distracted. I can ridicule and harass an adult for YEARS to come if they mess up. And like @RightStuff says....you can't just hand a kid the knife.....I'm happy to hand the adult the knife!

 

[GTBRMC]

Make it someone's only job in the back to watch the rope, and if they fail at their job hand them the knife.

JUST FOR LETTING THE ROPE GET SUCKED UP??!!

OH MY GOD! THE HUMANITY!!

HOW COULD YOU....oh, wait.....never mind

 

[rkluck]

I try to always maintain the following:

1. Forward motion if the rope is out
2. Little to no slack in the line if I'm waiting for a boat to pass or the rider to say "hit it"
3. If the riders done, I circle around so that the rider can get ahold of the rope/handle. Shut off the engines. Then pull the rope/rider in, coiling the rope as I go. I NEVER leave the rope in the water by itself. I pull it in with the rider.
4. Next rider gets ready on the swim deck, grabs rope handle and jumps into the water with the handle. Then I start the engines and idle away from the rider as the rope uncoils on the swim platform. If you coil the rope properly, it will pay out on its own. This also prevents fingers/arms/etc of a "rope assistant" from getting pinched by the rope.

BTW, pulling from a tower makes this so much easier because the first 10'-15' of rope is naturally lifted out of the water. I don't ever have the engines running if I see the line coming off the tower and next to the boat.

The above steps have pretty much eliminated sucking up ropes while I'm operating the boat. However, my wife does drive every now and then too

I agree with this process. I usually throw the rope to the person when they are in the water and ready. I also have someone handle the rope as it plays out. I use the tower as well and not only does it help keep the rope away from the boat and out of the water I can also watch the rope better myself.

 

[christopherglenn]

I pull the tube in and leave the rope on the swim platform, when they are in, I put the boat in forward, and the thrust at idle is enough to unload the rope and push it back behind us. I have never run over a rope, and I end up doing most of the work with only a spotter on flag duty. This year we are running 60' of rope, and the kids seem to like it better with far less splash in the face - the longer rope makes it far harder to dump the tube, so I assume they like that as well.

 

[MikeyL]

My experience is you CANNOT....I've only ingested ONE rope.....and a "Kid" was on duty. Won't make that mistake ever again. I can't blame a kid from getting distracted. I can ridicule and harass an adult for YEARS to come if they mess up. And like @RightStuff says....you can't just hand a kid the knife.....I'm happy to hand the adult the knife!

I apologize for not reading what you wrote more carefully.
Going back and reading both of yours, I agree totally.
Many thanks for catching my error. Happy 4th !@ Mikey Lulejian

 

[KXCam22]

What helped me was to put a 12" piece of pool noodle on the rope right about where it touched the water behind the boat. I did this to all our ropes and it really helps. Cam.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Use a floating tow rope.

 

[KXCam22]

All my ropes float. I sucked one up within 10 minutes on our first outing in the new boat. At least we are wiser and it has not happened again. Cam.