rope snap back=ER trip

One of the guys across the lake goes 210+, competes regularly, and gets into 32 off and beyond every morning, 34 mph. And he hangs on too long. He's not allowed in the boat without a shock tube. Speedy recovery to the Mrs.

Man.... we've been lucky. IHad handles fly into boat....try and use shocktube with all shortline skiers but pulling big guys out on slalom skis that ride the tail deep are equally as dangerous.

skirunt wrote: Thanks for the kind words. I am sure I am not the only one when buying a wakeboard rope, if it says wakeboard rope, then you think it is a wake board rope.(d*cks Sporting Goods) I grew up water skiing, when we had kids we got away from the water. Thirteen years passed by quickly, a lot has changed. Back then a rope was a rope as long as it was thin. The education on ropes has been very helpful and hopefully helpful to others. Heather's appointment went well though they do not understand her hearing loss. Off to the neurologist for further testing if it doesn't return with in a week. Marty Mabe ,I will be in touch. Thanks for the offer!

Hey man i was talking with my wife yesterday about your wife's hearing loss. She is a DR of Audiology and she wanted me to tell you to have her hearing tested by an audiologist. It may be something they could fix if caught soon enough. We are in Winston Salem and would be glad to help out in anyway we can. Baptist has an excellent speech and hearing center.

Take care!

That's the scariest handle pop story I've heard.
YES, shock tubes work. Using them with short line skiing is a must. They work to cut down on the recoil of the handle by dampening the rubber band effect. Preventing the line itself from springing forward is another benefit.
As others have said, a true wakeboard line will not recoil like that. It is also much better to board without a stretchy line as it is a consistent pull. I would also try to buy equipment like that from real watersports stores like Wiley's, H2Osmosis, N3 Boatworks etc. so you get the real thing. With most of these there are also very knowledgeable people to talk with.
Years ago I lost the handle in a hard pull on a wake cross slalom skiing. The handle flew past the boat on the drivers side and the rope recoiled off the pylon and in front of my girlfriend who was driving. When the handle hit the water with the boat still moving the rope cut across her neck. It scared the s#@t out of both of us. She had a terrible rope burn that for weeks like someone tried to strangle her. We got a lot of strange looks and I'm still not sure her co-workers believe what really happened.
Moral of the story...use a shock tube.

jimsport93 wrote: Jeff, you are supposed to snag that handle with your teeth and never spill a drop of beer

Yep Jim zigged when I shoulda zagged, but still have my pearly whites.

Nice ride later that day in your beautiful 93. Great shot here of you and your bride, PM me your email and I'll send to you, photos looks even better in real scale.

Jeff, you are supposed to snag that handle with your teeth and never spill a drop of beer

Out of curiosity today I called Clearwater Cylinder Head. They offered rebuilts with all new valves and guides for $300 each. They said that they used to be much higher when the supply was low, but now they are more available so the price has dropped. Obviously I'm 'way high with what I had hoped to get for mine! Don't let anyone talk you into buying the aluminum ones. They are fine in automobiles with coolant in the system, but lake water will cause you unending corrosion problems where the aluminum meets the cast iron!
Art

David, Sorry about wife's injury. I haven't heard of snap back with that serious of injury. I would be glad to be your driver if I could only get on lake . We usually go to lake Watauga but wife had knee replacement surgery two weeks ago and I haven't been on water yet this year. Now i have the kitchen gutted in a total remodel.

Oh, I forgot the most important thing: I have two pairs of GT40 heads that I'd like to turn into some green paper.

One pair is on (the remains of) an engine that went swimming and then was left to sit with water in it. They are still on the engine, so I have not seen their insides. I would sell the pair for $150.

The other pair are off an engine and were replaced because one of them has some small external cracks into the water passage. Most of us who have dealt with these engines for a long time know that this is not unusual. We also know that they can be welded up and seldom ever crack again. As far as I know, the other head is useable as-is. I would take $100 for that pair.

All we need to do now is find a free ride for them from Orlando to wherever you are. Know anyone going to Dizzy World anytime soon?

I had a similiar experience last weekend only without the handle. The ropr recoiled into the boat and across my back and right arm. My effects were nothing in comparison - I had roughly 1/4" raised welts and looked like my wife had been whippin the tar out of me.

Shock tubes work; reduce handles in boats by probably 80%. If you are especially skittish about it, use two of them on the rope.
Art

You take care there Dave's wife. You are a trooper, I'm sure glad you aren't blaming, you are right it was an aweful accident.

Wishing you a full and fast recovery, hopefully it will just be a story to tell leaving no lasting effects.

Make sure your wakeboard ropes are spectra or dyneema. They will not stretch or recoil.

It's the Poly P that will stretch and shoot back into the boat.

Could we clarify what rope was being used, it was said it was a "wakeboard rope" which should have been spectra or dyneema...but they do not recoil like that.

Used to send ropes back in and/or over the boat quite often years ago including a few head shots, took a chunk of gel out of the stern once.
Hasn't happened in years and always attributed it to better quality ropes. Perhaps one of you guy's in the rope know could list the best lines for slalom (skiing) and wakeboard that would reduce the chance of recoil.

Hope your wife is doing OK Runt

Happened to my dad about 15 years ago. Hit him in the side of the head while he was driving. Luckily my mom was in the boat to drive it back...he couldn't speak English for 12 hours. Vomiting after standing a minute, was in the hospital for a couple days!

Anytime we have a new/bigger skier I put them on a no stretch cable rope.

Hope she's doing better!

I am glad she is recovering. The site store sells the shock tubes that some have spoken about on this thread. I have one, but have not used it in several years. However, I will start using it again.

Guys,

Would pulling from the BI High Fly help reduce the chances of this happening or just increase the chances of it happening? I realize that you can not go too far outside of the wake when being pulled on the High Fly, but we are skiing right behind the boat for now as we ( Family) are all learning to carve it up.

Donald