rope snap back=ER trip

Anyone heard of rope snap back??? I was learning how to wake board this weekend(having a hard time getting up) The rope handle recoiled into the boat and hit my wife in the head who was driving. When I got in the boat there was a lot blood and I was looking at two inches of her skull. We got a lift to the hospital in Johnson city via ambulance. Two CT scans later, she didn't have a skull fracture, obviously a lot of stitches were required. She has lost all of her hearing in her right ear and a little in her left, she also has vertigo and balance issues. We were using a wakeboard rope. I have skied for the past twenty years never had anything like this happen. Anyone ever experienced rope snap back to this degree??

I am currently looking for a new driver. Pay is min. with no hazard pay and must carry own medical insurance ... brain damage is possible. Anyone in TN Mountains need apply.    On the other side where would I get GT40 heads for a 93 HO ???   

Never happened to us, ever. However when dragging the line in the water after a fall, to return to skier, it will drag and "catapult" forward some, never even close to the boat. Good you still have a sense of humor, while your wife is possibly plotting to have attempted murder charges brought against you, divorce, and own that boat, wakeboard and all you have!!! Better get her some flowers!!

Slingshots happen when you hang onto the rope too long after the point of no return. Acceptable in a pro tournament, and the reason you used to see optional safe-t tops and nets on tour boats in the 80s and 90s. Much less acceptable in a recreational setting. When you fall, let go!

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery.

Somehow this would be all my fault.
You will never ever ever hear the end of it.... ever.
I hope she gets better soon and the ER didnt hack up her hair doo.
You are in deep Bandini my friend. How deep remains to be seen.
You said "wake board rope"
I have never heard of the Dyneema cored or other zero stretch ropes snapping back... Hmm Ill have to investigate. I always thought that was trait of stretchy or poly ski ropes..

Morfoot,
A couple of years ago at White Lake you were behind that new 200.
Townsend was driving and I was in the observer’s seat , the rope broke ,
recoiled into the boat and ended up in my lap – remember?

   

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

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!

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

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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

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