Tow Ropes

If you want to waterski or wakeboard then you will need a tow rope.  Essentially, it is pretty basic in design, consisting of a rope  and some sort of handle.  There are some important qualities that you need to consider when buying one, depending on how fast you ski, your weight, and your ability. This guide will discuss the basics about buying a rope that will suit your needs. Here are the basic rope styles.

Standard T-Bar 

Two Person Tow Rope  

Double T-Bar Combo 

The Rope

The rope,  usually constructed of polypropelene, should be springy enough to supply some give to the skier when turning, changing speeds, and going over wake. Part of figuring out how much give you need depends on the rope's length and the material with which it is made.

  • Material
    • The percentage of stretch in a given rope will determine two things: the length of stretch a rope can provide and its breaking threshold.
    • While in use, a rope will extend beyond its normal length by two to three percent. Considering that most ropes are around 70' long, you can expect an increase in length of about 1.5'.
    • The threshold, or breaking limit, is an important measurement. Make sure the rope is at least 1/4" thick and made to support at least 800 pounds of breaking strength. That is the bare minimum. You will see many ropes boasting several thousand pounds of break strength. The stronger the rope, the more weight can be towed. This is something to consider if you are going to use the rope for tugging along ride-on water toys.
  • Length
    • Take-off loops are used to shorten the rope if needed. This is a standard feature to look for if you are into slalom skiing.
    • Newcomers to the sport may want a shorter rope to be closer to the boat. Keep in mind though that shorter ropes mean that you will have a harder time turning because you won't have as much response time.

Handle Features

  • The handle usually comes as a single bar. Most models are made to float.
  • Recreational handles  made of molded rubber are meant for the average consumer. High-performance handles  tend to hold up better because they have a stronger construction and are made with an aluminum core and rubberized outer coating.
  • As far as size, a 1" diameter is good for small hands and 1 1/4" is good for larger ones. Likewise, depending on the size of the skier, you can choose a handle length to match from 11-18 inches.
  • End caps are meant to keep your fingers from getting pinched by the rope.

Major Manufacturers

Related Products

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Gloves