Coated Lines

Blindside_137 · Posted: Mar 05, 2008 11:11 am Post subject: Coated Lines

I need to get a new rope and I'd like to have one of those coated lines so that when it goes through my hands in the water it doesnt burn.

I tried searching but couldn't really find what I'm looking for. I want to know if there is any difference among the three lines I'm looking at.

Helium Suspension http://www.boardstop.com/product_info.php?cPath=67_55_184&products_id=2563

Straight Line Team (Thermal) http://www.boardstop.com/product_info.php?cPath=67_55_104&products_id=2026

Accurate A-line http://www.boardstop.com/product_info.php?cPath=67_55_77&products_id=603

All the lines are 80' but the SL is 83' and I'm trying to find the justification for the higer cost of the A-line. Can anyone help me out?

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

I've used a number of different quality coated lines and could never tell the difference. I'd go with the cheapest if it were me. But price is always one of, if not the largest factor in every purchase I make.

PimpinD2 · Posted: Mar 05, 2008 11:41 am Post subject:

id get the straightline.

isnt accurate owned by hyperlite? that might be the price difference.

Red57Bird · Soul Rider Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 316 City: Raleigh

Not sure if this is true for all coated lines, but the one I have sinks and sinks quickly. Generally not a problem, but last summer my line popped off the tower and before I could swing around it was gone. Two months later I took a fishing rod and a bunch of treble hooks and lead weights and was able to fish it out. Lesson learned.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

Red57Bird, your handle doesn't float?

Wakeboarding=Life · Outlaw Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 200 City: Castle Rock

why not just wear gloves?

wsuwakeboarder · Posted: Mar 05, 2008 4:02 pm Post subject:

Red57Bird, One of my buddy's handles sinks like a lead weight, I didnt like it when I first used it. Then I bought a proline and its a good handle that gets the job done. For a cheap price as well

Chad H · Posted: Mar 05, 2008 4:30 pm Post subject:

Rope burn? How fast is your driver going when you pick the rope up? Just get a loose grip and your good to go. Unless you want to spend more money then go with a coated, but a looser grip when your holding onto the rope will be fine.

Red57Bird · Soul Rider Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 316 City: Raleigh

Blindside_137 · Posted: Mar 05, 2008 4:58 pm Post subject:

Chad H, I can't really change my grip because the scenario i'm referring to is on occasion, the angle the rope goes through my hands to the boat requires me to hold on tighter or else it'll get away from me and the driver needs to come back around.

But the fact is, my old rope is damaged and i like the coating of the lines listed and just wanted to see why they are priced so differently. I also like how they're tangle free. Is that true?

ridininmd · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 1231

I've got a coated bullet line that I picked up on sale for about $40. I've had it about 2 years now and it's held up pretty well.

It's defiantly not tangle free but it doesn't tangle nearly as bad as non-coated lines that I've used.

HHI Dave · Posted: Mar 05, 2008 7:44 pm Post subject:

Blindside_137,

Bullet Lines coated lines are definitely a great bang for the buck. Check their Ebay store for the best prices.

Also, www.buywake.com has the Hardline Spyder 15" handle on close-out for $29.99.

Pair them up and you've got a coated spectra line and spectra/EVA handle for 100 bucks or less. Can't beat that. Cool

JRW160 · Soul Rider Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 367 City: Huntsville

That helium line is pretty nice. It's a lot thinner and lighter than other coated lines I've used.

LFADAM · Posted: Mar 06, 2008 4:58 pm Post subject:

Blindside_137, the "tangle free" claim of coated lines is horse s$%t. I have a non coated line and it tangles WAY less than all of my friends lines who have coated lines. (Reason: coated lines slip out of loose nots easier because theyre smooth but they kink much worse than noncoated lines so they get into huge rats nests that dont slip out)

As for the rope burn, its up to you but I find a simple fix when the boats going around fast is to just pull the handle to me faster than the boat does so the line never is sliding through my hand. I pull it hand over hand until I get the handle, then I get set while all the slack works out and Im good to go.

jflock2 · Outlaw Joined: 25 Nov 2003 Posts: 234 City: Atlanta

jflock2 · Outlaw Joined: 25 Nov 2003 Posts: 234 City: Atlanta

JRW160 · Soul Rider Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 367 City: Huntsville

Another thing about that helium line is that it bends a lot different than most ropes. It's more like winding up some coaxial cable than winding up a rope if that makes any sense.

Hollywood · Posted: Mar 07, 2008 6:59 am Post subject:

Put the rope around your back and let it slide against your life jacket, problem solved. Or have the driver make a bigger turn around you so you're not feeding 50'+ of line through. If you haven't been riding in a while take your rope (hold the handle) and throw it all out off the back of the boat while you're idling out or off the dock. Recoil it in and it should come out back out nice and smooth. Make the loops a bit smaller as you get near the end (boat connection) side of the rope so they don't hook themselves.

DRAGON88 · Posted: Mar 07, 2008 10:11 am Post subject:

LakeIolaLuke · Posted: Mar 07, 2008 5:17 pm Post subject:

The heliums aren't as rigid as the A-line, which means the A-line will resist knots and tangles better. Just food for thought

holdsworth · Posted: Mar 07, 2008 5:28 pm Post subject:

i like the a-line. i haven't had any problems with it. the rope does sink, but as long as the boat is moving a little bit and the handle floats, it's not a big deal.

Nauty · Addict Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 827 City: Lake Dallas

I have ridden with almost all of them and I personally own the Helium and A-line. Here's my opinion on all of them:

A-line:

The thinnest of them all. Tangles the least. Main line is very long, so you may have to cut it down to size. I did with mine and it's very easy. Get some heat shrink and you won't be able to tell that it was customized.

Helium:

A little thicker than the A-line but not by much. Seems to tangle a little more than the A-line, especially when it's cold out (the plastic gets really stiff in cold weather). It's also a little on the long side and may need to be customized.

Bullet lines:

The thickest of them all. Also tangles more than the A-line. I don't own one, so I don't know how the length is.

Straight line: Haven't ridden with one, but a friend bought one and said that the coating started cracking after a few months. That's about all I know about this one.

Alhough there are diffferences with them all, I think that any of them will be better than a non-coated rope. To each their own, but not getting rope burn is worth every penny to me. Sorry, but not everyone drives perfect every time Wink

Blindside_137 · Posted: Mar 12, 2008 4:34 pm Post subject:

alright... I'm probably gonna go with the helium. But since we'll now be attatching to a tower, do you just put one of the loops of the rope on the head tow point of the tower? It doesn't seem like that would be secure? Is there a specific way to attatch the rope to the tower?

Chad H · Posted: Mar 12, 2008 5:17 pm Post subject:

Blindside_137,
One thing to do, make sure your knots aren't slip knots connecting sections. It will make the sections really hard to take off.

Blindside_137 · Posted: Mar 12, 2008 5:20 pm Post subject:

what do you mean?

LFADAM · Posted: Mar 12, 2008 6:18 pm Post subject:

Blindside_137, nah. You probably could do what you do but most people do it a little differently. Its kind of hard to desribe but basically you take the loop towards the handle and push it through the loop closer to the boat making a bigger loop and you put the tow point through that big loop and its basically a slip knot around the tow point.

Blindside_137 · Posted: Mar 12, 2008 6:26 pm Post subject:

yea, I can't really visualize that haha. I guess just show it to me when we ride sometime... Smile

I tried searching but couldn't find anything. I think i saw a video somewhere of making the loops like that for attaching the rope to the boat but don't have any clue where i saw it... Confused

bvlaar · Criminal Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 65

Hey guys,
I'm looking into getting one of these lines and handles, I do have one question though:

I am currently using a skit rope with small 5ft sections that you can take out to shorten the rope.
For these lines how do you shorten them up?
Do I just make the naught farther on the line (where connected to the tower) so there is a little bit of hanging piece of rope?
Thanks!

Bvlaar

Chad H · Posted: May 12, 2008 4:35 pm Post subject:

bvlaar,
Coated lines come in sections just as any normal rope would. You just take sections off. The shortest you can get it should be 60 feet including handle.

leviwynnyk · Posted: May 12, 2008 8:51 pm Post subject:

Here, get the A-line for $99 and it comes with a free Carbon Fiber handle Smile

I just bought this combo, it's great.

http://boardersmall.com/xcart/product.php?productid=18805&cat=371&page=1

Chad H · Posted: May 13, 2008 11:10 am Post subject:

leviwynnyk,
That's a damn good deal.

If anyone is in the market for a rope/handle combo, the above is a great deal.

bvlaar · Criminal Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 65

I just boought that A-line!
Can't wait to test it out!

imawakeboarder.com · Newbie Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 30

Be careful on your choice, some plastic coated lines can crack and do worse things to your hands than a regular rope burn