no stretch rope make a difference?

Bradmce · Newbie Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 37 City: London

Does buying a no stretch rope make a big difference in poppin you out of the water and getting more air?

Darin · Guest

I'm going out on a limb here. But I'd have to say that it makes a difference in everything you do on the water. Since pulling against the boat to cut is imparative, you want a rope that doesn't feel like a bungie cord, which cheap ropes are. Stretchy rope, you pull' it stretches, it pulls back and pulls you off balance or at least feels all spongy. Nice tight no stretch rope, consistant pull everytime and not pulling you off balance as soon as your in the air and not pulling against the boat. THe stretchy rope will stretch whille your pulling in the water, but will 'snap back' when you leave the wake. That's the long lame answer. The short answer is "Yes"

Blindside_137 · Posted: Apr 08, 2006 8:00 am Post subject:

yes, and especially for progressive edging and W2W stuff. Loading the line and tension on a no-stretch rope will launch you out of the water when you hit the wake, but a stretch rope can throw you off balance like Darin said and negates the whole process of progressive edge and loaiding the line...

money_mike · Criminal Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Posts: 67 City: phoenix

hm, i really dont know if i have a stretcvhy rope or not, i dont remember feeling any kind of flex in the rope before. Is the whole non-stretchy rope idea a new thing or have they been making them forever????

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

Simply put it is the best $100 you can spend in wakeboarding.

money_mike, they have been making them for about 10 years now.

gene3x · Addict Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 759 City: Dallas

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

gene3x · Addict Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 759 City: Dallas

Are you being a smart ass or just trying to start some stuff? hmmmmm I am guessing smart ass since you are obviously smarter than I am. Shocked

Jim M · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 2933

I concur that a non stretch rope is the most important piece of gear to have to compliment the fundamentals of a wake jumps. You really do need a tight line to generate a correct and consistent load and release off the wake.

Well, it's maybe second to a big rampy v-drive wake. Doesn't that $100 rope sound better already???

You can actually get no-stretch spectra braided lines for $50 online if you look hard enough.. Last years, closeouts, Proline, Bullet Lines, all good ropes.

boarditup · Addict Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 731 City: Allendale, MI

The "non-stretch rope" is a bit of an exaggeration. All ropes stretch and then recover. Over time, they also creep (stretch that does not recover - you then have a longer rope). Spectra and Dyneema (same exact thing) is another form of Poly Ethylene (Poly-E). It is simply processed differently (molecular linking) and the result is line with very little stretch and a decent amount of creep. Poly Propylene ropes (slalom ropes) are designed with 2.4% stretch at 200 kg of tension. Poly-E is about 1%. Spectra and Dyneema is about .5%. Some weaves have more "stretch" as the fibers set against eachother.

If you have a chance, take a brand new Spectra, broken-in Spectra, broken-in Poly-E, and broken-in Poly-Pro and pull against a stationary object. You will find that you will not be able to tell the functional difference between the broken in Spectra and broken in Poly E. The new Spectra will take some time to set and creep. The slalom rope, Poly Pro, will be stretchy even after being broken-in.

I have several kinds of ropes and am a dealer for several brands including Straight Line, Master Line, and Fly High. All make great ropes. I have on the boat Fly High Spectra Fusion, Straight Line Viper, and Master Line Microfusion, and Fly High Tak. All work great. I do, however, use the Fly High Tak when I want just a bit more stretch for learning new moves and don't want to have my shoulders shocked.

Using a slalom rope for wakeboarding will cause some problems when the load is released in the air - it pulls you toward the boat. You will see lots of beginners getting their first air with a slalom rope and then catching the front edge with the resulting face plant. A high quality Poly E rope (Fly High Tak or similar) will have lots of initial stretch until the weave is set. Then it will perform similar to Spectra with a bit more stretch - whether you like that or not is up to you. For most people, the Spectra or Dyneema is the best rope for most moves. Get the rope with a jacket so that it does not tangle as much as an un-jacketed line. For older guys, keep a Poly-E on the boat to save their shoulders. Leave the Poly Pro to the skiers. It does not belong in the hands of the wakeboarder.

Loppy · Posted: Apr 10, 2006 12:27 pm Post subject:

Well, I think boarditup has a "handle" on ropes (yes, pun intended). Excellent dissertation there sir! Very Happy

I now know more about tow lines than I ever knew existed.

FWIW... my friends and I suck, have no clue what we're doing and crash alot. I picked up Straight Line that came WITH a killer injection molded wake handle on sale for $100 out the door. It's made a HUGE difference. Seems like there is more balance and now we crash 2 times per minute instead of 4. Laughing

Does that count as feedback?

wake_carver · Outlaw Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Posts: 157 City: sydney

when i made the change from stretch to non-stretch it was heaps different!
now i always ride with a non-stretch. Laughing

WakeBoarder44 · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 1107

gotta get a non stretch asap then Exclamation

I'm riding with a stretch line for 2 years now! Embarassed

I'v been told to use a stretch line as this will build up tension?!

I'll get a non- stretch this weekend!!!

Darin · Guest

A steel cable will work just as well.

Blake · Posted: Apr 12, 2006 6:33 pm Post subject:

boarditup · Addict Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 731 City: Allendale, MI

If you really want to use a wire rope - use a swivel. Yes, it has been done. No, it does not work very well. Yes, it is very dangerous and tends to damage the gel coat and tear up the upholstry. Yes, it was a great laugh to see the results at the launch ramp. I bet the kid's mom was wondering where her laundry line was.

xSugaxKanex · Posted: Apr 25, 2006 4:09 pm Post subject:

way sweeter, helps me edge better cuz of tension

Ian_82 · Addict Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 803 City: Longview, WA

ok. so id there a diff. between a spectra and a "non stretch" rope? or is non stretch the poly-e and spectra its own type.... thats confusing. especially after the post saying theres not much difference in em all..

bulletlines · Newbie Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 29 City: New Braunfels

We have the pictured 75' non stretch coated spectra rope on clearance for $39.99 shipped. I can add the matching 15" EVA handle w/ 6" cheater grip for an additional $50. Email me for the clearance link.

Bullet Lines 75' Armor Line (4 section mainline 60',5',5',5')

Ken Land
Bullet Ski Lines
www.bulletlines.com
kland@bulletlines.com

frye · Criminal Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Posts: 86

How do I get it on clearance? It is trying to charge me 49.99

frye · Criminal Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Posts: 86

Sweet nevermind. Got to love us wakeskaters.

Donkey_Wakeboarder17 · Criminal Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Posts: 61 City: Okay

I got a straightline non-stretch for 40 dollars on ebay. We tried it out for the first time today and I could tell a big difference

pilot_ryder · Posted: May 02, 2006 6:12 pm Post subject:

does anyone have the glow in the dark hyperlite rope?

Kyle L · Newbie Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 5 City: Tolland

I also purchased a $40 non-strech line of ebay. The biggest difference is the pull is more consistent. When you launch off the wake there is no bungee effect. It's not that you can't do tricks and jumps with a normal line it's just easier with a non-strech line.