The Best Tow Lines to Anchor or Moor Your Boat

Tow Line Buying Guide

Choosing the tow line for your boat can be difficult. You have to sort between various materials and weaves to figure out the best one for your application. Here is a buying guide to point you in the right direction.

How to Choose a Good Tow Line

You can start by looking at the features that make any marine rope the best tow line. We have listed some below:

Material and construction

Marine ropes are categorized into various types according to their materials. You can choose between nylon, polyester, and polypropylene.

Your second consideration should be its construction. There are various ways in which boating tow lines are braided or twisted. For example, a single-braided rope consists of eight to 12 fiber strands twisted together in a circular pattern. Meanwhile, the double-braided rope has a braided sheath that wraps the braided core. And finally, there’s the three-strand twist rope that consists of three strands that are twisted to form a singular strong core.

While the double-braided ropes are a standard in the marine world, you can choose others if they are more suitable for your application.

Diameter

The diameter of a tow line is a tell-tale sign of its strength. The bigger its diameter, the stronger and heavier the rope will be. It should be known, however, that larger is not always better. A bigger diameter rope is not great for tying knots, and for that purpose, you’ll need a thinner rope.

You should carefully consider your application and choose the right diameter accordingly.

Length

The length of marine ropes varies from application to application.  Since you are getting one for towing, the Water Sports Industry Association recommends a minimum length of 50 feet and a maximum of 65 feet. Any shorter, and it will crest in the wave spraying water on the riders. Any longer, it will be more difficult to control the tube’s direction.

The Different Types of Towing Ropes

The options for boating tow lines are endless. To help you conduct an organized search, we have categorized them into the following types:

Nylon

Nylon is a popular synthetic fabric mainly because of its elasticity. Nylon ropes can stretch up to 40% of their original length, making them suitable for towing, docking, and mooring. They don’t lose much of their dry strength even when wet, hence why there is a popular choice for boat towing activities.

Polypropylene

Propylene ropes are flexible, tough, and economical. A good thing about this tow line is that it floats on water. However, these ropes are not the strongest.

Polyester

Polyester tow lines are popular for their excellent abrasion and UV resistance. They are highly affordable and are a suitable choice for underwater usage.

Dyneema

Despite being a newer material on the marine Rope market, Dyneema ropes have become very popular for their strength. They are highly suited for heavy-duty applications but come at an expensive cost.

Some Tips to Care for and Maintain Your Tow Line

Besides using the correct ropes and knots for various jobs, here are some tips and tricks to maintain your tow line in the top position:

Inspect and clean

The first and foremost advice we can give you is to inspect and clean your tow line at least once every season. Check for frays, worn areas, chafing, and dry rot.

The next thing you should do is clean the rope because dirt and salt water can form a layer of build-up over it. Rinse it with clean fresh water, and don’t use soap as it washes away the protective layers.

Prevent fraying

When cut from between, it is natural for a rope to unbraid and fray. To prevent this from happening, you should always secure the part where you want to cut before proceeding to cut.

The simplest and traditional way to do so is to use a needle and thread. Also called Sailmaker’s Whipping, it involves sewing the ends shut after cutting. The second method is to use tape. It is quick and simple, and all you have to do is apply tape on the ends and secure them using heat.

Protect it from chafing

Chaffing is a common issue with boating tow lines. From the ropes pulling at your tube to the anchor line going over the side of the boat, all of these are prone to chafing.

While you can’t prevent it, there are some ways to stop it. Try sliding a piece of PVC pipe or a flexible garden hose over the exposed area to protect it from rubbing. You can also stitch a piece of canvas to cover the area that is most prone to it.

Store it in neat coils

The sight of swirls of perfectly coiled rope along the cleats of docked boats is pretty common around marinas. An effective way of protecting the tow line from tangling, chafing, or fraying – neater coils can maintain your boating tow line.

Conclusion

A good boating rope is not only useful for all your boating needs. You can use one for docking, towing, and anchoring without having to purchase several rolls of rope, and because all of these are high in the quality you can use the included buying guide to pick the right one for your needs.