Bit of a PSA: Consider adding a handle guard to your rope

[SilentSeven]

Was browsing Ball of Spray and came across this quite scary story about how a handle guard saved a skier from a very serious injury. I remember hearing about handle guards some years ago and then forgot all about it. After this story, I'll be getting a couple to add to my ski and wakeboard ropes.

https://www.ballofspray.com/forum#/d...-saved-my-life

Did an archive search on handle guards and turns out our infamous admin NautiqueJeff had his own rope experience about 7 years ago.

https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...e-saved-my-arm

Here's at least one source for a handle guard - no affiliation. Maybe there are more?

https://fluidmotionsports.com/collec...handle-guard-1

Stay safe out there!

[greggmck]

It amazes me when I see new water sports enthusiasts handling a rope attached to a very powerful boat like it is harmless. New surfers are the worse, coiling the rope to pull themselves up onto the sweet spot of the wave. This is extremely dangerous! Instead have the crew in the boat shorten the rope.

I have been involved in competitive towed water sports for many decades and I have seen the devastating injuries caused by being entangled in a tow rope. A friend of mine died last month when he accidently had his head pass through the handle when slalom skiing. And this guy was a long-time competitive skier. https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/lo...ie/5433806002/

People are losing fingers, suffering broken arms, dislocated shoulders/elbows and worse. It is important to remind your riders how to safely handle a tow rope. ONLY hold a tow rope by the handle and always with your arms outstretched in front of you. I once fell and my wrist became wedged in the corner of a surf handle. The force the boat exerted on my arm was as if the rope were attached to a car that was driven off the side of a building. I will never forget that feeling. Lucky for me my wrist was freed before I was injured.

A few pics of the more fortunate injuries I have seen:

[Interjon]

A gentleman died, with handle around the neck. a month ago at a slalom tournament. Very sad, RIP. It may be such that, of the water sports, only slalom course runs have the potential to place the head in a position to go into the handle. I do not know, as I have no experience with wakeboarding. As always, be safe out there.

[Tallredrider]

I was actually looking for someone else who was much younger, but found this guy who died when his head went through the handle. I am sure that this is more common than we expect. The guy that used to administer my houseboat put his arm through the handle wakeboarding and it shredded his brachial artery, and tore the skin off like a glove. Some quick thinking first aid stopped him from bleeding out on the spot. Multiple surgeries and a few blood clots to the lungs later, he is fully healed, but it sure ruined his day. I teach every newby that comes on my boat that the rope is the most dangerous thing on the boat. Far more injuries than with the propeller.

https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/lo...ie/5433806002/

A great option is the trick release. Several manufacturers have them. It is discussed fairly extensively in Jeff's thread from 2013.

EDIT: Gregg beat me to it.

[NautiqueJeff]

Yep. If anyone wants to read my story, here's the link. Funny, I was just telling some people who came out on my boat about this today!

I now use a CompTech automatic trick release in place of a handle guard.

https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...e-saved-my-arm

[greggmck]

When the rope is coiled up in your hand when surfing it is very possible for the rope to entangle around your neck, arm, leg, wrist or finger during a hard fall. While it is rare that people die it is worth avoiding this risk by being smart about how one handles a tow rope. Stay safe!

[SilentSeven]

Jeff - that's a cool release but ouchie on the price (yeah, i know - can't buy health).

Found this - much simple and cheaper but not sure I fully trust it. Works pretty much like an outboard sheer pin.

http://www.bulletrelease.com/#

[gcam4]

I saw the post on BOS and told my wife we need to get a handle guard. I'm ordering one in the morning! Safety equipment is important in our sport. I've broken my ankle twice years ago on rubber bindings. The first time my foot came out half way and the second time it didn't come out at all. I now run a releasable hardshell that costs about $750. Worth every penny!

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[SilentSeven]

When the rope is coiled up in your hand when surfing it is very possible for the rope to entangle around your neck, arm, leg, wrist or finger during a hard fall. While it is rare that people die it is worth avoiding this risk by being smart about how one handles a tow rope. Stay safe!

Gregg - thanks for this specific point out. I see this happen -all- -the- -time- and I can now see the exposure. We'll be changing our protocols immediately.

[Neptune442]

Consider it done! Thanks for the advice...$29 with free shipping is pretty cheap insurance

https://www.miamiskinautiques.com/FM...iABEgJMRvD_BwE

[SilentSeven]

Nice find, better deal than ordering directly from Fluid Motion.

[Tallredrider]

Jeff - that's a cool release but ouchie on the price (yeah, i know - can't buy health).

Found this - much simple and cheaper but not sure I fully trust it. Works pretty much like an outboard sheer pin.

http://www.bulletrelease.com/#

I have the comptech release for foiling and it is the gold standard.

I use the bullet release for my traveling bag and am very pleased with it. It has never let go inadvertently. My buddy had his arm go through the rope and it released perfectly. Plenty of folks on the foil forums have had equivalent good experiences with it. For just $100 bucks, it is worth it.

[SilentSeven]

Tallredrider Thanks for the anecdote...that's great to hear. How do you manage the pins? I see there are different sheer rates, Do you keep the same pin in all the time or tune it based on the rider? I've got some kid riders so I'm curious.....

[Tallredrider]

Tallredrider Thanks for the anecdote...that's great to hear. How do you manage the pins? I see there are different sheer rates, Do you keep the same pin in all the time or tune it based on the rider? I've got some kid riders so I'm curious.....

I keep the same pin in all the time, but don't share it with kids. I use the 400 pound pin, and have never broken it. But I am also more likely to let go when things go bad than try to save myself. The pins are pretty easy to swap out, you move a rubber band and push the pin out. If it has been yanked at really hard, sometimes it doesn't slide easy, but I have never heard of one that couldn't be worked out with some elbow grease and a screwdriver. I keep a stash of pins handy at all times.

[Skidave]

@ Tallredrider, do you have any pics you can share of where this assembly connects to the rope? I looked at the website and it didn't make much sense to me. I'll be honest, it was via my cell, so maybe not setup well for mobile devices.

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