Rope stuck in prop

[jkallen21]

2006 SANTE, rope got eaten by the prop today. I got it out by borrowing tools and holding my breath for 45 seconds at a time for almost an hour. It didn't kill me so i assume I'm just stronger now. I don;t have a boat lift at this lake so I was really out of options. It will NEVER happen again with me at the wheel. I just want to know if there is any long-term worry I should have (I like to worry). I got 99.5% of the nylon rope out, but some of it was just too small to grab.

[ES]

I feel your pain. Have been there less than a handful of times, but traumatic each time. If it makes you feel better, I have a pro wakeboarder on the lake and it happens to him at times as well...as you know, it may just take a quick distraction.

If you catch it very soon, I don't think there's any risk of damaging your boat. I've had my rope around the prop about 5 turns (it grabs on incredibly quickly). Like me, I am sure you will a lot more careful next time :-)

Also, I learned the lesson to keep on board a diving knife (fortunately never had to use it) and full finger gloves (the bloody prop can be extremely sharp, especially as you fumble in murky water!).

[SkiTower]

yep! done it ONE time. probably don't have any long term damage.

[hondaprlud]

I've done it 2-3 tumes over the years. Never had damage to the boat from it.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337

[DJH]

One time for me as well... no issues. I carry a diving mask on board now in case it ever happens again.

[Willandbill]

Happened to me once. Mask and knife came in handy, may want to take a look at prop next time boat is out of water. Handle whip, and hit, depending on incident may cause a ding

[lucky7t]

Done it last year. I became a professional diver in an hour.

I mentioned this last year and a member told me to carry a knife. I pack a razor knife now

[AirTool]

I vac pack/game savered a thin box cutter. The pack keeps little kids from messing with it and prevents corrosion...so it works when you need it. Put a lanyard on it so when you drop it...it dangles instead of sinking to the bottom.

[CMW]

Doubt you have damage.... My wife continuously drives over the rope. I also care goggles, razor knife, needle nose pliers and extra rope/handle.

[sodbuster88]

... My wife continuously drives over the rope.....

Belly chuckle..! I can identify. But I have to say, it's happened to me too. A quick shift in reverse (or the opposite direction it is wound) sometimes helps loosen it up. Just bump it in and out quickly.

[NautiqueJeff]

I guess I have been lucky. I have never been on a boat that has run over the rope. My wife drove over the rope one time when she was first learning to pull people about 12 years ago. Get this -- the handle got caught on the tracking fin and the rope never even made it to the prop! No damage to the rope or the boat.

I have now virtually guaranteed that I will run over the rope the next time out!

[swankster]

After chewing up a rope, we use the word "clear" before putting the boat in gear. Everyone in the boat is taught that when the drive says "clear", it means to check for the rope and person in the water and the driver will not put the boat in gear until someone answers back "clear".

[TeamAllen]

In addition to the mask and knife I have a Spare Air on board. I thought about it to possibly change out the prop, if needed, but it would work well for a wound up rope too. So far so good, I haven't needed to use it yet.
http://www.spareair.com/

[perry386]

Havent had a rope caught in the prop yet but I did get a vine tangled up in there which I got out by slamming the boat in reverse. I was very worried I had bent the prop because it vibrated really hard and then I thought, maybe it's just a vine and it it all worked out. I have gotten the handle caught on the tracking fin though.

[jkallen21]

I tried the quick reverse. When I finally did get to the very bottom of the mangled rope I found a melted "collar" of nylon surrounding the shaft.
Me to my son on the tube: Pull the rope tight so i can backup
Son: "OK" (pulls rope tight and then instantly lets go)
Boat eats rope

This thread gave me some great ideas. I'm going to:
keep goggles on the boat,
maybe even a long hose for air
razor knife/box cutter (vac pack is a good idea)
extra rope

(snips and pliers are part of the standard "weekend saver" toolbox).