Pam in Washington State <Pamvetdr_at_aol.com> wrote: >>>>>I hope someone can help me locate a source for line for kayak tow bags. I am looking for 100% polypropylene, solid braid, soft finish and very flexible, 1/4 to 3/8 inch rope, in lengths of 50 feet or longer (15 meters in Canada).<<<<< Back in the early 1980's I went looking for 3/16" or 1/4" polypropolene solid braid for kayak tow lines for the bow and stern towlines of our deck rigging. I couldn't find it in any of the normal outlets including marine stores. I wanted a floating rope that, unlike the heavy stranded polypropolene, knotted easily. It was very hard to find, but I finally found a source (either a manufacturer or distributor of it) that was located in Seattle's Industrial district south of downtown either on or near Airport Way. As I recall, they didn't stock the 3/16" size I wanted to try out but they were able to get me a 500 or 1000 foot roll. It looked to be what I had wanted but it turned out to not be satisfactory for tow lines. First it didn't float well enough to completely support the (heavier than water) nylon hook near enough to the surface that I could reach it from the cockpit so I would still have to add a float to it so it could be picked up by the paddler. Second, unlike nylon it was very low stretch so somewhere in the line a shock cord would need to be added to reduce the shocks from towing with such a short rope (this was also one of the reasons to go with a thinner line--but not one so thin or abrasive as to cut ones hand if it slips). Third, the polyethelene solid braid line seemed to be much more subject to fraying from abrasion than nylon or polyester (Dacron) solid braid. We didn't end up using it on our kayaks and for many years it became the scrap twine we used whenever we needed some twine for a one time use or throw-away application. We used the far stronger and stretchier nylon solid braid for the tow lines at each end of our kayaks and the far lower stretch (especially when wet) polyester solid braid for the gear holding deck lines on the rear deck. The stern line was long enough (being attached in front of the cockpit) we could just back up to pick it up out of the water but the nylon bow line required a float near the hook so that the kayaker could reach it. I just looked in the phone book and didn't see a listing there, but on the internet I found the company where I had found the solid braid polypropolene some thirty years ago. Continental Western Corperation. This may be the product you are looking for http://www.cwestern.com/products/twine/solid-braid-mono-pro-hanks.html. I think they may only sell wholesale so unless you are planning to become a manufacturer of kayak towlines they might not sell to you directly. They may be able to tell you what retail stores they sell that product to though. A manufacturer or product designer may be able to get a sample or buy a small quantity directly from the wholeseller for testing purposes. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Oct 15 2012 - 05:28:49 PDT
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