ski rope catches on ladder

[Kelly Forest]

Hi everyone.
I have a 2008 185 sport that I love except for the fact the ski rope gets stuck on the ladder every time you turn around to pick up a fallen or tired skier.The ladder is on the right side of the boat,where all my friends boats have it on the left.Is there a fix that someone could share with me?Does Sea Ray have a fix?Thanks

 

[1stSeaRay]

turn left?

 

[Kelly Forest]

You always circle the person in the water on your right side so you can see them netter.This is what I was taught.

 

[Tonka Boater]

You always circle the person in the water on your right side so you can see them netter.This is what I was taught.

You are correct -- you should always approach on the starboard side so you don't run the skier over.

I don't see a good solution though aside from adding a wakeboard tower to raise the rope.

.

 

[Sweet Dreams]

You could get one of those rope protectors that overtons sells. Dont remember what they call it but its a black covered, foam tube about 2 ft long that the rope runs through. One end of the protector stays attached to the tow eye. It is designed to keep the rope out of the prop.

 

[Morpheus]

You leave the ladder out while pulling someone?

 

[hack4alivin]

You leave the ladder out while pulling someone?

Thinking the same thing:huh:

 

[tdappleman]

I think the 185 ladder is a similar model to mine - however it is recessed slightly into the platform. It's most likely getting caught on the portion sticking out beyond the platform. You almost need a triangle of sorts which would give the rope an angle to slide on vs. getting caught on the hinge of the ladder.

 

[Morpheus]

Ahhh ok now I understand. Mine is completely different.

 

[cdefreit]

The same thing happens occasionally on my '07-185. Doesn't happen all the time and usually if I'm the one in the water I can yank the rope to clear it (before all the slack is gone).

 

[Lazy Daze]

Hi everyone.
I have a 2008 185 sport that I love except for the fact the ski rope gets stuck on the ladder every time you turn around to pick up a fallen or tired skier.The ladder is on the right side of the boat,where all my friends boats have it on the left.Is there a fix that someone could share with me?Does Sea Ray have a fix?Thanks

Just go around to the left. Your boat is plenty small enough and you are much higher than the gunwales - you'll see the person no problem. Unless you're, for some reason, trying to get within inches of the person...

There is no "fix" from Sea Ray for this.

 

[Bridog]

Could you use something like this? It seems like it might keep the ski/tow rope far enough away from your ladder. http://www.overtons.com/modperl/pro...r=rope&merchID=1008&r=view#details_box_holder

 

[Merge360]

Kelly....

I fixed this problem the first year I bought my boat... Easy fix... Cost me about five bucks....

if your having the same problem I did (looking at the pic that was posted)... Yes, the ladder sticks out slightly further than the swim platform....

If I had to take a guess, your rope is NOT hanging up on the ladder itself, but, the bolt where your ladder pivots (where it folds into your swim platform)....

Those two bolts that Sea Ray used stuck out just far enough to snag my rope and not let go when coming around to pick up my fallen rider, and this drove me crazy!

I took one out, ran to my local hardware store (Lowe's) and purchased two stainless steel bolts with "Rounded" heads on one end, threaded on the other. The rounded ends I put on the outside of the ladder, threaded ends towards the inside of the ladder.

I don't have a pic, but if you need one I'd be happy to run down to the boat storage and snap one for you! That is, if you can't make heads and tails of what I'm talking about!

Besides, this may not even be the problem your having! This is simply what was happening in my boat, and this was the solution to my problem!

Oh yeah... And ALWAYS approach the person in the water on the STARBOARD side of the boat! It just makes it safer for EVERYONE!

Hope this helps you out!

 

[Merge360]

Kelly...

Here's that pic! It's not the greatest pic, but you get the idea!

 

[billandamy]

The idea is to ALWAYS approach the rider on the starboard side...this is also what other watersports boaters are expecting when you make your turn to pick up a fallen rider in heavier traffic. Although yes, on occasion on mid week days when no one is out I circle whichever way but always looking first of course.

Back to OP, Merge has the best idea. I have caught the rope in the past from time to time on the ladder, but more often on the cleats on the side of the boat.

Not enough to warrant any changes, but it happens.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Merge - good idea! Gotta like those simple fixes! :grin:

Now, without stepping on any toes, I would like to know why it's not acceptable to circle on the port. If I can see the skier and there aren't many other boaters around, why is that bad? The important thing is to protect the skier from other boats, correct? Where I typically ski, most other boaters don't even their port from starboard or that you need to stay at least 100 feet from a downed skier. And, 100 feet is actually awful close, you know?

 

[First Born]

The same thing happens occasionally on my '07-185. Doesn't happen all the time and usually if I'm the one in the water I can yank the rope to clear it (before all the slack is gone).

+1 ... Out of 50 pulls it happens 3 times on our boat.

 

[chuck1]

Always circle back on the starboard side, keeps the downed skier on your (driver side) of the boat. Plus if somebody is coming out of a cove and starts up the lake the boat with the down skier will have the right of way since it will be coming from the new boats starboard side. Hope you understand that??? The new boat would have to proceed behind the stand on boat.

I ran into that a couple weeks ago on the forth and could have run over a down skier that the idiot driver had left 500+ yards behind and turned to the port his port to retrieve it, so when I come out of the cove her is a boat heading right for my port side and I'm thinking to my self why is the dumbing not yielding the right of way?????? It was at that point I notice the down skier bobbing in the waves head.

....
Now, without stepping on any toes, I would like to know why it's not acceptable to circle on the port. If I can see the skier and there aren't many other boaters around, why is that bad? The important thing is to protect the skier from other boats, correct? Where I typically ski, most other boaters don't even their port from starboard or that you need to stay at least 100 feet from a downed skier. And, 100 feet is actually awful close, you know?

 

[Lazy Daze]

Hope you understand that???

112.5*, yes.

I boat a lot of places, but I really only ski in one place (other than the coast of Maine, where I can pretty much do whatever I like as it is quite the rarity to see another boat :grin. Where I normally ski I would go absolutely crazy if I tried to abide by all the proper rules all of the time. There are, by far, more people that don't know the rules of the road than do - even just the basics. This place also has a sectioned-off area just for skiing.

How I pick-up pretty much all depends on what else is going on - I don't worry about port of starboard - I just concern myself with what would be the safest for my skier, work the easiest for me and be less obtrusive for other boats. By "less obtrusive" I mean "what action should I take to make it easiest for other boats to stay clear of my skier".

Don't get me wrong, I do agree with everyone that the starboard side is better as you can get closer to him (more protection) and still see him. It's just that doing that is not always best for the downed skier.

 

[billandamy]

Now, without stepping on any toes, I would like to know why it's not acceptable to circle on the port. If I can see the skier and there aren't many other boaters around, why is that bad? The important thing is to protect the skier from other boats, correct? Where I typically ski, most other boaters don't even their port from starboard or that you need to stay at least 100 feet from a downed skier. And, 100 feet is actually awful close, you know?

When there arent a lot of boats around, it really doesnt matter as long as you can keep the downed rider in sight. When it does matter is when there are a few towboats around. Most experienced towboat operators will expect you to turn a certain direction and will continue their track according to this "rule".

There is a certain part of our river/lake where it becomes all towboats in the morning and then again late afternoon into evening. There is an etiquette to follow to ensure safe riding.

Other points are not starting a run if you see another towboat in tow coming up behind you which results in them following your wake and ruining the ride for the people behind you. You wait until they go by, then once their wake has cleared you start your run.

I have waited in the water for others to pass, and they have done the same for me. Especially in wakeboarding, the wake is so important that without certain etiquette "rules" you can quickly ruin everyone's riding.