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Author Topic: Tow rope supply or fabrication.  (Read 8352 times)

Robert Davies

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Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« on: June 12, 2007, 02:59:22 pm »


Hello chaps, silly question time once more.....

I could do with a tow rope for recovery/rescue work with (or for!) my Slipway trent lifeboat - Fitted with VERY substantial cruciform bollards back 'n' front.

Is there a commercial supplier? - I could do with something fairly substantial with a loop spliced into each end.

Of course if someone's up for a masterclass in 'Model boat/ship tow rope making for beginners' that would do spiffingly also.

Trust me, I have searched this font of all knowledge known as 'Model Boat Mayhem forum'. Google wasn't much use either - I did find some other curious links regarding ropes, but being as this forum is family rated, we'll stop right there! :)

Ta!

-Rob  :)
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Captain Anonymous

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #1 on: June 12, 2007, 03:15:52 pm »

Go to your nearest builds suplies, they should have nylon rope in different sizes, you only have to cut to length and loop it over and wire the ends.
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johno 52-11

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2007, 03:23:11 pm »

Rob

You need to get intouch with the internationl guild of knot tyers [url][http://www.igkt.net/index.php/url] they make there own rope so if you can find a member local to yourself. The member I know are allways happy to help with making ropes for modellers.

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Robert Davies

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #3 on: June 12, 2007, 04:00:58 pm »


Ta for the good info so far chaps!

-Rob
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Tom@Crewe

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #4 on: June 12, 2007, 05:16:59 pm »

depends on scale, but B&Q do a range, sash cord, nylon cord etc
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kendalboatsman

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #5 on: June 12, 2007, 05:38:40 pm »

Hello Robert
Another place to look is climbing and outdoor shops for various diameters and types of ropes cords. Survival shop paracord would be very good and a reasonable diameter as would guyrope. Both of those are braided so should be plenty strong enough.

Plenty of those types of shops at Betws-y-coed.  :)

http://www.cambriansurvival.co.uk/kit-shop-6.html


Clive :)
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Welsh_Druid

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2007, 05:48:15 pm »

Hi Rob

Didn't you see me towing the disabled boat back with my tug last Sunday ?  Have a look at what Don K.  and myself use next week if you will be at Llanberis.

Don B.
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Robert Davies

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #7 on: June 12, 2007, 06:04:16 pm »

Hi Rob

Didn't you see me towing the disabled boat back with my tug last Sunday ?  Have a look at what Don K.  and myself use next week if you will be at Llanberis.

Don B.

Hi Don,

I did see, and about halfway home there was a loud 'D'OH!' from within my Volvo as I remembered, rather too late, to ask you about it.

Young 'Kings' needs bigger batteries! That twice in two weeks he hasn't made it home under his own power  :)

-Rob

ps Must ask Stavros about his 'Happy Hunter' towing line too.
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Stavros

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #8 on: June 12, 2007, 07:21:47 pm »

There will be a towing line at teh lake on sunday for you Robert !!!! Stavros
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Robert Davies

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #9 on: June 12, 2007, 09:52:26 pm »

There will be a towing line at teh lake on sunday for you Robert !!!! Stavros

Now that's service for you! :)

Cheers Stavros!

-Rob
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Bunkerbarge

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #10 on: June 14, 2007, 09:39:54 am »

It is a very simple procedure to splice a loop in the end of a piece of either hemp or polyprop rope and then to apply a "whipping" to keep it together and neaten it all off.

Have a look at these:

http://dmcleish.com/spectra/splice.html

http://www.boats.com/news-reviews/articledetail.html?lid=7593

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whipping_knot
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tolnedra

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #11 on: June 14, 2007, 09:55:36 am »

I'm in complete agreement with you, Bunkerbarge. I always eye splice or back splice the ropes on my tugs, whether for effect or practical use. I remember my seamanship instructor at HMS Ganges in 1953, telling us "worm and parcel with the lay, serve it up the other way", and a whipping on the rope also should be done against the lay. The different types of whipping can make quite a difference to the overall look too, I have always favoured the west country whipping personally.

Danny
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RipSlider

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #12 on: November 13, 2007, 10:26:41 pm »

I would suggest though that if you are planning to use a Spectra or any of the other hi-tec micro fibres, that you don't splice it.

Spectra doesn't do well with splicing, it rapidly degrades in strength

for micro braids, a compression knot, rather than a splice or strangle knot, retains far more strength.

Have a look at either the Grinner knot ( bit workman like, but retains 95% of the strength, or the bibini twist:

http://www.leadertec.com/tipsandtechniques/fishing_knots/knots_Bimini.html

Which was specifically designed to retain 100% or more of the stength of braided lines.

sorry for knot-geekiness.

Steve
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Stavros

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #13 on: November 13, 2007, 11:00:22 pm »

What I do personally is simple superglue approx 30mm along end of rope bend back onto itself forming a loop,then whip finish and superglue.Works and looks very tidy

Stavros
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portside II

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #14 on: November 14, 2007, 12:04:49 am »

if your not keen on splicing Robert you could do my method,
thats to form a loop sew it together with strong thread ,super glue it and then slip a piece of heat shrink over to tidy it up .
works for me .
daz
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bigford

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #15 on: November 14, 2007, 01:00:33 am »

umi's  plasma rope trick
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7067092&postcount=125

the tow ropes look to be dead on
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Robert Davies

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #16 on: November 15, 2007, 11:36:47 pm »



Goodness!

This thread's come back to life!

Plasma rope? Look more closely, it's a fancy shoelace but it don't half look right in position :)

I'm using one of Stavros ropes now, but may have a crack at the heat shrink idea on the next one.

Cheers peeps! All good stuff :)

-Rob
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Umi_Ryuzuki

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #17 on: November 19, 2007, 03:42:52 am »

Here's a later version from nylon cord...

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1249197

And a smaller chord below that I just couldn't get to bury properly... ::)

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Shipmate60

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #18 on: November 19, 2007, 08:22:52 am »

There is a far easier way.
Loop the end of the "rope".
slide over the double end a fairly good fit heatshrink.
Heat up and trim if necessary.

Bob
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Umi_Ryuzuki

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #19 on: November 19, 2007, 06:12:56 pm »

There is a far easier way.
Loop the end of the "rope".
slide over the double end a fairly good fit heatshrink.
Heat up and trim if necessary.

Bob

Yeah, that's what everyone keeps telling me...  ::)
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andywright

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #20 on: November 19, 2007, 07:59:24 pm »

Shipmate60 has the best idea, i have been doing that for years, it looks tidy, and is very strong.
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farrow

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #21 on: February 26, 2008, 10:22:30 pm »

Why you are at folks remember to put the hard eye in the end of the tow to connect in the towing tail. :angel:
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big-geoff

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #22 on: March 21, 2008, 07:46:57 pm »

This is a very interesting and informative thread.

Reading this I thought I had it sussed as to how I am going to male a tow rope, what has trown me is the words " Hard Eye", What's that then........

Geoff
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Shipmate60

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #23 on: March 21, 2008, 11:34:28 pm »

big-geof,
The hard eye is a metal insert shaped to form the hawser in a loop.
It is ideal for using with a joining shackle for attaching thinks like a Towing Bridle to.
Or any metal Shackle, it gives a metal to matal contact which is far more hard wearing than metal (shackle) to rope or wire.

Bob
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big-geoff

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Re: Tow rope supply or fabrication.
« Reply #24 on: March 22, 2008, 12:50:55 pm »

Thanks

Makes sense to have somat like that.

Had a look in MODERATED Can we use the correct name for the company, B&Q and not one other people might find offensive, they do stuff for washing lines that might suffice, will have to play.

Cheers

Geoff
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