October 25

Hear from Custom Rubber and Urethane Experts

Product Spotlight: Towline Protectors

Towlines are ropes or cables used in variety of recreational and professional settings, including parasailing, window washing, and maritime transportation. They can offer thousands of pounds of tensile strength, making them great for use with machinery or people.

As towlines are often under extreme stress, rubbing and friction are inevitable, causing damage to the cable. A damaged towline, in the best circumstances, will continue to operate with reduced tensile strength capacity.

However, because towlines are frequently under heavy burdens, a break can easily become more likely. This may cause severe damage to nearby persons or equipment, costing time, money, or even lives. Towline protectors are designed to guard against excessive wear and tear, extending the longevity and usefulness of most equipment.

How Towline Protectors Work:

Towline protectors guard against chafing and friction where cables come in contact with other surfaces, like chocks, bitts, or bollards. The protector acts as a buffer between the towline and contact surface, minimizing chafing induced damage to both the cable and contact surface.

Some protectors come in separate pieces, and are secured to the towline using high-strength bolts. Others can be threaded through the towline to its intended juncture, using a hook and loop enclosure to secure a sleeve.

The material used for each protector varies, depending on its intended use and the composition of the towline itself. Synthetic ropes, such as those used in mooring and towing, often use adjustable towline protectors made of polycarbonate or industrial strength nylon.

Ropes used for ship lines and push cables may use urethane-coated protectors inside and out, to ensure no additional friction is created between the protector and towline.

Applications:

Shipping: Broken towlines can result in delays, damage to cargo, and lost equipment. Towline protectors guard against unfortunate circumstances, ensuring a timely voyage and intact freight.

Towing: From planned maritime transportation to emergency towing, protectors enable towlines to work at peak efficiency, without worry of untimely parting or breaks.

Docking: Affixing a vessel is essential to the safety of all watercraft in a docking zone. Protectors guard your towline from rusty cleats and abrasive decking.

Docking and Mooring: Unlike docking, mooring typically refers to securing a seafaring vessel to an object directly embedded on the seafloor. As such, moorings are typically away from docks, increasing the likelihood that the vehicle will end up adrift in the event of a towline break. By fortifying the integrity of the towline, protectors help ensure the vessel remains securely fixed to its position.

Water Sports: Towline protectors are vital for maintaining the safety and enjoyment of water sport enthusiasts. Jet skiers and parasailers rely on the added security and buoyancy most protectors provide.

Advantages of Using Towline Protectors:

Maintaining Safety: A recent study by the National Transportation and Safety Board has found that towline failure is the primary cause of casualty and bodily harm in parasailing accidents. Similar reports of injury and death abound at the industrial level, making safety an undeniable priority for thrill seekers and workers alike. Towline protectors will reduce instances of external abrasion, mitigating risk of parting and broken tows.

Investment Protection: Towline gear and equipment can be costly. While replacing a broken towline can be pricey in itself, the damage to nearby equipment may prove prohibitively expensive. Using towline protection will minimize the risk of accidents and premature wear, maintaining the efficacy of cables for longer periods of use and time.

Maximizing Efficiency: Maintenance of towline gear and equipment is necessary to ensure proper handling and user safety. Time constraints associated with maintenance may hamper business practices, resulting in loss of revenue or productivity. Employing the use of towline protection will significantly reduce maintenance procedures, allowing for better time optimization.

Customizable to Fit Any Situation: Towline protection is used in many different applications, each requiring a unique standard of functionality. Materials and length can be customized to fit any specification, ensuring the cost will be relative to the specific application.

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