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How do you know when its time to replace your de-power line?

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 1:01 am
by NYKiter
Looks like my SS comp line is getting thinner at the cleat...what are your tell tale signs before failure? :baby:

Re: How do you know when its time to replace your de-power l

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 2:23 am
by FarQueLot
when I look at it and think - must replace that sometime - normally the next session or next session full of joy and power is when it will break.
Always carry a spare and replace ahead of time and keep the old one as backup sometimes too

Re: How do you know when its time to replace your de-power l

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 2:25 am
by pj sofine
Usually while I'm swimming in. :nono:

Re: How do you know when its time to replace your de-power l

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 3:07 am
by KYLakeKiter
When in doubt, I usually hang it on something and put all my weight on it to see if it breaks. If it holds my weight, it should make another session. Of course, if you are asking that question, it probably is time to order a new line and have it in the bag ready to go (with the proper allen wrenches :wink: ) Just my opinion. It took me a long time to get the centerline properly seated in the metal block under the butterbox on my compstick. I would not have wanted to do that at the beach.

Re: How do you know when its time to replace your de-power l

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 3:15 am
by markchatwin
In addition to allen wrench don't forget screwdriver, some soap and teflon tape to skinny up the end of the rope :thumb:

Re: How do you know when its time to replace your de-power l

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 5:23 am
by sarc
Any 'hourglass' thinning of the line means replace immediately!
If not sure -> that means replace it now! Much better safe than sorry.

Re: How do you know when its time to replace your de-power l

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 8:28 am
by flybykite
I replace mine often. twice a year or around the 80-100 session mark. If the rope has gotten thinner in any area or its getting frayed, its time. No fun having it break when you're on the water and its usually when you send for a jump.
I buy 1/4" amsteel rope and make my own powerline. Much cheaper than the $30 most companies want for a replacement rope. I like to wax my rope :o :lol: Seems to last longer that way.

Re: How do you know when its time to replace your de-power l

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 9:55 am
by KristianE86
Does anyone have experience with the Flysurfer depower lines? Does the outer line always snap before the core ?

Re: How do you know when its time to replace your de-power l

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 12:28 pm
by Johnny Rotten
Untreated the ropes usually start fraying pretty quickly.
The rated load for 3/16 amsteel is 3900 lbs and 1/4" is like 7,700 lbs so there is a significant factor of safety here when at worst case your front line lines can only tug 1600lbs combined load.

I will replace mine if a full strand of the 12 strand braid has frayed through at any one location. This may be a little conservative but due to the braiding pretty much all the strands are run along the ouside at some point and are getting damaged so it's difficult to tell how much the overall strength is affected when the line starts to get fluffy.

As flybykite suggested, waxing has a major improvement, I drip snowboard glide wax on mine. My north depower line is winding through it's 3rd season now and showing only small amounts of wear. previously I was replaceing them 2-3 times per year. Also making your own is a great suggestion. Amsteel 5mm (3/16") or 6mm (1/4") is the common size used by most manufacturers

Re: How do you know when its time to replace your de-power l

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 1:35 pm
by NYKiter
Just ordered a replacement.

I used cold water surfboard wax on this line a few months ago as per this forum and of course the whole thing is grey due to the metal insert. The wax seems to hide any fraying so thinning is all I have to go by.

:thanx: