What rope for SW rescue!

[gannon311]

What do I need to get?

[okieboater]

here is the man for throw bags and rescue rope

http://whitewatersolutions.net/default.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Chester]

I may know where a used one (like new) is for sale.

[Cowper]

That's a good link, and includes some discussion on the only types of rope I would mention for SW work. (And everybody that has one of those custom ropes seems to be 100% satisfied.)

Questions to consider:

What will you carry it in? Play kayak, creek kayak, or canoe?

For a play kayak, you're probably looking at 1/4" dyneema (aka spectra, aka ultraline) as your best choice; for the others your options begin to open up.

What is your primary use for it? Rescuing swimmers? Pulling on kayaks, either pinned or just to get them across the river? Or do you also want to be able to set up mechanical advantage (pulley or other) systems to extract full size canoes pinned by non-WW boaters who were not using flotation?

For mostly rescuing swimmers, the 1/4" dyneema is pretty poor - it is very small, and quick to burn or cut your hands due to the small diameter and type of covering sheath over the stronger core. Yet it remains my main carry rope; other ropes wouldn't be strong enough in this smaller size to double for pulling boats off rocks, and the small size is a plus because it can be carried in any boat I paddle. I also like that I seem to be able to throw the lighter rope a bit better; when I get a bag of 3/8" diameter rope, and it is wet, it's pretty heavy and I just don't have the range I desire (OK, so I'm a wuss).

Rope weight is something to consider (all values #/100 ft) :
1/4" Ultraline - 1.3
5/16" Waterline -2.1 (this has replaced 5/16" MaxGrip)
3/8" MaxGrip - 3.1
3/8" Ultraline - 3.8

When you figure that weights probably go up 50 to 100% when wet, you'll see why I accept the limitations of the 1/4" ultraline as the one I most often carry down the river. But this is really a kayaker's perspective, I feel kind of silly if I'm in a tandem canoe or a raft and that is all I have. Bigger/stronger people who do a lot of rescue training frequently choose the 3/8" maxgrip as their primary bag.

Right now I've got 2 different 1/4" Ultraline ropes - an older one I take if I KNOW I'm going to be doing something abusive, and a newer one that is my primary carry bag. I also have a 5/16" Waterline which I got because I wanted something better for rescuing swimmers, but I have ended up not carrying it very often because it has just proven heavier and bulkier than what I can easily carry in my kayak.

Do you see where this is going yet?

Boats - you need more than one..
Cool weather gear - you need more than one set
Ropes - yep, you need more than one of those, too. Carry the 3/8" Maxgrip for those canoe trips or raft trips where you might need to rescue others or pull canoes off rocks; have the 1/4" Ultraline so that even in your playboat, you will never be caught anywhere without a rope.