April 27

Hear from Custom Rubber and Urethane Experts

How Important Are Tow Line Protectors?

You rely on tow lines to get the job done

That's why you need gear that ensures a longer lifespan for your tow ropes. This is where tow line protectors come to play.

Tow line protectors prevent exposure to chafing and environmental elements. They are usually made of metal, rubber, or polyurethane, although studies prove that polyurethane 95A durometer – the type that Uregard tow line protectors are made of – last longer and are more versatile than traditional rubber.

Mark Tool's Uregaurd 5' Tow Line Protector

How Tow Line Protectors are Installed

Tow line protectors are made in half-pairs, one half on either side of the rope. The ends are attached together using non-corrosive bolts. Uregard Protectors come in lengths of five, seven, and ten feet, but customizations can be made to suit any rope length of diameter.

Advantages of Ureguard Polyurethane Tow Line Protectors

Easy to assemble and fit. Tow line protectors built with Ureguard allow for easy installation, without requiring disassembly or detachment of tow lines from the drum. Simply affix both halves on the rope then bolt them together.

More durable, flexible and versatile than rubber, metal, and other types chafing gear. Compared to traditional rubber and metal protectors, polyurethane is far more superior in terms of features. As a true elastomer, polyurethane is capable of greater tensility, resilience, and elastomeric memory.

The composition of polyurethane allows it to resist elements commonly encountered by vessels – seawater, sunlight, oil, and ozone – up to five times more than rubber or metal does. Ureguard bolts are also non-corrosive to ensure that these elements do not affect rotation.

Polyurethane is not brittle. It can withstand impact, and is able to stretch and go back to its original shape without cracking or breaking even at high durometers. It also remains flexible in extreme temperatures be it -45 °F or 200 °F.

Lastly, Ureguard protectors are made with tapered ends and end washers that serve as bearings, holding the rope while also allowing free rotation. Free rotation ensures less abrasion, while the tapered design enable the tow line system to move more fluidly over rails.

Lightweight and safer. Polyurethane is more lightweight than other materials. Additionally, Ureguard’s design was made in that it is more compact and lighter than other protection sleeves. This lightweight make, coupled with its bolt-on system, renders it safer than other types of protectors.

Maintains integrity and extends the lifespan of tow lines. Ureguard has been used for vessels for over 30 years now and has been proven to help keep the integrity of tow lines and extend their lifespan by significantly reducing the damage to tow line rails.

More economical in the long-term. Polyurethane protectors are designed to offer excellent protection to tow ropes by preventing chafing and abrasions from rails. Ureguard is made to be non-corrosive, reducing unnecessary costs for new tow ropes as well as maintenance.

In the business of vessels and tow lines, achieving an optimal and longer-lasting towing system requires a solid approach. Because abrasion – followed by environmental factors – is the leading issue for tow lines, it is only wise that tow line protection becomes your first line of defense. For these purposes, polyurethane tow line protectors like Uregard are your best option.

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