When is a good time to contact Straight Line headquarters?
How does my shop become a dealer?
Can I buy directly from Straight Line?
What is your return policy?
What is the Straight Line and SL warranty policy?
How do I make a warranty claim?
Will Straight Line or SL sponsor me?
How do I get my event or video sponsored by Straight Line or SL?
How long is my wakeboard rope?
There is a knot in my rope, do I need to get it out and how?
How does the Interchangeable Bar system work?
Can you replace the grip on the Carbon Handle?
My waterski handle sinks, shouldn't my handle float?
Can I use a ski rope to wake board and vice versa?
What do the lengths “off” mean on a ski rope?
What is tolerance, and how do I check if my ski rope and handle are within?
Towable Tubes
How do I know how much air to put in my towable tube?
Launch Pads
How does the Launch Pad Link system work?
How do I fill and drain my Launch Pad ballast bags?
I bought the Uber Pump but my sacs don’t have the LPL valves?
How much weight can I put in my boat?
Can you hook up the Uber pump to the inboard ballast system?
How durable are your Launch Pad's?
Gloves
Do the gloves have curved fingers?
How do I know what size glove to get?
When is a good time to contact Straight Line headquarters?
Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm Pacific Time
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How does my shop become a dealer?
Please email info@slsports.com
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Can I buy directly from Straight Line?
No. The watersports industry is a great network of people just like you, passionate about our sports. We ask that you support your local shop and buy from them. If you don’t have a shop nearby, there are a lot of reputable on-line and mail order retailers that we work with. You can find one by going to our Shops & Camps page.
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What is your return policy?
We do not accept customer returns, you must return products to the store that you purchased it from, according to their return policies.
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What is the Straight Line and SL warranty policy?
Straight Line & SL product warranty is extended to the original retail purchaser and cover defects in material and workmanship as detailed below. These warranties are not transferable and are effective from the date of original purchase. Authorized Straight Line/SL dealers do not have the authority to make any warranties in addition to or inconsistent with the terms or conditions set forth in this warranty.
Ropes & Handles:
12 months from date of purchase. If you don’t have your receipt, then the 12 month period starts upon product introduction which is September 1st of that model year.
Inflatable Tubes and Launch Pads:
12 months from date of purchase. If you don’t have your receipt, then the 12 month period starts upon production introduction which is September 1st of that model year.
Gloves and Vests:
90 days from date of purchase. You must have a copy of your receipt to make a warranty claim on these items.
If your product is verified as having a valid warranty issue we will, at our option, repair or replace the product free of charge. In the event that an exact replacement is no longer available; we will replace your product with one of comparable performance and value.
What is not covered:
Costs of return shipments to Straight Line/SL.
Normal wear and tear as determined by our warranty personnel.
Ropes frayed from edges of skis, boards, pylons, towers and board racks.
Damage caused by alterations, modifications or changes not approved by Straight Line/SL in writing, such as mid-section knots in the rope.
Damage caused by extended exposure to sunlight.
Sales outside of the United States, this is handled by our distributors.
Products used in commercial, rental, or instructional programs.
Warranty returns are claims for warranty coverage only and do not constitute an agreement by Straight Line or SL to accept the warranty claim. Return authorizations are for inspection purposes only. Our warranty department will determine validity of claim upon inspection.
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How do I make a warranty claim?
Step 1: Evaluate the validity of the claim.
Was the product purchased in the last 12 months?
Does the damage appear to be attributable to defective materials or workmanship?
Does the damage appear to be in a location where outside factors may have caused the problem (ie. Handle fraying where it rubs ski/board, rope rubbing on board racks, is there a knot near the break, etc)
Step 2: Bring the product to the store where it was purchased OR Call us for a Return Authorization (RA) number.
When purchased locally, return it to that store, otherwise consumers can call us directly at 1-866-426-7673
Tell us WHAT you are sending back – describe the product to help us identify it properly
Tell us WHY you are sending it back – describe the specific problem. We may ask you to email us a picture before you return the product.
You will receive your RA# via fax or email, please print two copies, one for your records and one to include with the product being returned.
Step 3: Pack and ship the product immediately
Include a photocopy of the original proof of purchase (receipt).
Double check that your shipping information and product information on the RA sheet is correct, make changes if necessary.
Mark the defect clearly with a piece of masking tape
Print the RA# clearly on the outside of the box
Don’t forget to include a copy of the RA# printout!
Ship the claim to the address on your RA sheet
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Will Straight Line or SL sponsor me?
Straight Line and SL receive hundreds of sponsorship requests each year. Please follow the guidelines listed below to make sure we give your request the attention it deserves:
We are currently only accepting applications for USA sponsorships, international sponsorships are handled separately by our distributors. You must submit your sponsorship request so you are considered for next year’s team between September 1st and December 15th:
Note: if you are currently on the Straight Line team and wish to continue, please email or mail in an updated resume before October 30th.
Here is a list of what to include in your sponsorship resume & request:
Your name
Mailing address (No PO Boxes)
Contact information: phone and email
Your date of birth
Number of years you have been participating in your sport
Your goals you plan to achieve in your sport
A basic outline of your recent competition results or achievements
Other ways you are involved in your sport (camps, clinics, etc)
Current sponsors
A short paragraph on why Straight Line or SL should sponsor you
A letter/email of reference from a sponsor or coach (if possible)
One or more of your best action photos, a video or DVD (please keep in mind that these will NOT be returned)
A copy of magazine or newspaper photo and/or editorial featuring you within the last year
How to submit your request:
Mail your sponsorship request packet to:
Straight Line Sports
Attn: Athlete Sponsorship
17230 NE Sacramento Street
Portland, OR 97230
Please do not call or fax regarding your sponsorship request, we will be in contact with you regarding our decision.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT SEND ORIGINAL PHOTOS OR VIDEOS/DVDS. SPONSORHIP REQUEST MATERIALS WILL NOT BE RETURNED.
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How do I get my event or video sponsored by Straight Line or SL?
Straight Line and SL will only consider your event sponsorship proposals at least a minimum of 6 months in advance to your event.
What you need to include in your event proposal is:
Your name and contact information
What is your role in this event
Date and location of event
Event description
How many participants are you expecting
How many spectators are you expecting
What sort of media and marketing plans are in place
What specifically is Straight Line or SL being asked for
What benefits will Straight Line or SL receive in return
Printed materials and media coverage from previous year events
How to submit your request:
Mail your Event sponsorship request packet to:
Straight Line Sports
Attn: Event Sponsorship
17230 NE Sacramento Street
Portland, OR 97230
Please note that event proposals will not be returned to you.
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How long is my wakeboard rope?
Wakeboard ropes that are sold separately will be marked as the rope length only; your handle will add an additional 2 or 5 feet depending on the style of handle. The line marker sleeves indicate the total rope length of that particular section only. SL ropes have a 7, 5 and 3 foot section so that you can easily mix and match sections to create a customized riding length, 8 length combinations in total.
Wakeboard ropes that are sold as a combination with the handle are marked as total riding length. For example, a 65’ U-Line combo is 65 total feet INCLUDING the handle. All ropes that are part of combo units have the standard 5 foot sections.
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There is a knot in my rope, do I need to get it out and how?
Yes, it is very important to remove knots from your rope. Knots are the weakest point in a rope because as more pressure is applied to the rope, the knot will want to tighten down on itself further and further until it eventually cuts through itself. If your rope gets a knot, remove it right away before it can tighten even further! The best way to get out a knot is to hit the knot against a solid surface a few times and then work the loops back and forth to loosen, repeat as necessary. Do not use sharp objects to pry them apart as this may damage the rope. It may take a while, but keep working it loose.
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How does the Interchangeable Bar system work?
It’s quite easy actually. When you purchase a bar separately, it comes with a yellow tool for unlocking the grip. Just place the tool over the two holes on one side of the bar, pinch the tool while you firmly pull on the bushing at the same time. It will slide out of the end of the bar. Repeat on the other side. Then, simply insert the bushings into the new bar of choice.
Important Note:
With EVA grips, you MUST place the seam of the EVA facing away from the V of the handle, it should be facing towards the rider. Otherwise the pressure of pulling on the handle while riding will delaminate that seam over a short period of time.
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Can you replace the grip on the Carbon Handle?
No. The construction method we use for our carbon handles won’t allow us to make an interchangeable grip system like on our other wakeboard handles. It is a completely sealed construction method so that it traps air in the handle, making it float on the water.
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My waterski handle sinks, shouldn't my handle float?
This is the age old question and something that we’ve worked on for many years now. The weight of the rubber and the limited amount of space inside the aluminum tube make it so your ski handle won’t float. The only way to make these handles float is to add a neoprene float to the handle, which we can help you with by calling us at 866-426-7673.
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Can I use a ski rope to wake board and vice versa?
This depends on your ability level and performance goals. Anyone past the beginner level will want to use a rope specifically designed for each sport. Here’s why:
A waterski rope is made with polypropylene, which is a material with elasticity and memory. This simply means that when it is put under tension it will stretch and when that tension is released, the rope fibers will rebound back to their original state. Polypropylene acts as a much needed shock absorber for a skiers shoulders, arms and hands. Skiing on a non-stretch rope is really hard on the body and should be avoided.
Wakeboarders and kneeboarders should use a rope built with a material called Dyneema or Spectra because of their non-stretch properties. SL uses Dyneema in all of our performance wake ropes. Think about it this way, if you are cutting in at the wake with a tight line, what is going to happen once you leave the wake and cannot keep that amount of tension on the rope? An elastic rope for skiers is going to quickly rebound back to its original length, pulling the rider forward and off balance. However, with a non-stretch rope, there is no rebound and they’ll only feel the smooth pull from the boat, allowing them to stay balanced and on-axis.
There is an option for the beginners though, it is a third material called Polyethylene. This material is used in many of our recreational level wakeboard and waterski combos. It provides the user with significantly less memory and elasticity than the Polypropylene material but doesn’t eliminate that memory all together like a Dyneema rope will. These ropes will work great for those who only get on the water a handful of times a year or are just starting out in the sport.
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What do the lengths “off” mean on a ski rope?
A term used to describe the total length of the rope you are skiing at. Originally designed for use during tournaments, each rope section is identified as a certain number of “feet off” from the full line length of 75 feet (the handle is included in this length). For example a skier who is skiing at 22’ off is actually using a 53 foot line/handle length.
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What is tolerance, and how do I check if my ski rope and handle are within?
Tolerance is the acceptable +/- variance for your waterski rope sections and handle length and is determined by waterskiing’s governing bodies AWSA and IWSF. Specific measurements for each section length can be found in the AWSA Rulebook and on their website, www.usawaterski.org. Both ropes and handles must be measured under 44 lbs. of load to get an accurate measurement, simply lying it on the floor and measuring it will not work. Straight Line ropes and handles are all checked for tolerance coming off the production line and should be within the parameters set forth. If you are in question about your rope or handle, you can call us for a Return Authorization number and return it to us at your expense for us to check it properly. We will adjust lengths as necessary and return it to you.
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How do I know how much air to put in my towable tube?
It is very important to properly inflate your towable tube. Under-inflation causes your towable tube to sit low in the water, creating drag and additional stress on the tube, cover, rope and boat. This additional stress can cause the bladder to rupture, nylon covers to tear and ropes to break.
Start out by filling your towable tube to about 25% of its capacity and then adjust so that the bladder lines up correctly with the cover’s access holes. From there, fill it up to about 80% of maximum capacity. At this point you should still be able to see some small wrinkles in the cover and the tube should only depress one inch or so when you press firmly against it. Now put it on the water for a few minutes, letting the air inside the tube react to the water and outside air temperature. Recheck the tube for firmness, adding air if the tube has shrunk up a little, or letting some out if the tube feels like a rock. The perfect balance is to have a half inch or so of give when you press on it firmly, this way the tube has some room to give on big jumps, but it won’t have any drag when pulled across the water.
Important Note:
It’s not as easy as just filling it up and calling it good. Maintenance is the key to more fun that day as well as a longer lasting toy. If you leave a full tube sitting in the sun for any length of time, it will expand. Either store it in the shade, or let some air out. DO NOT let it sit out in the sunshine full of air! At the same time, if it is stored out of the sun in a cool place, or used in cold water, you may need to add air throughout the day. Remember that hot air expands and cold air contracts. It is best to check and adjust inflation levels between each rider.
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How does the Launch Pad Link system work?
The Launch Pad Link system (LPL) is designed to be a water and air tight system that will quickly connect the Uber pump and LPL valve on the bag. The valve on the bag is spring loaded so that the Uber pump opens the valve for quicker and cleaner filling and draining than other bags on the market. When you remove the Uber pump, the valve self seals itself and prevents water from shooting out of the bag like before. Check out the videos on this site, showing you how easily this system works.
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How do I fill and drain my Launch Pad ballast bags?
To fill your Launch Pad bags, connect the end of the hose to your bag via the quick connect Launch Pad Link (LPL) system by inserting the hose and doing a quarter turn clockwise. Position bag to desired location in boat and place the Uber pump in the water making sure pump is and stays fully submerged. Plug in the pump to the 12V power source, water should now be flowing into the bag. Continually adjust and reposition bag as needed, DO NOT LEAVE FILLING BAGS UNATTENDED! Bags are full when most of the wrinkles are out of the material and bag is firm to the touch. Unplug the pump from power source and then remove the hose from the bags valve. Store Uber pump out of the way.
To empty your Launch Pad bags, connect the Uber pump directly to the valve on the bag and place the hose end overboard. Plug in the pump and water should be flowing out of the bag now. Continually adjust and reposition pump head so that it keeps sucking water out of the bag. DO NOT let the pump run dry for more than a few seconds at a time, you may burn up the impeller which is NOT covered under warranty. Once the bag is drained all the way, unplug the Uber pump, coil and store it safely out of the way. Launch Pad bags should be allowed to dry before being stored for extended periods of time.
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I bought the Uber Pump but my sacs don’t have the LPL valves?
Not a problem, the Uber pump comes with extra parts to make it compatible with the waterbed style fittings used on most bags (including all old and new Launch Pads). This will require you to convert your Uber pump to only drain out of the older waterbed style fittings though. Start off by removing the 4 screws that hold the base plate of the Uber pump on, be sure to save the greased O-ring from inside. Place O-ring in the replacement base plate with threaded intake and attach to Uber pump with same 4 screws. Be sure not to cross-thread screws when putting back together. Screw on the included blue adaptor and you are ready to use.
Nothing needs to be done differently for filling your bags. You can still fill through the LPL valve if your bag has it or simply use the included black adaptor piece in conjunction with the blue adaptor for the waterbed style fittings.
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How much weight can I put in my boat?
Each boat is different, please follow the United States Coast Guard rating for your boat to be safe. The general rule is that having 60-70% of the weight in the back and 30-40% in the front will produce the ideal wake shape for most boats.
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Can you hook up the Uber pump to the inboard ballast system?
This is not available as a complete set from Launch Pad. However, the Uber pump is similar to inboard bilge pumps, so yes it could be converted with a trip to your local hardware store.
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How durable are your Launch Pad's?
All of our Launch Pad bags are made with 30 gauge PVC, the same quality material we use in our most rugged towable tubes. Basically, this material has been used for years and has withstood the test of time over and over again. All Launch Pads come with a one year warranty from defect as well, so rest (and ride) easy knowing your Launch Pad’s will be in your boat for years to come.
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Do the gloves have curved fingers?
Yes, all Straight Line gloves use pre-curved finger construction. We actually cut the patterns so that this happens naturally when the gloves are sewn together. This process creates a better fitting glove when the hand is closed and gripping a handle.
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How do I know what size glove to get?
Each person’s hand is different and therefore gloves will fit everyone differently. It is best to go to your local shop and try on various styles and sizes to find the best fit for your specific hand.
It is normal for the neoprene and Amara materials to expand and stretch when wet and then contract when dry. Keeping this in mind, a glove should fit snug to the width of your palm and in-between fingers in the store. Optimally, the correct size glove will fit tight, yet comfortably across the back of your hand and one where the fingertips are at the end, but not maxed out.
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