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Ropeman Safety

I tried a calculator too, to try and simulate if someone were to use One Stick Method with slack in the tether. For 185lb, a 3 foot length of rope and 0 feet from last anchor (fall factor 1) the shock was calculated at 9.4kN. To simulate someone slipping off the saddle platform, I plugged in a 4 foot rope and -3.5 feet from anchor (six inch drop) and the shock was 1.18kN. The calculator I used was ferforge.tripod.com/Srt002.htm Just estimates of course but it strengthens the theme everyone has been pushing (saddle tether as intended = low risk with the mechanical devices, allowing excessive slack is high risk).

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justsomedude said:
Eric,
Nah

That would be a 10’ rope where you were standing 2’ above your tether....falling 12’.
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I don't know that calculator was correct but the kn went down as you changed the rope length longer.
 
EricS said:
I don't know that calculator was correct but the kn went down as you changed the rope length longer.
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When I plugged those same variables into the calculator I used, I only got 2.9kN. Fall factor is only 0.19 with such a long rope and only falling 2 feet.

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bowhunter15 said:
When I plugged those same variables into the calculator I used, I only got 2.9kN. Fall factor is only 0.19 with such a long rope and only falling 2 feet.

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I found a couple other calculators. They showed a little over 2kn. What length of rope were you putting in. I would think even if your rope was 50 feet the only length you can calculate in is between your saddle and the tree Is it's 10 feet of rope the fall factor would be .2. Your not using ten feet of rope though. Maybe 2.5 feet of bridge and another two feet at most between the bridge and tree. Your going to spread that force on some of the rope going around the tree but not much of it. Of course the way our saddles are made we will get a squeeze that will absorb more shock than a belay loop on a climbing harness using our hips as shock absorbers. I don't know what the deal was with the other calculator but we should be good.
 
EricS said:
I found a couple other calculators. They showed a little over 2kn. What length of rope were you putting in. I would think even if your rope was 50 feet the only length you can calculate in is between your saddle and the tree Is it's 10 feet of rope the fall factor would be .2. Your not using ten feet of rope though. Maybe 2.5 feet of bridge and another two feet at most between the bridge and tree. Your going to spread that force on some of the rope going around the tree but not much of it. Of course the way our saddles are made we will get a squeeze that will absorb more shock than a belay loop on a climbing harness using our hips as shock absorbers. I don't know what the deal was with the other calculator but we should be good.
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Right, plus the swing factor. It's not really a straight drop. Probably the biggest realistic risk would be for guys using a platform like the XOP and stand straight up to turn 180 degrees and shoot to the weak hand side. Since the ripe would have slack, at that very moment, if the platform gave way you'd have some vertical drop.

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g2outdoors said:
I agree with the limited usefulness of a ropeman on a fixed tether. I've made the same comment on this forum many times. However, on a LB there's nothing better. I use it every single hunt. It's a critical piece of kit for me.

Sent from my Galaxy S8.
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My 2 linesman belts are dual purpose... they can both act as a tether (whichever one is not in use as a linesman belt).
I have 2 of them so in can bypass branches on the way up without ever being disconnected from the tree. The ropeman is a COMPLETE game changer when used as I do. I’m not willing to add a third rope just for a tether. So, a ropeman it is.

I don’t think it is realistic to expect an unrestrained fall in a saddle. Our tethers are almost never slack. I doubt I ever have more than an inch or two of slack, even when I am maneuvering.

I think a ropeman is a horrible idea for a safety tether in a standard lock on stand, due to the lengthy tether length used. But that isn’t even close to how we use it.


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Ropeman is awesome on tether for onesticking. Just is.

and we are going to get some slack in it, but in the end its just speed/lightweight vs safety and your own personal choices.

Hell lets do some sitdrag or diy tests before we start getting into ropemans:rolleyes:
 
SB220

What you DONT want to do is what is in that YouTube video...

He sets the tether up high and then climbs all the way down the stick and Aider. Then raises the stick and climbs all the way to the top without taking up the slack.

That is seriously dangerous
 
justsomedude said:
SB220

What you DONT want to do is what is in that YouTube video...

He sets the tether up high and then climbs all the way down the stick and Aider. Then raises the stick and climbs all the way to the top without taking up the slack.

That is seriously dangerous
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OK
but I can tell diysportsman, like me has climbed with sticks for years. When using a set of sticks we climb to the top of the stick and linesman off....only to be able to use both hands. Its the only time we are tethered on sticks....so we think nothing of our one-stick tether when on a climbing stick because we trust our stick and ourselves.

Like I said lightweight/speed vs safety.
Want to avoid all danger, stay home

I'm not saying for anyone to copy me, do or don't, I don't really care, but you are at these forums for light and fast
 
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Well...

That’s just a dumb way to die because it is completely avoidable. It is also completely foreseeable.

Using Dynamic rope and not using a Ropeman is what should be done if you are going to climb with that slack in the tether.
And the rope should be backup clipped to your harness after the Prusik.

I’ve done things that were outside of the standard safety practices. But I KNOW when I am doing it and I tell people that it isn’t safe and explain the reason.
 
PS
I did a bunch of scuba and free diving for a year when I was working in the Caribbean. We broke rules but not too crazy. I almost drowned once.

After I left, TWO divemaster friends of mine died. They were both doing things they had told me a hundred times not to do....
 
sb220 said:
OK
but I can tell diysportsman, like me has climbed with sticks for years. When using a set of sticks we climb to the top of the stick and linesman off....only to be able to use both hands. Its the only time we are tethered on sticks....so we think nothing of our one-stick tether when on a climbing stick because we trust our stick and ourselves.

Like I said lightweight/speed vs safety.
Want to avoid all danger, stay home
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Some things in life are necessary risks, driving a car for example. Climbing a tree unsafe isnt one of them.

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TheTracker said:
Some things in life are necessary risks, driving a car for example. Climbing a tree unsafe isnt one of them.

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jesus, call the 1000s of guys in climbers before you talk to me about how I climb on climbing sticks. I work on ladders 5 days a week, climb sticks the other two.
 
Well, hopefully this doesn't progress into a fight. I think everyone here is concerned about the safety of all of our fellow saddle hunters. I just want to be sure I am safe with the ropeman and it sounds like keeping slack out of the line is the best practice. I felt extremely safe Wed with my ropeman climbing on an aider and the one handed operation is a big seller for me.

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DwadeCham said:
Well, hopefully this doesn't progress into a fight. I think everyone here is concerned about the safety of all of our fellow saddle hunters. I just want to be sure I am safe with the ropeman and it sounds like keeping slack out of the line is the best practice. I felt extremely safe Wed with my ropeman climbing on an aider and the one handed operation is a big seller for me.

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naw I respect jsd and know he knows more than I about this stuff. Hes just too worriesome
 
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