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- Sep 14, 2020
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Well, sorta...
I’ve just begun my build of a climber-saddle hunting platform that will perform better than the LWHC method for me (I hope). Essentially, it’s a climber with some cam action for stability.
I cut down a Lone Wolf Sit and Climb platform. I still need to grind the cut ends smooth but am considering taking one more row off...although I’m hesitant as I don’t necessarily want to cut too close to the cable arm bolts and, as well, for about an extra 1lb the platform is quite a generous size for Bigfoots like me.
To the trimmed stand platform I added a post with a batwing standoff and versa button.
First impressions:
The platform seems much more rigid on its own than the LWHC does under MY weight. Is it safe...will it fail...I can’t say. I think failure is always possible, but I’m optimistic about how rigid it feels. Requires cautious testing.
The cam action works, but isn’t ideal. I started with a longer post and it cammed awesome with the batwing up high and the versa down low. The leverage produced was quite nice. BUT, it reduced the space between the cable system’s cross brace and the tree, which makes climbing potentially noisier and more cumbersome, particularly on large trees. Also, the post wouldn’t fold flat, though the former issue is what led to more design trials.
So I cut the post down. The now cut down post will still grab pretty nicely when the stand is cammed, which surprised me. It will as well allow for post rotation under the cross brace for stowage.
However, the short distance between the versa button and post creates an issue. It causes the strap to, in some instances, contact the teeth of the batwing. I’m reliant on my tether and the platform’s cable to support my weight, NOT the post, which is meant for added stability, so it’s maybe not the end of the world...but I’d like to eliminate that contact. The strap could become compromised.
As well, moving the versa button to as low a position as seemed sound means the button prevents completely flat stowage due to contact with the platform. Perhaps a T shaped Versa bolt (like used by LWCG) will allow for that to happen. Also, I wonder if a cross bolted versa system would help eliminate strap to batwing contact as well as certainly resolving the stowage problem.
Anyway...it’s been one day and I’m not nearly through with this project, but I’m satisfied that the concept has great potential for my hunting scenario.
Starting from scratch it’d be easier to resolve some performance issues...if only we had the means, right?
This isn’t meant to be a “minimalist” system per say, nor to work universally...but it does provide bulk and weight reduction in a still very accommodating system compared to traditional climbers and even some other saddle hunting approaches.
With a little extra material in the right places I could see something like the mission, which seems well liked right now, making a nice climbing/saddle platform.
Cheers, Scott
I’ve just begun my build of a climber-saddle hunting platform that will perform better than the LWHC method for me (I hope). Essentially, it’s a climber with some cam action for stability.
I cut down a Lone Wolf Sit and Climb platform. I still need to grind the cut ends smooth but am considering taking one more row off...although I’m hesitant as I don’t necessarily want to cut too close to the cable arm bolts and, as well, for about an extra 1lb the platform is quite a generous size for Bigfoots like me.
To the trimmed stand platform I added a post with a batwing standoff and versa button.
First impressions:
The platform seems much more rigid on its own than the LWHC does under MY weight. Is it safe...will it fail...I can’t say. I think failure is always possible, but I’m optimistic about how rigid it feels. Requires cautious testing.
The cam action works, but isn’t ideal. I started with a longer post and it cammed awesome with the batwing up high and the versa down low. The leverage produced was quite nice. BUT, it reduced the space between the cable system’s cross brace and the tree, which makes climbing potentially noisier and more cumbersome, particularly on large trees. Also, the post wouldn’t fold flat, though the former issue is what led to more design trials.
So I cut the post down. The now cut down post will still grab pretty nicely when the stand is cammed, which surprised me. It will as well allow for post rotation under the cross brace for stowage.
However, the short distance between the versa button and post creates an issue. It causes the strap to, in some instances, contact the teeth of the batwing. I’m reliant on my tether and the platform’s cable to support my weight, NOT the post, which is meant for added stability, so it’s maybe not the end of the world...but I’d like to eliminate that contact. The strap could become compromised.
As well, moving the versa button to as low a position as seemed sound means the button prevents completely flat stowage due to contact with the platform. Perhaps a T shaped Versa bolt (like used by LWCG) will allow for that to happen. Also, I wonder if a cross bolted versa system would help eliminate strap to batwing contact as well as certainly resolving the stowage problem.
Anyway...it’s been one day and I’m not nearly through with this project, but I’m satisfied that the concept has great potential for my hunting scenario.
Starting from scratch it’d be easier to resolve some performance issues...if only we had the means, right?
This isn’t meant to be a “minimalist” system per say, nor to work universally...but it does provide bulk and weight reduction in a still very accommodating system compared to traditional climbers and even some other saddle hunting approaches.
With a little extra material in the right places I could see something like the mission, which seems well liked right now, making a nice climbing/saddle platform.
Cheers, Scott
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