Lobster Claw

[NickfromWI]

Ok, need some input here on a splicing project. I am working on something that I know as "Lobster Claws." They are known in Smith and Padgett's "On Rope" as Cow tails. You can see them on pg. 142. Imagine a piece of climbing line maybe 8 feet long. In the middle tie a figure eight on a bight. You now have an eye in the middle and 2 legs. Tie a carabiner on the end of each leg. Now you have a handy tool for moving around a High Ropes/Challege course. There are cables and bolts and things all over that you can clip in to in order to move throughout a cable maze put up in the trees. You clip one, move a little, clip the other and unclip the first. By going back and forth between the two tails, you can move and always be clipped in.

Okay, so I am looking to make a nice set of Lobster Claws. I have 4 ideas in mind that I'd like to share and see if you all can help me pick which is the best....

Type 1- A simple eye-eye sling, folded in half, with an eye spliced at that midpoint.

Type 2- Variation of 1, but with adjustable eyes.

Type 3- two Adjustable SRT style lanyards.

Type 4- Like type 3, but Ddrt, run off a snap-hoop or carabiner where the arborists tie in point usually would be.

Pros and cons? Whattya think?

1 is the most simple and two is the most adjustable/versatile. On one and two, the eye that connects to the saddle would be large enough to allow the whole thing to be girth hitched/ring hitched directly to the saddle.

3 and 4 would probably be connected to the bridge on my saddle.

love
nick

 

[NickfromWI]

Whoops, almost forgot!

 

[Lumberjack]

When I worked on the COPE course (high ropes course) we used type 1 made outta 1" nylon tubing.

 

[NickfromWI]

The standard on the course I work on is a type 1 out of 10mm dynamic rock climbing line. Quite bulky.

love
nick

 

[jkrueger]

#2

I'd vote for #2. Probably because I see a personal use for it. I'd like to have one in my kit.

#2 it seems has an adjustable possibility for odd tie ins. Hmmmm, interesting.

You can send #2 to my home address.

JAK

 

[Lumberjack]

I like 2 the best, as it is adjustable and compact. 3 would be good but it is much more bulky.

Type 1 is the cheapest, and always worked for us on the reppeling tower for moving around and for going up and down the ladders.

On the actual events such as the grapevine and such, we used a seperate belay to manage everyone.

 

[okietreedude1]

Why not just go w/ a 2-n-1 lanyard system? or is that the #1 pic. You could substitute our size snaps for ladder hooks for easier use.

with the 2n1, it would adjust also from side to side, not that it would be needed. It may come in handy though.

 

[Lumberjack]

Hey, what about DEDA?

 

[NeTree]

Keep it simple.

Simple works best.

 

[NickfromWI]

I think I am going to end up with Jacks favorite....number 2. Number 1 would be the clean, strong version of what is currently used by others on the Ropes course. Number 2 gives you a bit of adjustment without being quite so bulky.

love
nick