Self-releasing chokers for small-timers

[KiwiBro]

Are there any that small-time wannabe loggers like me can afford that are actually worth the cost?

I read somewhere about some non-electronic ones that released when the weight came off, but can't find any more info on them. Then there are the electric ones controlled by radio remote, but they seem too expensive for my needs.

I found this online but that's about it so far:

from here:

http://russianpatents.com/patent/224/2245291.html

 

[northmanlogging]

Self releasing by the weight coming off is a horrible idea, ya ever drop a turn to make a corner or not get stuck... then you get to crawl out and rehook everything, bad enough when a normal choker slips off, let alone every time the weight comes off the drag...

I looked into the electric chokers a couple years ago, found a used set of 6 with controller for $6,000. New was enough to make a guy a little sick...

Prices may have come down to something more realistick by now, probably still more then I would be willing to pay for em though.

 

[KiwiBro]

How can such gear be so expensive? It's nucking futs.

If there is an option of self-release when the weight comes off then I'd like to learn more about it rather than write it off as "a horrible idea". May not be useful in all scenarios but I still think it's worth looking into, if it exists. But then again, it may not exist for a reason; it's a horrible idea ;-)

 

[KiwiBro]

hmmm, patent details:
http://www.google.com/patents/US5816636

and

http://www.google.com/patents/US5681071

 

[c5rulz]

I dunno, sounds like a pretty bad idea to me, release when the weight is off.