2 guys are generally needed with the elk to move it when it gets stuck, and it will get stuck plenty of times. Cut the horns off before dragging (lesson learned). Drag an elk with the hair (i.e., by the neck) it slides way easier. The differing sizes help the hitch to hold.The section of mule tape we use is probably 5/8" x 1500', and the rest that we have is spectra line (I think 1/4"圆000' on one spool and 3000' on the other spool). However, if you have a Dyneema cord end loop and a Dyneema webbing suspension line, that would work with a Becket Hitch. When tying the Becket Hitch with a Dyneema cord against a Dyneema end loop, it has a higher probability of slipping out. Typically we splice Dyneema/Spectra/Amsteel cordage. Now, while cordage made from Dyneema/Spectra/Amsteel doesn’t knot well, webbing straps work much better. They exhibit very low stretch compared to nylon or Dacron lines (like comparing steel wire to rubber bands).They do not absorb water (and they float).They are more abrasion resistant than high carbon steel.Being slender for their strength, they offer less bulk than other types of line.They are slippery, which lets the line glide over bark with less snagging or cutting.Weight for weight, they are up to 15 times stronger than steel and up to 40% stronger than Kevlar© (DuPont).The following shared characteristics make them perfect for hammock suspension and cordage: Dyneema, Spectra, and Amsteel are all brand names for the same material: Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene, or UHMWPE fibers. I was specifically referring to cordage on cordage. * mule tape is not as durable as webbing, webbing Nazis will tell you it will kill the tree * slap straps are bulkier, rely on hardware, are not fine grained * cinch buckles add weight and fliddlyness Overall, this is the best solution I’ve found. While I make using this hitch look easy, it’s not as easy for beginners to use as cinch buckles or whoopies. With practice this downside is minimized. The becket hitch requires you to accurately estimate one side. With whoopies you can hook in and easily adjust both sides in a very fine grained fashion. * Adjustibility not as easily dialed in as whoopies after the fact. * Increased bulk compared to whoopies and a shorter length of webbing. Unlike slap straps, you can dial this to exactly where you want it. Unlike a toggle, which in my experience is both fiddly and has a wont to twist out on you, the Becket Hitch isn’t going anywhere. Using long webbing allows you to use bigger trees and/or trees farther apart. Using just webbing allows you to get in really close to the tree. A real draw back with the whoopies is the ~3 ft of dead space on either end. No carabiners or dutch clips, no whoopie hooks or toggles. The Becket Hitch is my go-to suspension for a number of reasons: Certain combinations of thin or smooth cordage such as Amsteel, Spectra, or Dyneema are prone to slipping, although can hold with double or triple wraps, but this can make it harder to tie and untie, thus defeating the hitch’s usefulness. One word of caution: this hitch works best with webbing or sheathed rope. Where I find this works the best is with a long webbing strap that acts as both tree protection and suspension line. You can tie the Becket Hitch with rope or webbing, anchor side or hammock side, depending on how your hammock is configured. This difference is why the Ashley Book of Knots distinguishes it with a different name, but they work the same. Scouters might recognize this as the Sheet Bend, but there is one subtle difference: a sheet bend takes a bend or loop created in the fabric where the Becket Hitch uses a fixed eye loop. Locally it is simply referred to as the “hammock knot.” If you ever visit South America you’ll see this hitch used almost exclusively to hang hammocks. The Becket Hitch has been around for a long time and has been used with hammocks since pre-Columbian days.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |