Double Fisherman's Bend in a bottle

[Winchman]

My 150-foot 3/4" rope for pulling trees down got damaged, and I had to make a knot right in the middle. I normally use a running bowline to cinch the rope to a high limb, but I couldn't get the loop past the knot. Putting a plastic bottle over the knot made things a lot easier.
I used Bug Juice bottles, which have a slightly larger diameter near the bottom. Leaving the larger section on one, and removing it from the other makes it easy to slip the two tightly together.

I tie a tag line on the loop so I can jiggle it if necessary.

 

[SomethingWitty]

I was expecting something much less useful, but I think I am into it now.
I have used the EDK (flat overhand) to connect lines that were too short. If you have a line on the loop to manipulate it, it usually goes through.
I pictured something like building a ship in a bottle, but tying knots out of cordage that barely fits into the mouth of the bottle.
They could be etched and make pretty cool climbing comp trophies.

 

[Jonny]

Pretty clever!

Whenever you wanna take it out of service, I’d recommend checking out maple leaf ropes for replacement. Prices are insanely low, and I’m very happy with the spool of 1/2” double braid I bought. They got 3 strand poly Dacron for under 90$ for a spool of 1/2”. Good beater ropes that don’t hurt the wallet much if they get burnt or damaged.

PolyDac 3 Strand ropes - Lowest prices, free shipping | Maple Leaf Ropes

www.mapleleafropes.com

 

[RogerM]

Winchman,
how did it get damaged? just curious. Thanks

 

[SeanRuel]

Three strand of that size is pretty easy to splice. Either long or short 3 strand splice would work and be pretty much the same diameter as the rope itself

 

[Tom Dunlap]

We came to the same conclusion!

In about '04 or so I was trying to jump my climbing rope over a nub to get it set in the branch union. This was at a comp and Beddas suggested tying a half hitch about two feet from the end to act as a 'wheel on an axle' that would lift the rope up over the nub. Worked great!

What I found was the same as you...use a plastic bottle! The ones I like the best are from Gatorade. the round top is hard and doesn't cave in.

With more trial and error I saw that it would be easier to get the throwline set first. That lead me to what you've done...a double ender! Add a wrap of tape to hold the two together. Then girth hitch the two tops to the throwline. Since the bottles are empty the gizmo bounces when it hits the branch. With a well timed and directed tug it will move up or down the limb into position.

Nice to see creativity!

 

[Winchman]

The rope was blown under the trunk as the tree was falling, and it got crushed and dragged on the driveway pavement. I had to cut out about four feet. SeanRule is right about splicing, but I had just learned about the DFB and wanted to give it a try. After one hard pull, it was too tight to undo.

Here's the scene waiting for the city crew to pick up the remains.
I've cut two more of the trees since the picture was taken, the one on the left and the one mostly hidden behind the big tree in the middle right. The one on the far right is going to come down, too. The one in the middle right is over three feet in diameter, ninety feet tall, and in good shape. I'm not going to mess with it except to cut out a few dead limbs.

Thanks, I'll keep that suggestion in mind, Tom.

 

[Treehuggn4life]

Your a pretty fart smeller Winchman, err I mean a smart feller. But seriously, that was pretty slick.