Jai Alai scoops

Y

Yoav

Location
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
So...this is going to sound really odd but this is definitely the place to ask about an idea....

I've been climbing Euc trees for a research project and often we have a huge puzzle when the next branch up is too far to toss a line over. Throwing the arbline with a carabiner cant get too high, so then its out with the throwbag, and hope it doesnt get stuck....

So the idea is, has anybody ever use a jai alai scoop for throwing bags? Its a long scoop on a handle used in an ancient mexican game to throw balls, and they are still around- often made out of red plastic. I don't know where I'll find one in Hobart, but if anybody has one lying around could you try it out and see how it goes?


Another idea for the same problem would be a very long section of tent poles to use as a polesaw....any ideas?
 
Can't you set your lines from the ground with a BigShot? Combined with Zing-It line and a 10oz or 12oz bag, I can shoot 100' high and the Zing-It is extremely hard to break.
 
Yaov,

You might try using a wrist rocket with some fishing line for shorter sets in the tree.

There are some stout telescoping poles that the electirc utilities use to flip transformer switches. They might be too heavy to pack
into your sites. Tent poles end up being too flimsy when they get to the length that you'll need.

Another possibility that I've thought about using is a clay pigeon thrower. Do you know what I mean? Clay pigeons are small discs
that are tossed when shot gunners are practicing.

How is the mapping going?

Tom
 
I have seen the product that Nathan linked to, the "chuck it" or somesuchthing, and maybe that would work better than a jai alai scoop. However, it is based on the same principle of giving yourself more rotational momentum than just your arm can achieve. I have never seen any clips of the sport, but I have heard that Jai alai balls can reach higher speeds than in any other sport. Some around like 200 mph or something. Amazing. Good luck and keep thinking in the trees down under (and all over). That is how all the good products are invented. Don't worry if it looks strange, either. That's half the fun.
 
Also, to get good power with a Jai Alai scoop, the chuckit, a lacrosse stick, or any other similar item, you have to get your whole body in to it. In a tree, you are rarely granted this opportunity. If you're going to do it on the ground, stick with the big shot!

love
nick
 
Poster: treeclimber165
Subject: Re: Jai Alai scoops

>Can't you set your lines from the ground with a BigShot? >Combined with Zing-It line and a 10oz or 12oz bag, I can >shoot 100' high and the Zing-It is extremely hard to >break.

Well, 165....I've already gotten the crossbow bolt to more than 30 meters and now the task is to climb the next 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 meters upwards.
The big shot is a groovy device but a little unwieldy for taking out into the forest...there is one or two in the area that I've practiced with but a crossbow + fishing reel setup is the go for me....
You can see photos of the setup at
http://www.geog.utas.edu.au/yoav/propho/warrascoutNOV02/index.htm
 
Mark-
havent tried any of the C02 devices, and haven't a clue how one would go about acquiring one.
Theres a compound bow here thats waiting for me to get proficient. A researcher in NorCal made a 90 metre shot once with one of them...but its also a bit unwieldy to carry around.
Then theres always the future arsenal of wrist slingshots, potato guns,inner tube slingshots, and of course the real challenge.....:

***How does one rig a branch using a helium balloon?
 
Using helium balloons to raise or set a line into a tree is possible. I did a little research on it and even come up with a design that would spit out a light line by remote control. However, I found several reasons that make it not too practical. I wanted to raise a television camera, transmitter and battery pack into the canopy of Montgomery Woods for a view only a bird could get. My payload weighed in at near 2 lbs. You have to factor in the weight of the tether, 300 ft line about 1.5 lbs, don't cheap out on this or you lose the works. A 7 ft. dia. balloon requires 180 cu. ft. of helium and has a net lift of about 7 lbs. The balloon itself is light vinyl and runs about $250. 240 cu ft helium tank (steel 90 lbs/ used $100) (aluminum 60 lbs/used $300) helium $60-$80 with prices raising. Account for 1.5 % of gas loss per day.

If you are going to fly a balloon over 200 ft you need to get a permit from the national aviation authority. Transport of compressed gas cylinders may also require a permit. They are considered bombs in many places. To use such a device in a State or National park would also require a special use permit. After all said and done, you can only fly the darn thing in dead calm weather.

So you can see using balloons to set access in trees doesn't have a lot going for it. But I still toy around with the idea of my video camera flying around the groves transmitting me the views only it could get.

Now the CO2 gas powered line launcher is another thing. The one I have will launch a line 130 ft. Though almost useless in many of the trees I'd like to set a line in. I need something that can go at least 200 ft, a custom design would do it. My current device is very compact. The only distracting feature is the noise it makes. It does make a pop.

All in all, for now, the Big Shot is still your best bet for setting a line afar. We've used it here in the redwoods to set lines over 180 ft consistently.
 
GB - ever try one of those launchers that takes a .22cal charge? My dad had one when I was a kid to launch dummies for his duck dog. He sold it long ago. The thing seemed to fire really far but I was really young so my idea of really far may be a bit skewed.

Nate
 
Yes, Nate. The retreiver trainer 22 cal. dummy launcher for training dogs. Stick a fishing reel on the device and fix the line to the dummy and viola your launching line to 150' plus. It was the first homemade line launcher I used. A compact device and easy to set up for shooting, but it makes a lot of noise. Much more than the CO2 launcher. Click the attachment for a view of the device
 

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Here's a image of the first tree I used the launcher to set a line in, back in 84. Called the Standish tree. Line is set 160' The tree is a fatty 15' plus x 250' tall. This is a panorama. I'm not sure how it's going to upload on the board. Here goes
 

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