NE Safety Blue in Single Rope Applications?

[Birdyman88]

Greetings everyone. I've been reading TreeBuzz for a long time and have learned a heck of a lot out here. So I finally got to my first post. Been climbing for over a year and have gotten fairly proficient at it.

First the background (since I'm a newbie to the boards) ... I've been Ddrt the entire time using the common variations of friction/cambium saver. There are good things and bad things about Ddrt that are becoming clear to me. I have been watching SRT climbers and I realize the one thing I hate about Ddrt is setting and taking down ring-ring friction savers. Sometimes it goes smooth and sometimes not. The SRT guys are so damn fast getting set up and taking down. So it finally occured to me to use my Ddrt system on a false crotch with Pinto on single rope with either base tie or canopy tie (assuming I understand the 2x forces on base tie). Well, you know, then it occurred to just have an SRT rig - so I got it set up as well with a wrench.

Okay - so assume you don't have the money to upgrade rope ...
1) Would you find it safe to climb using 16-strand Safety Blue for single rope applications, such as SRT with a wrench and stiff tether, or as a false crotch with pinto for Ddrt system?

Thanks for your input.

 

[Birdyman88]

I did a test run, low and slow at first, of the single line false crotch over a big crotch with base tie. 60' SB to crotch, 2' drop crotch-to-pulley, then 58' SB Ddrt. Ascending wasn't too bad using foot-knee ascender. But, setting up was like Axl Rose once said - "it's so easy, easy". I just kept wondering the whole time if I should be single roping that SB.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Welcome...thanks for uncloaking!

NE SB is my fav half inch diameter rope. It will
Work fine for SRT

The reason to shift to smaller diameter ropes is to maintain compatibility with climbing tools. Gear engineers design cam radiuses to complement rope diameters. It's not a mix and match situation

 

[Birdyman88]

Yeh, I love the stuff, especially at the price I got it for. I've got almost 450 feet new, that is still in good condition in several hanks, eyes already spliced.

 

[Merle Nelson]

Welcome Birdman. I have gone on to use other SRT ropes but safery blue was always a favorite rope of mine. I have several hanks of it still in good condition as well as a full reel.

When I first started with SRT I bought a Hitch Hiker and would go between single and double configuration depending on the task at hand. Safety Blue was great with the HH. I also use my retired climb lines as light pull lines etc. Recently I was finished taking the brush off one of many spars to be stripped and pulled later. I tied on a SB line as a pull line and as I was SRTing from another taller tree and using a Bull Dog Bone I decided to try my Akimbo lowering myself down the SB rope into a better position. To my suprise it wasn't too fat and felt real nice.

New life for my shiny hanks of Safety Blue.

 

[Z'sTrees]

I still climbed on arbormaster when I first started climbing srt. It was bouncy on a base tie, didn't run through ascenders all that great, but it got me hooked on climbing again.
Then it all went downhill and I started collecting climb lines like they were going out of style.

Long story short: your 16 strand will be fine and I'm willing to bet you love srt.

 

[Birdyman88]

Thanks for the replies guys. Felt better having some people with experience give it the thumbs up.

So, I went up a water oak on the SB SRT for the first time yesterday. HOLY COW! Practically flew up the tree using foot-knee and never even broke a sweat. Limb walking is just better, that's all I can say. I went further out than I've ever gone, in fact I had to stop because I wasn't sure if branch was going to support me out that far. Came back down, got the Zubat, then went back up to prune until sundown. The SB did just fine. Thanks again for the confidence in the trusty old SB.

 

[SomethingWitty]

I climbed on a sixteen strand today because it was convenient.
It was fine on the ascent, but I remember now how much worse my hitches work on it. All bumpy and jerky.
As far as safety goes, those half inch 16 strands are stronger and easier to inspect than the smaller double braids. I have one that has been my main rigging line for 5+ years. There is no better workhorse (in my opinion).

 

[evo]

I love 16 strands. They are great ropes, but they do NOT mix with toothed ascenders. It doesn't take much of a drop on a base tie to generate enough force to damage the line when using a toothed ascender. Sure if your using a bdb or a wrench, hh, or other as your primary in a rope walker you typically have the toothed cams on your feet. IF going up, don't think your primary is going to take the brunt of the force, as its designed to slip a little, the bulk of the force is going to be on your knee or foot ascender depending where you are on your stride. Sure the damage is below you, but it's a important consideration.
Double braids still will be damaged, but they help absorb the load by slipping the cover down the core. Kernmantles are even more bomb proof, but have other issues

 

[Santiago Casanova]

I love 16 strands. They are great ropes, but they do NOT mix with toothed ascenders. It doesn't take much of a drop on a base tie to generate enough force to damage the line when using a toothed ascender. Sure if your using a bdb or a wrench, hh, or other as your primary in a rope walker you typically have the toothed cams on your feet. IF going up, don't think your primary is going to take the brunt of the force, as its designed to slip a little, the bulk of the force is going to be on your knee or foot ascender depending where you are on your stride. Sure the damage is below you, but it's a important consideration.
Double braids still will be damaged, but they help absorb the load by slipping the cover down the core. Kernmantles are even more bomb proof, but have other issues

This is why I love Yale Kernmaster. That stuff has a 48 strand jacket that holds up really well in ascenders and cams. It also has a braided core allowing it to handle like a 24 stand double braid. I climb DdRT on it and I really like it. The only others I really like, so far, are blaze/bluemoon and tachyon. They just tend to be more sensitive to picking than the 48 strand ropes.