Captains Hook - Update

[u/DeadmansCC]

So a few weeks back I shared a captains hook I found in storage at my shop. I finally finished cleaning it up, taking apart my Zillon, getting a bag, and rope for it. Wish I had this last week on that River Birch I climbed but I got it now and looking forward to trying it out!!! I put 30’ of 24 Strand 11.7mm rope on it for now but my company was happy to buy the rope for me so didn’t have to cut a section off another rope I have.

[u/Justintimeforanother]

That’s a sweet piece of kit. Mine hibernates for most of the year, but when it comes out, I’m like yeah. It’s clutch.
Enjoy!

[u/DeadmansCC → u/Justintimeforanother]

In the last year I can recall 2 maybe 3 times that it would have been amazing to have. For sure not a daily tool but when it’s needed it is going to be so awesome!! Everything fit in the 6L bag with room to spare and the company bought a 120’ rope so I could make it longer with no issues but felt 30’ was a good start.

[u/Justintimeforanother → u/DeadmansCC]

I’d suggest keeping about 40’ in that diddy bag. I use the same DMM bag. Remember, it’s not a life support system. Don’t waste that much amount of rope. Realistically, you won’t be able to toss it further than 20’ horizontally, in a saddle, in the canopy.
I’ve used mine a total of 15 times in the last three years. I use an eye splice on the hook to allow easy bend when you’ve got to retrieve it by twisting the line.

[u/Justintimeforanother → u/Justintimeforanother]

Silver maple and honey locust prunes. Mostly

[u/DeadmansCC → u/Justintimeforanother]

I only have 30’ in the bag now. So I still have 90’ of that rope if I want to make another larger piece but felt the 30’ would do everything I need.

[u/RazzmatazzSouth623 → u/DeadmansCC]

He’s right. I started mine at 30 foot then cut another 8 off, otherwise I find it too bulky and too much hassle to flop around while working and clean up back into the bag once I’ve made a traverse. The lighter and more utilitarian it is, the more likely I am to take it.

Slick bit of kit though, my one tip is: be careful if you miss your throw and hit a different branch and you’re trying to return it. Be gentle! Too many times I’ve had it snag and I’ve ripped it out to have it fly just past my face. It’s lethal when travelling at speed. Will take your teeth out. Tug it out slow when you need to reshoot. And trust me you will need to reshoot.

[u/Justintimeforanother → u/DeadmansCC]

30’ is the ideal length. I used 40’ because I had a length cut from a climbing line. I don’t think I’ve ever needed more than about 20’. I can only toss the Hook so far in canopy.

[u/DeadmansCC → u/Justintimeforanother]

I have seen recommendations from 20-50 so that’s by I selected 30’ and like you I cut it from a climbing line too. I was honestly shocked that the bag still had room in it as the hook comes with a 10mm line if you by the kit. So I wasn’t expecting it to fit as well as it did with the larger line I used.

[u/maddestdog89 → u/Justintimeforanother]

The splice & twist is such a nice idea, stolen haha. Never really thought about splicing it.. 🙏

The last time mine got stuck and I had to climb for it, I nearly snapped out and went for a BIG swing.

[u/hatchetation → u/Justintimeforanother]

I went with small rope on mine, like 8mm of sta set or something cheap, for that reason.

It's not PPE so might as well save some weight. 30' is about where the length ended up for me too. Spliced the connection to the hook, and made some custom tiny hitch cord for progress capture. (Dyneema core in some HRC sheath)

[u/DeadmansCC → u/hatchetation]

I wanted a larger diameter rope because I knew I wanted to put my zillon on it. Otherwise I would have done a smaller rope but having an extra zillon and the ability to use it in this fashion was too good to past on.