Whetman Equipment Coolest Gear of the Show at Nurnberg Paddle Expo 2017

King Python
​An upgrade to the Python 5m fitted with a bling anodised aircraft grade aluminium ring which has a thickness of 12mm. The upgrade being it benefits from being a more efficient pully offering less friction than the steel ring. Although bigger it is not much heavier. The ring itself will also be offered as a separate item "The Bait Ring" to replace steel rings on a chest harness; steel rings are often unrated whereas the Bait Ring will be rated to at least 20kN. The Bait Ring also offers less resistance when the user releases the chest harness.

Available november.

 

Water Pouch

This slides onto the Water Belt to offer a modular set up. It will fit a Python 5m + karabiner, or 8m of cord or a compact waterproof camera.

Offered on its own or as one unit combined with the Water Belt.

Available January.

 

Water Belt 

We made a small batch of these and took them to Paddlexpo and sold out. These are available mid october.

 

Sea Bean Compact Towline

Launched at the Paddlexpo last week those who got to play with it were very impressed and that enthusiasm has boosted us to finish it and make it available asap so hopefully it will be ready November given the wind blows in the right direction!

 

Ring Pull Prussik 

The Ring Pull Prussik provides a simple to tie & fast to deploy rope grab for hauling on a line in river rescue. The fixed ring can be instantly used as a pully when combined with a webbing haul rig. This saves on using karabiners which are always a scarce resource on the river.

In real incidents you are working under pressure and any kit which makes things simpler & faster is a great bonus.

The device is made of 6mm 16/16 braid red polyester cord which is wrapped around a 6mm marine grade stainless ring and secured with a double fisherman's knot.
There is a robust rubber band holding the wraps tight on the ring and it pre-sets the position of the Fisherman's knot to be approx 10cm from the ring.
​Overall length of the tied cord loop is 33cm

The ring is ready to receive a karabiner, or multiple karabiners, rope or instantly act as a pulley with the Whetman Equipment Python webbing to create a Pig Rig or external mechanical advantage system.
​​The cord is wrapped around the ring which stablises the load and the rubber prevents the ring travelling around the loop.

The pre-set fixed position of the Fisherman's knot keeps it out of the way whilst tying a french prussik onto the main line, so making tying easier & faster. The video below shows the ring being dropped down into the loop, its own weight helping the process.
This results in a fast simple deployment of the rope grab and instantly offers a pulley ready to be used. In real incidents you are working under pressure and any kit which makes things simpler & faster is a great bonus.

Krab Stick

A very simple rescue tool.

Green Krab Stick fits to the Kong HMS Screwgate ​& DMM HMS Autolock   

Orange Krab Stick fits the Kong Paddle Carabin

It assists to contact in difficult access situations.
It enables a reach contact to be achieved.
​It saves time & reduces risk as the alternative maybe to put someone in the water to make contact.
It could be the element that makes the difference between a successful outcome or having to abandon a rescue.
The Krab Stick simply converts a karabiner into
a hook by wedging in the gate. On contact the force applied releases the Krab Stick thus closing the gate & securing the contact.

Setting the Krab Stick
To set the Krab Stick place the male end into the recess of the karabiner gate and wedge the smiling end onto the hook of the karabiner with the curved side facing out and the logo side facing inwards. Fix the cord onto the opposite bar of the karabiner and wind in the slack.

1. Opposing Webbing Lines
​Connect the karabiner to two opposing Python 5m webbing slings and direct it into position using
​tension of opposing forces - very useful for longer reaches over water and possibly have tension operators from opposing banks.

2. Paddle
 Attach the karabiner to the end of a paddle to reach a small distance. Once contact is made the paddle can be pulled away from the karabiner & Python 5m webbing. The webbing is used to offer a low profile against the paddle blade so that the karabiner is flat against the blade.

3. Pole or Tree Branch
Attach the karabiner to the end of a pole using duct tape for an extended reach. The karabiner is connected to 10mm floating rope which is wound round the pole to stop it dragging in the water. Once contact is made the pole can be pulled clear as the tape will give way.
Notice here the use of the HMS autolock which offers a secure contact result with a locked gate.
Useful for DEFRA SRT teams to contact securley.

 

4. Vertical line from above
​Attach the karabiner to a line or Python 5m webbing and reach from above to contact by a simple hook. Useful to contact a canoe or raft wrapped around a central bridge stanchion.
It also has applications for cliff rescue / cave rescue to contact casualties & line, kit recovery.

 

Pig Rig

The combination of Two Whetman Equipment Pythons and Two Whetman Equipment Ring Pull Prussiks can make a very simple to set up Pig Rig pully system or external mechanical advantage (MA) system.
Fast & simple to set up.
Rings replace pulleys & karabiners so does not exhaust limited supply of karabiners

Setting Up The Pig Rig
The first python is the anchor & wraps itself around a tree like a true constrictor; ideally a full strength tie off which presents the ring forward as a pully & leaves the other end available as the anchor to set up a Ring Pull Prussik to capture the progress of the haul.
​The second Python threads through the rope grab Ring Pull Prussik and returns to thread through the anchor ring and then back to thread through its own ring near the rope grab to create the MA haul line.

 

Available at: Alpin Action Safety Equipment

 

Pietro Linda