Page 295 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

‘Biners

The carabiner, or ’biner, is a roughly oval, spring- site directions. That way, at least one of them will
loaded shackle originally developed for mountaineers. probably stay closed, no matter how you’re washed,
In recent times it has found its way aboard boats, pri- dropped, lurched, or bumped around.
marily for safety tethers. The best models lock shut, As long as you have two carabiners, though, have
and the best of the locking models are easy to operate two locking ones, and put them on separate tethers,
one-handed. That way you avoid the potentially one about 18 inches long, the other at whatever
fatal irony of going overboard because you let go of a maximum length suits your application. Now you
secure handhold to deal with your safety tether. can secure yourself with the short tether when you’re
The best models also will stay locked until you standing at the helm and don’t need to move around
unlock them. Ideally, it should take at least three much., You can switch to the longer tether when you
separate actions to open the gate. For example, you need greater mobility. Anytime you need to move past
might have to slide the locking barrel, then twist it, an obstruction, clip one tether in before you detach
then hinge the gate open. That way there is no likely and reattach the other on the far side of the obstruc-
circumstance, or even combination of circumstances, tion. Note: very long tethers mean a potential for
that will unlock the carabiner. For instance, screw- large shock loads, should you ever fetch up against
lock carabiners can be unscrewed by a rope rubbing them after accelerating on a slack tether. Some form
the wrong way on the mechanism. If there is no of deceleration mechanism built into the tether is
secondary prevention, the gate can open from simple a very good idea. There are various forms of this,
pressure. usually involving an elastic insert and/or tear-away
If you have no locking carabiners, try the moun- stitching.
taineer’s trick of hooking two of them in from oppo-

274