Large Single Rope Technique Goldtails

GTL, S150 Version A;, S150 Version B;, GTRa, GTR5a

Single Rope Technique GTL

The whaletail was invented in the USA (Gerald Wood, NSS News, v25, 12), but didn't have any safety gate. There were some near accidents, and the device was abandoned. The Australians, particularly Neil Montgomery, read about the whaletail, saw that it obviously needed a safety gate, added one, and made it popular. The Single Rope Technique whaletails are rugged descenders, and it would take a great deal of caving to wear one out. The second eye allows one to spread the wear evenly between the two ends. The number of bars in use can be changed on rappel. The openings are wide enough for two 11 mm. ropes.

Single Rope Technique S150, Version A;

The S150 made two changes to the GTL. First, the grooves in the eye were added, supposedly they make locking off easier for some people. Second, the wing nuts on the safety gate were replaced by machined nuts that are easier to use.

Single Rope Technique S150, Version B;

The only difference between Version B; and Version A; is the small hole. It could be used for a keeper sling, but I suspect it is incidental, and is there for manufacturing reasons.

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Single Rope Technique GTRa

The major difference between the GTR1 and the S150 is the larger eyes on the GTRa, which facilitate clipping in with multiple carabiners.

[ Top | GTL | S150 Version A; | GTR5a | Return to Fixed Multibar ]

Single Rope Technique GTR5a

The GTR5a is a 5-hole (6-bar) whaletail. The extra bar allows one to obtain even more friction, which is probably not necessary for most sport uses (there are exceptions!) but certainly can be of value in some rescue scenarios.

[ Top | GTL | S150 Version A; | S150 Version B; GTRa | GTR5a ]