Dbl. Fisherman's knot...

I want to know if it's safe to use a double fisherman's knot to connect my split tail to the carabiner on my saddle? The figure 8 on a bight is just a little big. I just need to be sure.

Thanks a lot,
Nate

I trust the 8 - only.

I trust the 8 - only.

Nikko wrote:

I want to know if it's safe to use a double fisherman's knot to connect my split tail to the carabiner on my saddle? The figure 8 on a bight is just a little big. I just need to be sure.

Thanks a lot,
Nate

Double Fisherman's Noose or more correctly: Scaffold Knot or Double Overhand Noose (all the same knot by different names) is very safe to terminate the climbing rope on your carabiner to harness attachment. Leave at least a 3\" tail on the knot. Assuming you are using a split tail. It's awkward to use the tail on this knot for the bridge/Blake's for a traditional tie-in. Take a look at Jepson's Tree Climber's Companion for more detail on tying and using this knot.
-moss

Since learning how secure the double fisherman's hitch in all of it's itterations is I've almost forgotten how to tie about 7-8 hitches/knots.

As long as you Tie/Dress/Set the Scaffold Hitch you can't go wrong. In this application it is so much more compact than any other termination.

In addition, a SH will trap your biner from spinning and possibly cross loading. Looking down and seeing a biner loaded across the gate is pretty scary! With loop terminations a cross load is much more likely than using a cinch-type termination.

Thanks a lot guys. Good call too on the cross loading prevention - I just had the ball of the ball lock pop out from cross loading while over 100' up. Not something anyone wants happening too often.

Thanks again,

Nate

If I've learned anything from this forum, it's that there is always more than one way to do something - often a better way. I'll probably still tie a figure 8 on a bight for a while, because that's what I'm used to. I do see the value of the Fisherman's knot though and I will learn to tie it, and practice it. My copy of the Tree Climbers Companion is on it's way to me as I write this, so I expect to learn even more soon.