Boltsnaps snagging?

[siltmonkey]

Hi

I met someone the other day who said he was advised to avoid boltsnaps as the little metal bit sticking out that allows you to open it can catch on things, specifically monofilament. (I discovered the advice came from a retailer, which makes it instantly suspect but we'll ignore that for now)

Now, this has actually happened to me, (not monofilament though) on my Fundies course no less. It was the boltsnap on my pressure guage, my instructor had rigged it temporarily with a cable tie which snapped off, and it managed to snag on the line one of the guys had laid. Nothing major, and obviously the line can't go into the clip, but it did happen.

I imagine that, given that we keep what little we do take down with us kept close to us, if we did get snagged in monofilament it wouldn't make a difference if it got caught on boltsnaps since it would get caught on everything else. And your buddys can help you. But it made me think, especially if it got snagged on the butt clip holding a reel. Has this sort of thing happened to anyone? And is it anything more than annoying?

cheers

r

:-)

[Mark Chase]

I have to say I always smiled at the use of bolt snaps. That little button often snags stuff and has been responsible for ripping open a laytex wrist seel as well.

But hey we have to use something.

ATB

Mark Chase

[Tim Davies]

As Mark says, we have to use something and these are the best option. I've heard of some divers filing the protrusion down so there is less potential for trapping but no-one I know has ever had a problem that could have caused significant issues.

I personally mitigate potential line trapping by clipping inwards where poss (ie, protrusion closest to body on backup lights etc) and other clips (spg, stages, primary etc) are within sight/easy reach.

I don't clip a reel to my 'butt d-ring' because, equally personally, I think its madness to have anything (especially something with so many potential hazards like a reel), clipped behind me where I can't see it and/or easily reach it. I don't like asking my buddies to literally 'watch my arse', so I've removed that d-ring. If I have to tow anything, I'd use a leash from the front ring.

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by siltmonkey

I met someone the other day who said he was advised to avoid boltsnaps as the little metal bit sticking out that allows you to open it can catch on things, specifically monofilament. (I discovered the advice came from a retailer, which makes it instantly suspect but we'll ignore that for now)

Monofilament will snag.
Hooked round the tab you sweep for it with your hand, pull and it's gone.
With a suicide clip it might just snap in and now you are going to have to cut it.

Around Brighton some of our wrecks are festooned in the stuff. Fin clips are the favourite with my clipped on reels a close second. Sweep about with the ol' Trauma Shears, snag something, CHOMP, gone.

[JStop]

Originally Posted by nigelH

Around Brighton some of our wrecks are festooned in the stuff. Fin clips are the favourite with my clipped on reels a close second. Sweep about with the ol' Trauma Shears, snag something, CHOMP, gone.

I still have some stages with suicide clips. Keep vigilant and clear at all times. All equipment have their problems and snag hazards. The worst problem is how you rig your stage regs and supplementary gear. Any loose dangly equipment should be avoided.

Edited later:
I didn't know this was the DIR forum. I'm as DIW as it gets