Basejumper.com - archive

I'm on a riggers course right now and while speaking to the master rigger he was telling me how he used to make the big old pilot chutes back in the day for jumpers before manufacturers came along and what not. I told him my end game was to be able to make my own container.

He asked me to bring him in a modern BASE container to work off as a blue print and said "what would you change?"

BASE containers are made so well these days that there is nothing I can think of changing. I want it to be my slider up container. I live in an area where slider up is rare so it would have to be capable of doing my dirty low and high stuff as well.

To those who have done it, what tips and advice can you give to make sure i get off on the right foot? A friend of mine has an Odyssey i like and i plan on simply copying that design. Make sure its got soft housings, saddle bags, articulated harness, pocket for stashbag etc.

Throw some knowledge at me if you don't mind sharing.

CAD is how I did mine back in the day (1994). Cardboard Aided Design along with lawnchair webbing to simulate the harness. Play around with drafting tools on cardboard and get your canopy to fit into it but remember to take into account the length of the risers in the pack tray. If you use any Velcro, make sure it is easily replaceable. Avoid the F111 of the canopy against Cordura. Use padding to solve this or Parapack. More details if you message me, gotta run now but those are the basics. Integrate a walkie talkie pocket on the other mudflap than your hookknife side.
Take care,
space

I never built one, but to add to what 283 said, I would also want a ring at the lateral/legstrap junction, making replacements a lot easier. (the same way wings/gargoyle do it)
if you are building the harness, might as well have it have tersh loops built in.

Make sure you have lots of video on the maiden voyage and make sure u have a will before you jump and that u leave me your dog and your 46" p/c, so i can remember u by when i do my yearly slider down jump in your honor. !!!!

I made my first base rig.

Things I'd change... everything!!! Only because it's a velcro rig with a fixed harness. Instead, I'd make it a pin rig and articulate the harness.

Since it's already a velcro rig with a fixed harness, the only thing I'll change is the BOC. I seldom jump it but I do use it for ground launching.

Double and triple check your main lift web straps to make sure your D rings are perfectly level on your body. The best pack job in the world will still be off heading if you don't get this part right. Since it is one continuous piece of webbing going from one side to the other, it does't give once you hang in it for the first time and then realize you're an inch off. Definitely tack it down with just some n type on the straight stitch and have someone else look before pulling out the harness machine and going to town. To me, the harness was the only hard part, the container is easy money, just a sewing project you can drink to.

And for what it's worth, jumping my first homemade rig was better then my first jump. Good luck.

..." And for what it's worth, jumping my first homemade rig was better then my first jump. Good luck. "
-

Totally, Anybody who has not done it. This is a 'Must Do', if you can sew. also (Must Do) With no help from another Rigger.
Go cut-out and pattern a Single parachute harness container & 'Must' also do the extra's like Risers-Toggles & Pilot Chute, Bridal .
Now grab your brand new, untested, homemade Rig. Then drive out with your buddies. Climb-out on your chosen object and stand on the exit point.
It will be one of the BEST MindFuck Jump you will ever do in your life & you will never forget it.
.

 

This is funny. Back when the first BASE rigs were kinda being figured out..the simple four flap velcro type, they were all home-made other than the original Handbury ones.

Greg Chalfant scarfed an old harness and built mine on his Singer sewing machine. There was only one size. Whatever the sewer decided on. So stuff kind of sloshed around in there.

Worked fine, but the manufactured stuff now is so much nicer. For all I know, someone is still jumping that rig. I gave it to John Hoover..black one..don't know where it ended up.