Basejumper.com - archive

Something about this pin flap and the potential for it interacting with other components during the deployment just gives me a weird feeling.

Long and skinny and attached at the yoke. I just don't know.

http://www.skunkapebase.com/

xnewmanx has a couple of these rigs and has been jumping them for awhile now. He could help

One of the FL guys has one, seen it work
3 or 4 times so far, always slider-down.
The construction looks good, cover works:
For low jumps you tuck it out of the way,
there is a pouch for it on the back pad.
For high jumps you leave it in place.

edited for spelling

My buddy has two rigs from them. Ive only seen SD jumps, he has a few wingsuit A's. Construction is AWESOME, light, seems to function well.

(I dont ever see the pinflap being an issue)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2SkXokjdHM

Ive even static lined with the pin flap in place and had no issues. All the other manufacturers have the potential for container lock because of their out of date pin flap design. Skunk Ape nailed it with their design. Not to say its impossible but I haven't found a way to cause a container lock while inspecting the gear per "watch thy bridle".

My SkunkApe squatch has been jumped on everything from 7,000ft balloons with aerials to low static lines and pca's. I've never had a reason to untuck the cover flap as it is not stiff enough to prevent any type of deployment. The bridle can be extracted from any angle and the flap does not cause any type of delay. Pictures are deceiving as it is unlike any other tuck flap on the market in terms of stiffness and design. Quality is top notch, rigs are super comfortable. Comes with a buy back guarantee if you're not happy with it, find that with any other base company.

Can anyone explain the non standard stitch patterns on the risers? Are they supposed to be stronger? Or just look cool?

Hey Tom, this is Jeff from Skunk Ape BASE. I used that stitch pattern to give more color options on the risers. I have put a couple hundred jumps on the risers and the stitches look the same from the day I made them. Bad seed uses the same stitch pattern on their risers as well. I build want you want, so if someone wants me to use a 4 point stitch with 5 cord thread on the risers instead, I can certainly do that.

I've known Fluffy for years now... and I had no idea he could sew like he does. I took a VERY close look at the construction of his rigs recently while we were camping at Turkey Boogie. They were flawless. Not a single stitch out of place. I was blown away!

At first I shared your concern over the pin flap, but just because it was something I had never seen. After extensive talks with Jeff and playing around with the rig... I am satisfied with the design and wouldn't hesitate to jump/order one. His original design was awesome too (it was a true pin-shrivel flap that was not attached to the container).

Overall- Fluffy is awesome, his rigs look awesome, and I can't wait to have one myself. (complete with fur option of course).

I've got one! Amazing construction and customer service. Jeff knows his shit and is a solid rigger. He loves base and you can see it in his products. Amazingly comfortable too. Jumped it slider up and down and had no issues. Get a lot for the price and helping a good guy build his business definitely check it out!

i like the idea that the flap can be completely taken out of the way by being tucked behind for low shit etc

I have about 250 jumps on my yetis. Construction is good. For low stuff I tuck the pin flap into the stash bag pocket, but I've done many low jumps with it in place. Obviously, it works until it doesn't. I've been wondering if attaching it at the base with some high strength velcro that pulls away at 50lbs might not be a bad idea, but I don't think it's necessary.

Fluffy is a cool motherfucker, love that guy! I'm in deep with Apex or I would most certainly jump his containers.

Hank said he's in DEEP. Real deep I bet with that tuna can in his pocket

Another vid to add to the others

https://vimeo.com/121600630

What's the purpose of the Black bridle extension with the red dacron?

Multi bridle attachment. I only use this on slider off jumps. Seems to help heading performace but it could be dumb luck as well.

I guess I'm just not seeing the version of the multi I'm familiar with.

Edit: Got it. Did some research and I see there's now a two line multi.

What I also see is that long flap interacting with the multi bridle. That jump is a stable belly-to-earth position.

If the jumper were in a head-high orientation as the canopy extracted, there could be an interaction between that flap and the space between the red dacron loop and the multi bridle.

One-in-a-million? For sure. Small odds until that's the number you roll.

I'm not saying that's any reason to call this configuration unsafe, just pointing out the kind of things I'm looking for when evaluating a new technology.

I'm liking the rig. I just want to learn more about it.

I think your idea of possible problems in a head high deployment are incorrect. If I was in a head high position the multi would be extracted even closer to the top of the center flap and be extracted to the side. I s fold the multi part under the top pin. Now if I tied the multi part around the pin flap there could be a problem. Gear fear will make your imagination create impossible senerios. Even if the pin flap threaded through the multi which way would the bridle pull? It would pull up and slip right off the pin flap. For completeness I will try to recreate what you think is possible and will post results tomorrow.

If you have a skunk ape rig to play with, and are testing out possible malfunctions, try this:



That's the most plausible mal I could imagine on the new-style flap. Seems possible (though incredibly unlikely) that the bridle could essentially tie a munter hitch around the flap. Even worse if its at the tapered part near where it attaches at the top of the container.

[disclaimer: never seen this rig in person, it looks pretty nice actually, would love to be told this can't happen. apologies if graphic is unclear]

https://www.dropbox.com/...5/skunktest.MP4?dl=0

I tried several times to find a possible mal. I even tied a munter hitch around the pin flap and as soon as I pulled up, it slipped off the pin flap. For what its worth (probably nothing) I would say the things that get us we usual don't see. That being said, if you plan an unstable jump (flips n shit) it would be easy to tuck the flap in the back pad and you could eliminate the flap from the equation. Let me know if I can try something else for you.

 

I received my Squatch the other day and the quality and craftsmanship is outstanding, asked for four point stitch pattern on risers, check, fit was great. Great looking rig.

Does the pinflap stay in place during high-speed terminal jumps? What about back-flying, any thoughts/experience on that? I love the look on the containers, but I'm curious as to how it performs during terminal jumps...

I know I'm reviving an old post but I picked one of these up last week and I love it. I have twisted, turned, and pulled on my bridle from every conceivable direction and in no configuration (flap closed or flap open) am I able to create a container lock. And if piece of mind is what you're looking for, the stash bag pocket is open on the top so you can flip it over and tuck it before low jumps. I haven't taken it terminal yet so I can't speak for it's ability to remain in place but it feels like it would. I jumped a 180' S with the flap closed and absolutely zero problems. It's quite comfortable too.