spikeless methods- coconut palms

carson

I believe that when tenders come up for de-nutting contracts in the future all coconut cleaning in our region will be required to be done spikeless. Any ideas on safe, time efficient alternative methods/equipment (preferably ones that don't involve climbing down and allow worker to move around the trunk to be able to attend crown properly). Many of these palms are 30 metres high, and on windy coastal strips (so EWP no good). I realize some of you "hate" coconut palms but in this area there are thousands that need to be attended to.
Have read some of the other posts but they seem to get side tracked onto deer hunting.

Eric Frei

Install coconets! And harvest the problem.


Coconet

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carson

Personally I don't believe coconets are the solution in our region. Maybe approriate in some situations but not everywhere. Coconuts are not the only problem in risk management of coconut palms. Falling palm fronds especially from 100 foot can also do serious damage. I have a newspaper report where a palm frond speared through someones roof into their lounge.
Apparently can't buy nets. Coconet owns net and services the tree twice a year on a service contract plus an extra (variable) charge to take away debris. If the coconut palm is being attended to every 6 months and proper cleaning techniques are used, there are no mature coconuts to catch anyway.
Aesthetically certainly doesn't give that "picture perfect" look for tourist happy shots.
And not sure what happens to the net in cyclones?????

Eric Frei

OK, you need to buy these then.

Seriously considering buying these| baumvelo climbers| Palm climbers

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MTS247

I know i keep going on about a method that i cant remember exactly how to do. but as soon as i nail it down i will post some pics.

I am aware that me saying "Oh yeah there is a great tech for that, but... i cant remember it" is as useless as tits on a bull. but i will post pics as soon as i can.

anuvadave

i cant find the photos so ill try to describe the techniques i use

1. put a sling around the tree (girth hitch)
2. clip a carabiner into the sling & put youre highline/climbline thru it.
3. with a pole push the sling up as high as u can & prussik up as u would normally.

**its safer to back this system up with another sling girth hitched around the trunk & clipped to your harness. OR you can wrap youre polebelt around the trunk twice**

when youve climbed up to the anchor point. you need to transfer all your weight onto youre pole belt/sling & move the climbing anchorpoint up again. standing in a sling will make this ALOT more comfortable.

once youre at the top of the palm you can work off your highline or stand in a sling while using youre polebelt (make sure youve wrapped the polebelt twice coz its easy to lose youre footing standing in a sling.


ALTERNATIVELY


you can also ascend / descend by standing in a sling & having another sling from the trunk to your harness, sliding them up alternatively.

this is the safer, slower method (Hence the IRATA guys use it)

Its good to get comfortable doing these techniques close to the ground coz theyre suprisingly easy to stuff up.

Ive also used this to climb a tree after getting both my mouse lines stuck & its quite fast once youre used to it.
ill take some more pix next time i do it.
Anyway i hope this wasnt 2 confusing & can help someone.
climb safe!