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GTM
S160, Version A
S160, Version B
GT16a
GTL
S150 Version A
S150 Version B
GTRa
GTR5a
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| GTM | S160, Version A | S160, Version B | GT16a |
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| GTL | S150 Version A; | S150 Version B; | GTRa | GTR5a |
Boris Rogelja founded Single Rope Technique Equipment (SRTE) in 1980. Capital Safety Group acquired SRTE in 2011 and their devices started showing DBI-SALA, Capital Safety, and/or Rollgliss™ markings. 3M acquired the Capital Safety Group in 2015 and the Single Rope Technique Equipment markings disappeared.
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[ Top | S160 Version A | S160 Version B | GT16a | GTL | S150 Version A; | S150 Version B; | GTRa | GTR5a | Return to Fixed Multibar ]
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| Front View | Rear View | Side View |
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| Front View: Open for Rigging | Side View: Open for Rigging |
I acquired my Single Rope Technique Equipment GTM from John E. Weinel, Inc. in 1989. I acquired another (gold this time) in 2017 as part of Bob Thrun’s collection.
My GTM is 121 mm. tall, 80 mm. wide, 25 mm. thick, and weighs 297 g. It is milled from aluminum alloy and then soft anodized. It has two slots forming three bars. A single milled aluminum safety gate attaches by a bolt fitted through the whaletail at the second bar and is secured by two washers and wing nut. There is an 18.3 mm. diameter eye at one end.
The front is stamped "S.R.T.’," "AUSTRALIA," and "EQUIP."
The SRT GTM is about as rugged as a small fixed-friction descender can be. The large mass provides a good heat sink, and the aluminum construction ensures that heat is efficiently conducted away from the rope. The device can be used on double ropes. My objection to the GTM is that it is too heavy for a fixed friction device - the small rack that I uses weighs less.
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[ Top | GTM | S160 Version B | GT16a | GTL | S150 Version A; | S150 Version B; | GTRa | GTR5a | Return to Fixed Multibar ]
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| Front View | Rear View | Side View |
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| Front View: Open for Rigging | Rear View: Open for Rigging | Side View: Open for Rigging |
I acquired one Single Rope Technique Equipment S160, Version A from Raven Products at the 1990 NSS Convention, and a second from Inner Mountain Outfitters in 1991.
This S160 is 155 mm. tall, 82 mm. wide, 25 mm. thick, and weighs 340 g. It is milled from aluminum alloy and then soft anodized. It has two slots forming three bars. A single milled aluminum safety gate attaches by a bolt fitted through the whaletail at the second bar and is secured by two washers and custom-designed nut. There is an 19.9 mm. diameter eye at each end. Two shallow U-grooves are milled horizontally on the front of the whaletail, bisecting the eyes.
The front is stamped "S.R.T.’," "AUSTRALIA," and "EQUIP."
The S160 is an updated version of the GTM. It has a second eye so that the device can be reversed if it starts to show too much wear on one end. The groove over the eye is new, and the instruction sheet doesn't explain it. Supposedly it makes locking off easier for some people, but locking off a 2-hole whaletail without backup makes me cringe.
[ Top | GTM | S160 Version A | GT16a | GTL | S150 Version A; | S150 Version B; | GTRa | GTR5a | Return to Fixed Multibar ]
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| Front View | Rear View | Side View |
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| Front View: Open for Rigging | Rear View: Open for Rigging | Side View: Open for Rigging |
Ed Sira gave me his Single Rope Technique Equipment S160, Version B at the 2019 NSS Convention.
This S160 is 155 mm. tall, 80 mm. wide, 25 mm. thick, and weighs 339 g. It is milled from aluminum alloy and then soft anodized. It has two slots forming three bars. A single milled aluminum safety gate attaches by a bolt fitted through the whaletail at the second bar and is secured by two washers and custom-designed nut. There is an 19.9 mm. diameter eye at each end. Two shallow U-grooves are milled horizontally on the front of the whaletail, bisecting the eyes.
The front is stamped "S.R.T.’," "AUSTRALIA," and "EQUIP."
This version differs from the previous one in three ways. First, the bolt for the gate has been ground shorter. Second, there is one larger washer for the safety instead of two smaller ones. Finally, the stamped markings on the front are rotated 90 degrees.
[ Top | GTM | S160 Version A | S160 Version B | GTL | S150 Version A; | S150 Version B; | GTRa | GTR5a | Return to Fixed Multibar ]
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| Front View | Rear View | Side View |
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| Front View: Open for Rigging | Side View: Open for Rigging |
I acquired my Single Rope Technique Equipment GT16a from Single Rope Technique Equipment in 2000.
My GT16a is 216 mm. tall, 79 mm. wide, 25 mm. thick, and weighs 499 g. It is milled from aluminum alloy and then soft anodized. It has three slots forming four bars. A single milled aluminum safety gate attaches by a bolt fitted through the whaletail at the third bar and is secured by two washers and custom-designed nut. There is an 19.9 mm. diameter eye at each end. A shallow U-grooves are milled horizontally on each side, bisecting the bottom eye on the front and the top eye on the rear.
The front is stamped with "RESCUE," "SRT" inside a map of Australia, and "GOLDTAIL," all inside a circle. The rear is stamped "19615501."
The extra bar allows one to get more friction at the price of a larger and heavier device. This may not be necessary for slow ropes (especially on larger stiff, sandy cave ropes), but may be important on faster ropes. If the 3-holer doesn't provide enough friction, continue reading: Single Rope Technique makes 4-hole and 5-hole versions as well. Note that the eye has been made larger, which facilitates clipping in with more than one carabiner.
[ Top | GTM | S160 Version A | S160 Version B | GT16a | S150 Version A; | S150 Version B; | GTRa | GTR5a | Return to Fixed Multibar ]
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| Front View | Rear View |
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| Side View | Front View: Open for Rigging |
I acquired my Single Rope Technique Equipment GTL from John E. Weinel, Inc. in 1989.
My GTL is 245 mm. tall, 80 mm. wide, 25 mm. thick, and weighs 600 g. It is milled from aluminum alloy and then soft anodized. It has four slots forming five bars. Two milled aluminum safety gates attach by bolts fitted through the whaletail at the second and fourth bars. Each gate is secured by two washers and a wing nut. There is an 18.3 mm. diameter eye at each end.
The front is stamped "S.R.T.’," "AUSTRALIA," and "EQUIP."
The whaletail was invented in the USA (Gerald Wood, NSS News, v25, 12), but the original design didn't have any safety gate. There were some near accidents, and the device was abandoned. The Australians, particularly Neil Montgomery, read about the whaletail, saw that it obviously needed a safety gate, added one, and made it popular. The Single Rope Technique whaletails are rugged descenders, and it would take a great deal of caving to wear one out. The second eye allows one to spread the wear evenly between the two ends. The number of bars in use can be changed on rappel. The openings are wide enough for two 11 mm. ropes.
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[ Top | GTM | S160 Version A | S160 Version B | GT16a | GTL | S150 Version B; | GTRa | GTR5a | Return to Fixed Multibar ]
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| Front View | Rear View | Side View |
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| Front View: Open for Rigging | Side View: Open for Rigging |
I acquired my Single Rope Technique Equipment S150, Version A from Raven Products at the 1990 NSS Convention. I acquired another in 2017 as part of Bob Thrun’s collection.
Version A is 245 mm. tall, 80 mm. wide, 25 mm. thick, and weighs 623 g. It is milled from aluminum alloy and then soft anodized. It has four slots forming five bars. Two milled aluminum safety gates attach by bolts fitted through the whaletail at the second and fourth bars. Each gate is secured by two washers and a custom-designed nut. There is an 18.3 mm. diameter eye at each end. Two shallow U-grooves are milled horizontally on the front of the whaletail, bisecting the eyes.
The front is stamped "S.R.T.’," "AUSTRALIA," and "EQUIP."
The S150 made two changes to the GTL. First, the grooves in the eye were added, supposedly they make locking off easier for some people. Second, the wing nuts on the safety gate were replaced by machined nuts that are easier to use.
[ Top | GTM | S160 Version A | S160 Version B | GT16a | GTL | S150 Version A; | GTRa | GTR5a | Return to Fixed Multibar ]
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| Front View | Rear View | Side View |
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| Front View: Open for Rigging | Side View: Open for Rigging |
I acquired my Single Rope Technique Equipment S150, Version B from Inner Mountain Outfitters in 1991.
Version B is 245 mm. tall, 80 mm. wide, 25 mm. thick, and weighs 626 g. It is milled from aluminum alloy and then soft anodized. It has four slots forming five bars. Two milled aluminum safety gates attach by bolts fitted through the whaletail at the second and fourth bars. Each gate is secured by two washers and a custom-designed nut. There is an 18.3 mm. diameter eye at each end. Two shallow U-grooves are milled horizontally on the front of the whaletail, bisecting the eyes.
The front is stamped "S.R.T.’," "AUSTRALIA," and "EQUIP."
The only difference between Version B and Version A is the small hole. It could be used for a keeper sling, but I suspect it is incidental, and is there for manufacturing reasons.
[ Top | GTM | S160 Version A | S160 Version B | GT16a | GTL | S150 Version A; | S150 Version B; | GTR5a | Return to Fixed Multibar ]
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| Front View | Rear View | Side View |
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| Front View: Open for Rigging | Side View: Open for Rigging |
I acquired my Single Rope Technique Equipment GTRa from Single Rope Technique Equipment in 2000.
My GTRa is 255 mm. tall, 79 mm. wide, 25 mm. thick, and weighs 617 g. It is milled from aluminum alloy and then soft anodized. It has four slots forming five bars. Two milled aluminum safety gates attach by bolts fitted through the whaletail at the second and fourth bars. Each gate is secured by two washers and a custom-designed nut. There is a 27.9 mm. diameter eye at each end. Two shallow U-grooves are milled horizontally on the front of the whaletail, bisecting the eyes.
The front is stamped with "RESCUE," "SRT" inside a map of Australia, and "GOLDTAIL," all inside a circle. The rear is stamped "19922402."
The major difference between the GTR1 and the S150 is the larger eyes on the GTRa, which facilitate clipping in with multiple carabiners.
[ Top | GTM | S160 Version A | S160 Version B | GT16a | GTL | S150 Version A; | S150 Version B; | GTRa | Return to Fixed Multibar ]
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| Front View | Rear View | Side View |
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| Front View: Open for Rigging | Side View: Open for Rigging |
I acquired my Single Rope Technique Equipment GTR5a from Single Rope Technique Equipment in 2000.
My GTR5a is 297 mm. tall, 79 mm. wide, 25 mm. thick, and weighs 721 g. It is milled from aluminum alloy and then soft anodized. It has five slots forming six bars. Two milled aluminum safety gates attach by bolts fitted through the whaletail at the second and fifth bars. Each gate is secured by two washers and a custom-designed nut. There is a 27.9 mm. diameter eye at each end. Two shallow U-grooves are milled horizontally on the front of the whaletail, bisecting the eyes.
The front is stamped with "RESCUE," "SRT" inside a map of Australia, and "GOLDTAIL," all inside a circle. The rear is stamped "19922403."
The GTR5a is a 5-hole (6-bar) whaletail. The extra bar allows one to obtain even more friction, which is probably not necessary for most sport uses (there are exceptions!) but certainly can be of value in some rescue scenarios.
[ Top | GTM | S160 Version A | S160 Version B | GT16a | GTL | S150 Version A; | S150 Version B; | GTRa | GTR5a ]
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