HR Metal Rack

[RedBaron]

I had an interesting discussion with Mark following a painful readjustment of my harness. We don't use the rack anymore and I have personally witnessed one error-free launch that came very close to the glider's basetube getting caught on the rack; yet we choose not to remove it because we fear lawsuits resulting from people jumping without looking. That's all well and understandable (from an American perspective, in common sense Europe such a person would get a Darwin award and be done with), I would, however, like to point out that this rack hasn't been inspected and may eventually lose its structural integrity to rust, constant exposure to the elements, whatever.

[pink_albatross]

Heh... unfortunately this is a real danger to the wuffos: removing the rack. At the very least you should probably put a sign up warning that the rack is missing below.

I completely agree with the European perspective. That said, I think I've become americanized over the years... On my recent trip to New Zealand, where they follow the European philosophy of "look, you idiot and don't complain if you fall", I tripped a number of times on steps that I had not expected (walking into a house/restaurant for example). I realized that I had come to rely on the eye-level American signs "watch for the step" that I've so readily have made fun of in the past...

[deveil]

there's a not uncommon prank of someone pretending to jump or fall off the edge in order to freak out a friend who hasn't been there before (probably have done it myself, me being that type. it's pretty effective at inducing a mild heart attack in people).
so yeah, does the club have the responsibility to maintain the rack and assure its integrity? but if you really want to get your mind twisted : if the rack were to be removed, would a warning sign need to be posted warning of its removal - for the protection of those people who expect it to be there? how many signs? where located? for how long? how frequently must someone (authorized of course) check that the signs are still in place? would a log of such visits need to be kept? what specific legalistic appropriate words? of what size? of what color?

'used to be involved with a lot of regulatory stuff. it Does get that crazy.

garyD

[deveil]

dang it ellis, you jumped in there ahead of me. i thought i'd get the doom and gloom credit(!)
garyD

[deveil]

one could just cut off one bar from the grill at a time, say every couple of months, til wah-lah: "hmmm, didn't there used to be a rack there? ... rack? nah, i never seen no rack. hey, anyone ever see a rack?
garyDevious

[mikel]

Why not contact the washington countny parks dept. for guidance ?

Mike..........

[bustedwing2]

I didn't realize the rack was a problem,it's well below the edge,with a strong launch the base tube should be at least a couple feet above it. RichB

[brianvh]

Given the geometry, I think the presence of the grate is less a threat to pilots than the removal would be to joking locals. But if the structural integrity is in question it would have to go. Anybody know how to test? I guess it would take a civil engineer. If it's stainless steel I doubt there'd be problems. Iron is another matter.