Regarding the Retaining Feature

[Liquid]

Several times in the rule book FIRST implies that the retaining feature should be a large knot stuck behind the retaining pin. I feel that this would not be ideal, as enough force could make the rope slide underneath the retaining pin and out of the Davit.

Our team wanted to tie the rope onto some steel rod or torus and having that sit behind the fingers and retaining pin. Is this allowed? I have reread the rules several times and am not sure is having other things other than the rope to help secure it is legal.

Thank you all for any help!
~Team 269

[GeeTwo]

Check the team updates! The retaining feature may now extend up to 2" below the fingers. (I think it was in #5). There are also several threads already talking about this.

Though using a steel rod or torus is out (an early question answered).

IIRC, every team update except 6 has tweaked the rope rules, and it is possibly the most asked topic on the Q&A.

[CalTran]

You could try asking that to FRC Q&A, but more likely than not they’ll tell you that a steel rod or torus does not meet the criteria listed in I04 D.

@I04 D

[ROPES]
D. consist entirely of (except for an adhesive applied by the VENDOR as part of the normal manufacturing process for a COTS item and no longer tacky, e.g. a “binder coat”) flexible, non-metallic fibers sewn, twisted, tied, woven, knitted, crocheted, intertwined, or braided together except for the last 4 in. (~10 cm) of any cut end which may be whipped (with material that is flexible and non-metallic) or fused only to prevent fraying.