The Wombat
What is a Wombat?
The Wombat rapid anchor may look like a plastic propeller on a stick but is in fact a fully engineered product. The Wombat is a re-usable, strong and lightweight shallow ground anchor, made from a steel shaft and a nylon composite helix. As the Wombat is wound into the ground, the helix flexes, therefore giving a holding strength beyond that of a conventional steel helix.
It is the strongest, re-usable shallow ground sand anchor in the world.
The Wombat can anchor anything to the ground either temporarily or semi-permanently and when used correctly it has the ability to hold up to 1000 times its own weight.
Essentially, a Wombat is a lightweight flexible helix keyed to a steel shaft.
The Shaft is made from quality extruded hollow electroplated steel section.
The shaft transfers tensile loads to the helix without deforming.
The Helix is a patented design made of nylon composite. It is incredibly tough, durable and resilient.
Technical specifications
- Shaft: Made of specially extruded hollow square steel section16mm/600mm long.
- Helix: 140mm nylon composite
- Weight: Less than 400g
- Strength: Holds up to 520kg depending on soil conditions and application method.
So how does it work?
As the patented nylon helix winds into the ground, it splays apart thus changing the "pitch". Due to its flexible nature, the more it splays, the more counterforce is applied and the helix actually clamps the soil making the wombat more stable. This extra strength is derived from the flexible helix. This cannot be achieved with fixed metal helixes. This technology allows a 600mm long Wombat, weighing under 400g to hold up to 520kg depending on soil type and application method.
How to Install
Using the detachable T-Bar, the Wombat is simply screwed into the ground, and screwed back out. Unlike the large majority of stakes and pickets on the market, it requires no banging or hammering to anchor. For manual installation the T-Bar is included in the kit but power adaptors and sockets are available from Rapid Anchor for installation by power or cordless drill.
Soil Types
Whilst the Wombat is primarily intended for use in soft sand conditions it can be installed in dense to very hard soil types by cutting down the helix size. This is easily done by using a hacksaw or cutting tool and following the cut lines engraved on the bottom of the helix.
Invented in Australia, this ingenious device is will change the you way tie down anything to the ground. Before the Wombat, almost everything was fixed to the ground by banging in star pickets, stakes or pegs. These are heavy, unsafe and often useless in soft to medium sand conditions and often not re-usable. The Wombat is totally re-usable. It is strong, light and small.