I would definitely call myself a 'lazy rigger'... I don't go up unless I've got someone on the winch. The Milwaukee Hole Hawg was a good investment, that way any winch becomes a powered winch. For Masthead work, I just have a couple slings with multiple steps sewn in but almost never have to use them. I'm almost always using one of the main halyards from the masthead sheave, so if my harness gets right to the sheave I am practically at waist height there so I can still see and work on the top.
Thanks for this. Your original videos were what inspired me to use this system myself. I also added a small aider ladder off the ascender so I can comfortably stand way above my grigri without switching over the ascender. Redundancy is king though! It also helps to practice descending off a munter hitch in case the grigri falls. I practiced a number of times first then went up the mast. It paid for itself the second time I went up and by now I have saved hundreds! Its very tiring though (Yes, I'm using my legs!), and that's not something you see on any video.
What a great idea on the aider ladder. Switching over at the top is the part of this I like the least. I used to say going down was frightening but the changes I made that add more friction fixed that. I am going to give this another try and incorporate your change. Do you actually climb the aider or just pick a particular level? Perhaps I can just use the foot loops and shorten them although it might be a bit too much of a step from the lower chair. In terms of it being tiring I find it more tiring now that I am 75 than when I was younger.
Yes, I climb the aider. Mine has wide foot loops and enough steps that I can reach the bottom "rung" easily and climb it properly with both feet. I bought it because I got my main halyard stuck at the top sheave leaving only the spinnaker halyard to climb. It doesn't go all the way up. This was a special case in that it required me to prusic the ladder to the mast. Not recommended of course! But for just reaching above the grigri it's very handy!
Nice man, I always liked the convenient change-over of the ascender - grigri - pulley system.
I would definitely call myself a 'lazy rigger'... I don't go up unless I've got someone on the winch. The Milwaukee Hole Hawg was a good investment, that way any winch becomes a powered winch. For Masthead work, I just have a couple slings with multiple steps sewn in but almost never have to use them. I'm almost always using one of the main halyards from the masthead sheave, so if my harness gets right to the sheave I am practically at waist height there so I can still see and work on the top.
Thanks for this. Your original videos were what inspired me to use this system myself. I also added a small aider ladder off the ascender so I can comfortably stand way above my grigri without switching over the ascender. Redundancy is king though! It also helps to practice descending off a munter hitch in case the grigri falls. I practiced a number of times first then went up the mast. It paid for itself the second time I went up and by now I have saved hundreds! Its very tiring though (Yes, I'm using my legs!), and that's not something you see on any video.
What a great idea on the aider ladder. Switching over at the top is the part of this I like the least. I used to say going down was frightening but the changes I made that add more friction fixed that. I am going to give this another try and incorporate your change. Do you actually climb the aider or just pick a particular level? Perhaps I can just use the foot loops and shorten them although it might be a bit too much of a step from the lower chair.
In terms of it being tiring I find it more tiring now that I am 75 than when I was younger.
Yes, I climb the aider. Mine has wide foot loops and enough steps that I can reach the bottom "rung" easily and climb it properly with both feet. I bought it because I got my main halyard stuck at the top sheave leaving only the spinnaker halyard to climb. It doesn't go all the way up. This was a special case in that it required me to prusic the ladder to the mast. Not recommended of course! But for just reaching above the grigri it's very handy!