sailaboutvic
Well-known member
No problem if one can perform an adequate risk and mitigation analysis first. But think what this will entail:
- Someone sits/stands on the windlass remote. Massive forces can be instantly generated. How long has the climber got in such circumstances? Possibly less than a second if he's in a dangerous place.
- Is the rope drum on the same side as the chain wheel? We've all caught ropes in chain wheels with a central channel.
- Could a line snarl and jamb itself tight on the windlass drum and then wind itself up in a bit pile which is almost impossible to release?
- What happens when the climber cries "STOP!"? Panicked humans tend to instinctively pull and snatch something, not release it; it's a natural reaction. That's why some climbing descenders have automatic override brakes should the climber accidentally yank instead of releasing the 'lowering lever' in a fall. The deck crew is no different. Can the windlass be panic protected?
Sort all this and you're to go! But, why not buy a couple of acscenders to take at least some of the strain and have a free core-strength workout on the way up?
acscenders gear good idea , no argument from me , if I was going up and down a lot I would go for it .
Don we both old enough to know a argument can be made out of any thing if we want .
I could answer all tho remark with a good answer ,
Example, 1 no possibility of that as the rope would just slip as I said , if I stood on the ground and she tried to lift me without any help with two turn it would just slip on our drum anyway .
2 chain are in opposite sides of the drum and unless she was working over the windlass it couldn't happen but then if someone is that careless let not use a windlass at all in case their clothing get caught up .
3 NOW this could happen if more then two turns was used but then it would had to happen at the same time as the windlass jamming at full speed , how lightly is that .
Probably as lightly as a cam given up and a rope breaking at the same time .
With the second line in the jammer it would be just a matter of untangle and carrying on .
As far as human error goes that can happen any time , what if when being winched the winch man forget to jammer the rope and get stung by a wasp letting go of the rope .
let not use a winch handle in case it's not inserted right and it fly our and hit me in the head , or let not fly a Kite in case I get my leg caught in a rope .
Better still lets not use a dinghy at night in case I fall in .
We all assess risk to our own capabilities to do what every we doing .
Not to what someone else is capable of doing .
Don just to put your mind to rest , I don't want any one here to lose sleep over this this is done in a very slow and manageable way I not being zoom me up like a rocket but a few feet at a time , no more then being winched up .