Hobbs or GRCS or other

[rbtree]

Nice thread! Not sure I'd seen it before. I'll weigh in with my thoughts. I've had a Hobbs for 10 years or so, a GRCS for 4-5. My Hobbs is the older version with a larger drum, but no fairlead for the rope to tail on after it leaves the drum. I could and should retrofit one. The Hobbs is a great unit but only better than the GRCS for one thing, and that is butt hitching heavy loads. The capstan on the GRCS is not designed for lines over 5/8th, in fact is only optimal for lines up to 9/16th. Therefore, you can only fit 3 wraps if using 3/4 inch line, which is best if butt hitching loads over 1000 pound or so. And 3 wraps may not be enough. So, you say switch to the fixed bollard? Sure, but then you lose a key feature of both the GRCS and Hobbs--rapid slack removal. When butt hitching, it is key to limit shock loading, and the ability to quickly pull slack while the piece is tipping over is needed to reduce the freedrop before braking action is applied.

 

That said, if I can avoid butt hitching, I do--there's usually an alternative----making a bed out of tires, brush, etc, or a vertical speed line if the only reason for lowering is due to there being a hill and wanting to keep the log from bounding away....

 

So, for all other procedures and tasks that arise in tree work, the GRCS is the better tool.

 

Note to the above, there's a lot of people that do a lot more butt hitching than we do....maybe they feel comfortable lowering 1000-1500 pounds with 9/16th rope (13k tensile), or 5/8th (15,500) . I guess I do, since a good rope man should be able to keep the shock loading in check, and that's well within 10-1 SWL's.....but I guess I get a little nervous with smaller lines and butt hitching. Anyhow, the GRCS drum will accomodate 4 wraps with 5/8th rope, and that should be enough for pretty heavy rigging.

[Will Hinchliffe]

We use the hobbs block a lot, its a fantastic tool. I reckon we are pretty slick with it. It gets quite hot sometimes if you are letting loads of big pieces run and sometimes the rope can get a bit glazzed. Is it correct that you can pack the GCRS bollard with ice?

What would the effect be of having a coolant (water) sprayed onto the rope and drum?

 

Also some one told me about a capstan that was slowed by air paddles, it is used to evacuate buildings sounds cool.

 

Dave the dog your capstan winch looks great.

[Peter]

Is it correct that you can pack the GCRS bollard with ice?

 

 

Yes although it someone would have to bring a coldbox in to work with the ice packs in it. Suppose if you put a few cold beers in too it would help!

[Rupe]

You fill it with a gel pack that absorbs heat easily