Rerigging in the slip

[seawolf]

I would like to report that the re-rigging of my 1962 Columbia with Sta-lok fittings is going well, but slowly since I decided to do it in the slip. Going up and bringing the wire down for measurement and then going back up with the new one.
I want to thank everyone that has given input and advise and answered questions I had before starting.
I would have to say, the hardest part of this job so far has been wrestling out old cotter pins out of the clevis pins at the mast head and tangs.
Who ever installed them cut them short and curlycued them completely around the clevis pin. I sat in the harness for 20 minutes trying to get one pin out. Especially with little clearance for tools between the tangs and the mast.
Is there any way you professionals or experienced salts have a way with dealing with these cotter pins that are very difficult to remove in very precarious positions.
Are there any tricks of the trade with dealing with these little buggers.
Thanks for all the help.

Just a note:
I had a helper one day that was hoisting me up and I felt sorry for him and decided to use a pin to pin measurement rather that bring the wire down for measurement and them back up, to save him a little work. And wouldn't you know it, I was short on that wire by a toggle length. It was a little discouraging as all the work I had done on my own fitted out just right.