Rigging Plates on Girth Hitch master point?

So I often find a girth hitch is easiest for some anchors when I’m doing multipitch, either due to the sling being barely too short to do an overhand or 8, or I find a girth hitch on a carabiner is MUCH easier for beginner followers to undo in dyneema than a knot. The main drawback however is I find my anchors often look messy with multiple PASs and belay devices attached to the various cords to the pro. Can one use a rigging plate to put multiple PASs into as well as belay devices? I feel that a rig plate would make my master point much cleaner, and especially less crowded/complex when I have 1-2 friends on follow. 

A rigging plate will work in this scenario. You could also use the carabiner (the one you used to build the girth hitch anchor described in your post) as the master point (also described as a master carabiner) for your anchor. You can use this to clip into and belay from. 

This video demonstrates the use of a master carabiner. It uses a chain anchor, but it applies to girth hitch anchors as well. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3V52XkfIzo

Check out the gravel vlad carabiner!

Dave Leydet wrote:

A rigging plate will work in this scenario. You could also use the carabiner (the one you used to build the girth hitch anchor described in your post) as the master point (also described as a master carabiner) for your anchor. You can use this to clip into and belay from. 

This video demonstrates the use of a master carabiner. It uses a chain anchor, but it applies to girth hitch anchors as well. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3V52XkfIzo

Awesome thank you! I’ve definitely used just a large locking carabiner for that purpose, just with 2 followers I sometimes find all the carabiners crossing over each other when we’re moving a little annoying sometimes, when one will move over the other a bit. But thanks for the confirmation on the plate!

Climbing Weasel wrote:

Check out the gravel vlad carabiner!

I had no idea that exists. I’ll definitely be checking that out!

I usually just clip my tether directly into one of the bolt hangers to keep it out of the way (for beefy bolts in solid rock).

If you are using a girth hitch master point, you are NOT supposed to treat the loops going to different pieces as a shelf.

JaredG wrote:

I usually just clip my tether directly into one of the bolt hangers to keep it out of the way (for beefy bolts in solid rock).

Well I rarely have bolts but I appreciate it haha

Desert Rock Sports wrote:

If you are using a girth hitch master point, you are NOT supposed to treat the loops going to different pieces as a shelf.

May I ask why? I’ve had multiple leaders have me follow that way when I started learning and never thought to question it. 2 separate loops of dyneema looked fine to me, although not rlly equalized if a piece fails, but I’d appreciate your explanation!
edit: I’ve been doing some research online and it seems there’s mixed reviews. Let me elaborate on how I’ve seen it done: leader sets master carabiner and clubs his own PAS to it, then sets a belay device on at least 2 separate shelf loops. Follower(s) then reach anchor and clip their carabiners into the master carabiner as well. There’s always a load in the master carabiner but I’ve seen it the load is released the anchor looks wonky. 

IF the masterpoint carabiner stays loaded, it can be somewhat mitigated... but that wonky loading that happens when someone is loading only the shelf rolls the girth hitch away from the narrow end of the carabiner, opening it up more... if the sling gets cut its resistance to slipping when loaded like this could be considerably compromised.

Desert Rock Sports wrote:

IF the masterpoint carabiner stays loaded, it can be somewhat mitigated... but that wonky loading that happens when someone is loading only the shelf rolls the girth hitch away from the narrow end of the carabiner, opening it up more... if the sling gets cut its resistance to slipping when loaded like this could be considerably compromised.

Also, the chance of someone removing the masterpoint carabiner while someone else has a loose tether to the shelf is not zero.

I use a large arborist ring as my master point. No gates to open, biners don't get pushed into any corner and room for several carabiners. Outside diameter of about 75mm and 12mm thick. Works great and you always have a rap ring when you need it.

Sick, thanks for the replies. I understand those points. Ive always left everyone’s PAS in the master carabiner, so it’s pretty hard to remove the master from the hitch, but true, the chance isn’t zero!
also, I’ll defo checkout a rap ring too for this purpose. 

A nice alternative is to use a PAS instead of a sling to connect the anchors. Then you have lots of clip in points for climbers, waterbottles, sacks....

A pas weighs no more than a sling plus big locker