About 15-20 minutes. Like you, I felt that was too long and noisy, so I have started using hang on stands this year, home made, with screw in tree steps to access them, and cutting back on what I carry to the stand. I figure this will take me down to well below 10 minutes, hopefully under 5. The safety harness will be the biggest time consumer, but I have too much to live (and at the minimum, walk) for to not use it. I hope your buddy soon realizes the same thing. It only takes one fall to be paralyzed or dead.