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  1. #1
    Senior Member Deadwood's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Georgia
    Hammock
    WBBB XLC, Ridgerunner
    Tarp
    Superfly
    Insulation
    HG 20, KAQ 1, Lynx
    Suspension
    Webbing / buckles
    Posts
    198
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    6

    Test Failure! Help!

    I finally was able to "create" a place to test my gear since I don't have suitable trees on my property for hanging. I have only camped/backpacked in nice weather so far and wanted to test my gear and setup for rain. So with the prediction of heavy rain last night I set up my gear (WBBB XLC and SF) on my test area on the deck. I didn't sleep in my hammock and figured I could determine if I had any problems today in the daylight. Finding the problems was not a problem at all. When I checked this morning I have standing water in my hammock!

    I found my first problem quickly and it is my inattention that caused it. I have the SF fully staked out including the pull outs. It was asked in another thread in the last day or so if it matters if your pull outs are sealed on the inside or outside. Answer: [B]YES![B] When I got my SF I immediately sealed the pullouts with permatex but I failed to read or see that it should be done on the inside, NOT THE OUTSIDE. All four pullouts leaked. That should be easily remedied and that really was not the big problem because the pullouts were not over the hammock and the drips seem to have fallen and run harmlessly to the ground. The water got in the hammock by running down the zipper material at the head end of my hammock along the side that has the shelf. At the end of the shelf (the lowest point) the water just trickled in a steady stream into the hammock.

    Here is how I am set up,tell me if I missed something else or if this was just a case of too much rain and wind. It did rain extremely hard and there was wind. I had the doors on the SF closed and tied. I have the strap suspension on my WBBB. I made the assumption the buckles would act as a water break. Should I have used a string as a water break? There was no water or leaking from the foot end of the hammock. The only difference between the foot and the head was the storage bag was on the head end. It too was soaked. The bag was hanging loosely on the hammock side of the buckles but it too was soaked so I will assume it got wet and the zipper material wicked the water from there and into the hammock.

    So what rookie mistakes other than sealing the pullouts wrong have I made? I have got to work this out because I rarely go out that it does not rain. I seem to attract rain.

  2. #2
    Senior Member joker421's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Olive Branch, MS
    Hammock
    WBBB XLC 1.7DL
    Tarp
    WB Superfly
    Insulation
    HG Incu/Burrow 20
    Suspension
    Anchor/Speed Hooks
    Posts
    119
    My first guess would be the bishop bag acting as a conduit from the strap/buckle to the hammock, but it's hard to say without seeing the setup. I will be following the post to see other replies - I should get my superfly and XLC towards the end of this week, so I hope to avoid a similar fate!

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    IN
    Hammock
    WBRR, Lots of DIY
    Tarp
    MacCat; Cloudburst
    Insulation
    Lynx, HG T/UQ, AHE
    Suspension
    Varies
    Posts
    8,464

  4. #4
    Senior Member 12trysomething's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Central NY
    Hammock
    Snipe, Netty, Argon
    Tarp
    Tadpole, Cuben, SF
    Insulation
    HammockGear
    Suspension
    Dutch DooDads
    Posts
    1,863
    Is it possible to take/share a few pictures? It is hard to offer much without seeing.
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  5. #5
    TallPaul's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Hammock
    WBXLC, WBBB, LiteOwl
    Tarp
    Superfly, MambaJam
    Insulation
    HG Phoenix, WL Sum
    Suspension
    Webbing, Whoopies
    Posts
    4,076
    Images
    13
    Quote Originally Posted by gmcttr View Post
    This... You should look into a drip line.
    You should have something for your hammock and possibly your tarp (depending on how it is deployed). If the ridgeline is above your tarp, you should be fine. Otherwise I'd use a drip line there as well.

    And pat yourself on the back for testing before a trip.

  6. #6
    Senior Member UrsaMajor1887's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    SE USA
    Hammock
    WBBB 1.7 SL
    Tarp
    HG: CF 4S
    Insulation
    HG: TQ. UQ
    Suspension
    WS and Dutch Hooks
    Posts
    391
    I am assuming your buckles are inside your tarp. I always do the string trick and have not had a problem. I made a couple of Zing It continuous loops and Larkshead them on under my trap between the continuous loop and the Dutch Hook. I make sure the hammock stuff sack is scrunched down at the head of the hammock, usually my pack is hanging from there making sure it doesn't work it way up the line. I have found the drip string damp in the morning after a heavy rain, but no past that point. YMMV. Hope this helps and pics of your setup would really help with a diagnosis.
    "When you see something wobble, push it."
    - Unknown

  7. #7
    Senior Member OneClick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    IN
    Hammock
    DIY 10.5' HyperD 1.6
    Tarp
    Warbonnet, SLD
    Insulation
    Hammock Gear
    Suspension
    WB Straps+Buckles
    Posts
    13,158
    Images
    20
    I sealed my Mamajamba on the outside and never had the tiniest drop come in. I plan on doing the same to my Superfly.

    For drip lines, I just use an old piece of cloth from a tshirt or hand towel. I guess something like a shoestring would be smaller and work fine.

  8. #8
    Senior Member Bubba's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    SW Ontario, Canada
    Hammock
    WBBB 1.7 SL
    Tarp
    WB Superfly
    Insulation
    WB and UGQ
    Suspension
    Whoopies or Straps
    Posts
    7,184
    Images
    248
    Are you using a continuous above the tarp or bellow the tarp ridgeline?
    Don't let life get in the way of living.

  9. #9
    Senior Member Deadwood's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Georgia
    Hammock
    WBBB XLC, Ridgerunner
    Tarp
    Superfly
    Insulation
    HG 20, KAQ 1, Lynx
    Suspension
    Webbing / buckles
    Posts
    198
    Images
    6
    Quote Originally Posted by gmcttr View Post
    I think this was the biggest problem. Thanks!

  10. #10
    Senior Member Deadwood's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Georgia
    Hammock
    WBBB XLC, Ridgerunner
    Tarp
    Superfly
    Insulation
    HG 20, KAQ 1, Lynx
    Suspension
    Webbing / buckles
    Posts
    198
    Images
    6
    Quote Originally Posted by TallPaul View Post
    This... You should look into a drip line.
    You should have something for your hammock and possibly your tarp (depending on how it is deployed). If the ridgeline is above your tarp, you should be fine. Otherwise I'd use a drip line there as well.

    And pat yourself on the back for testing before a trip.
    Not only do I believe in testing, I picked one of the worst storms we have had in a while. A couple of inches of rain and lots of wind.

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