So each time I hang my hammock I have to re-adjust my hammock ridgeline. I was under the impression that the ridgeline maintians consistent sag regardless of how far apart the trees are. Why is this happening especially since I'm using amsteel blue (not in whoopie form) as my ridgeline?
Odd, how do you have it setup? Where is it connected on the suspension? Is the ridgeline tight, or hanging loose?
The ridgeline will only work if the trees are "far enough" apart... as they get closer the hammock already has more sag than the ridgeline and it wont be able to save the day.
How are you adjusting the ridgeline? Are you moving where it is attached to the hammock suspension? The RL should be fixed and adjusting its tightness is a matter lengthening or shortening the suspension and raising or lower the attachment points.
Don't let life get in the way of living.
I originally set the ridgeline length between trees 15' apart (climbing webbing/MSH) in my yard. Sometimes the ridgeline loosens up and the hammock really stretches out in the wild but it seems that theres no more than say a 6' variable between other trees i've hung from. When the ridgeline loosens up it seems that the trees are furthur apart than 15'. I DO generally place the toggle in the marlin spike hitch consistently on the webbing around 1' down from where the webbing wraps around the tree. Is it the placing of the MSH that is causing the ridgeline to loosen? Is it the whoopie slings that attach the hammock to the webbing? If I hang from trees 15' or 25' apart how do you maintain that consistent sag? Also, I tied the ridgeline to the hammock ends on the whoopie slings so it isn't the ridgeline thats slipping.
When I adjust my ridgeline I just untie the knot on one end, tighten it up when I get the sag I want and tie it back.
And the ridgeline is attached to the hammock like this:
First of all the whoopie slings run through a channel sewn in my hammock like an ENO and the whoopie slings larks head the channels. with the larks head you have a loop there that the ridgeline can attach to and thats what I tied it to.
I think its your webbing. If I am not mistaken climbing webbing is nylon which stretches. You may get in and its fine but over time it stretches out which would cause your structural ridgeline to loosen. Also, the further apart the trees the harder it is to raise the attachment points up the trees. The hammock suspension would end up less than 30 degrees which in turn applies more force on the suspension causing the webbing to stretch even more. Polyester webbing is the popular choice because it doesn't stretch. Amsteel is also very slippery and knots can slip on it as well. Splicing the amsteel into loops retains its strength and ensures the RL stays a constant length.
Last edited by Bubba; 09-29-2011 at 23:14.
Don't let life get in the way of living.
Well pitching the hammock with a tight ridgeline and waking up with a loose ridgeline isn't the issue. It's when i pitch the hammock in different spots. One spot it's tight, and in a different spot it's loose.
Well, if you set your sag at the shortest hang distance, it should stay the same as the trees get farther away... now if you hang in a shorter spot, it will sag.
I'm definantly gonna setup a whoopie sling ridgeline. Problem solved. Which brings me to a newb question: How much weight does the ridgeline generally hold? Would masons line work for a whoopie sling ridgeline?
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