After reading about Ridgeline’s I’ve decide to put one on my ENO Double. I picked up some V-12 (New England Rope) at the local Marina. Now the question I have is where do I attach it and what knots to use (Pictures would be nice.) I’ve already upgraded my suspension to the straps and cinch buckle that I found on Just Jeff Website.
From my research I’ve seen that 100” should be a good starting point is that correct?
You could make a loop and use a larkshead/girth hitch to attach to the cord coming out of the hammock material. Then use a simple round turn with two half hitches on the the other side.
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ridgeline.JPG
Where you attach the ridgeline will play into how long it needss to be. If you tie it into the suspension ropes it will need to be a bit longer than if you tie it in back farther into the whipping. I would suggest you make it adjustable to start with so you can play with the length.
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I believe the only true way to find your RL length is to experiment. 100" is a good starting point.
I don't know how much line you bought, but you may take a look at the SLS system. It allows you to adjust the length of the ridge line until you find the length that best suits you.
“Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it." -Terry Pratchett
Is your RL at a permanent length or do you need to adjust it every time you set up?Originally Posted by headchange4u
I like how you attached your Hammock to the Ring I’m going to try that with my cinch buckle.
Most of my RLs are permanent simply because I've found the correct length for that hammock. I have found that different brands and styles of hammock lay different and all require some adjustment to the length. Another easy way to experiment with RL length is to use a trucker's hitch to adjust length until you find the sweet spot. Then you can make a fixed RL in the required length.
The height of the RL from the hammock will also make a difference. If you have a 100" RL attached right at the hammock, the sag will not be the same as a 100" RL attached higher up on the suspension.
“Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it." -Terry Pratchett
I personally just used bowlines at the end to secure my ridgeline. Just make sure you have some really high test line though as bowlines do cut strength of rope by I believe half. I'm using Amsteel 3/16" so this isn't much of a problem for me as this stuff has incredibly high test strength and I only weigh 140 anywho.
the correct rl length is only in relation to your hammock length. if your hammock is rather short or long, 100" might be way off. my hammock fabric is 120" and the rl is 101", that gives a cretain amount of sag, but if the hammock was 8.5-9', the same 101" rl would create a completely different sag.
I've come to believe that if the ridgeline is not sagging once you are in the hammock, then it has done everything it is designed to so---set your sag. You can have your ridgeline under hardly any tension and not sag, or under tremendous tension. And if under tremendous tension that means your other suspension lines are too, and there really is no point in that.
Correspondingly, on the ridgeline I use cord that is too weak for the full suspension. It is lighter. I have used this very much like HC4U does in his SLS, with the only difference being that each ring is tied to the ridgeline, and to a suspension cord. When I'm first looking for the right sag I tie the ridgeline with an adjustable knot, and once that's dialed in, tie it down.
I had what I thought was a good a suspension line (2.8mm Spyderline) snap on me before I learned that you could put too much tension on the suspension. Don't wish to repeat the experience! Having a weaker line as the ridgeline is safer, in the sense that it will snap before the heftier suspension line will.
just my $0.05
Grizz
Thanks everyone for your great ideas on setting my RL. I'm going to play with it this week and see what I come up with.
Thank for the great website on knots, i've saved this site as a “go to” site on knots.
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