i weigh 160 so i'm not too concerned w/ the weight issue. the knot tying isn't a problem, as you said, i only have to tie that half hitch. i am concerned w/ water running down that line into my hammock.

the other part of my question, the tarp issue. with the spreaders at the top of my hammock, do i have to tie a seperate ridge line and then just drap my tarp over it? like i said, totally new to hanging