Cut The Ridgeline?

[affreeman]

I am currently thru-hiking the AT with my Hennessy hammock. Every once in a while I do a short day and find myself in a campsite early on a lovely afternoon. When this happens I like to loll around either sitting on or lying on my hammock. There's nothing better than gently swaying in your hammock on a warm afternoon while a gentle breeze caresses your brow. But..., but the ridgeline means that I can't lay in my hammock the way I would a normal backyard hammock, which would be perfect for afternoon lounging. So my question:

Is it possible to cut the ridgeline, and insert a mini-biner to reattach it? Just how much tension is on the ridgeline anyway? And if it is possibel to do that, how do I go about making sure I maintain the proper length for the ridgeline?

Questions, questions, questions...

[stormcrow]

sounds to me like the bugnet zipper mod would suit more than cutting the ridgeline. Maybe I dont fully understand the dilemma.

[hangnout]

Is it possible to cut the ridgeline, and insert a mini-biner to reattach it? Just how much tension is on the ridgeline anyway? And if it is possibel to do that, how do I go about making sure I maintain the proper length for the ridgeline?

I would mark the ridgeline in two spots, measure, cut & tie first loop for biner, install biner, re-measure and tie second loop to get same length as first measurment between the two marks.


Maybe I dont fully understand the dilemma.

This would allow him to flip hammock upside down for a lounger without having the zipper mod. Sounds like he is on the trail so the zipper mod may not be doable

This is covered other places in this forum also

[Ramblinrev]

cutting the ridgeline is covered in depth in other threads. But on the trail it might be difficult to do the research into doing it right. It is not something that I am contemplating doing so I don't know the ins and outs but many people have done it.

[Ekul]

Ive cut my ridgeline, well I broke mine goofing off. I use a mini biner to connect and disconnect now. No current problems in 2months of use. Makes lounging easier. In determining correct length; start long and shorten to desired length. good hiking

[angrysparrow]

I've done it before.

After you cut it, if you are very careful about tieing the two cut ends into very small bowline knots, you can add either a biner (or screwlink, or similar) and be extremely close to the original ridgeline length.

Be very careful about using mini-biners, as many of them aren't rated. While a properly hung hammock won't have extreme tension on the ridgeline, it still does carry more tension than some of the non-rated biners are capable of bearing.

If you can get to a hardware store that carries small screwlinks, that might actually be the lightest/smallest/most readily available hardware for the job.

[Thijzzz]

Yep, certainly pick a small but strong biner, maybe a stainless from a sailing shop or something.

I used a small biner (from a keychain), and I pulled it right open when I tightened the HH during setup.

[Knotty]

Considering stories of people having snapped their ridgeline, it makes sense to use a biner that's rated at a couple hundred pounds or more.

[Ekul]

Considering stories of people having snapped their ridgeline, it makes sense to use a biner that's rated at a couple hundred pounds or more.

150lbs load rating biner has served me well so far. No wally world biners. Im not worried about the biner failing more so the ridgeline. That little piece of rope will snap the crap out of you especially it you have any plastic hooks attached. No horseplay in the hammock.wink wink

[Knotty]

150lbs load rating biner has served me well so far. No wally world biners. Im not worried about the biner failing more so the ridgeline. That little piece of rope will snap the crap out of you especially it you have any plastic hooks attached. No horseplay in the hammock.wink wink

If it snaps with a metal biner attached...watch out for that projectile! :scared:

Makes sense to choose knots which won't weaken the line too much.

[MacEntyre]

When you want to lounge in it, just slack off the suspension and flip the hammock over.

Figure out your final solution when you get home!

- MacEntyre

[Ekul]

If it snaps with a metal biner attached...watch out for that projectile! :scared:

Makes sense to choose knots which won't weaken the line too much.

I secured the biner to the end of the hammock with a figure 8 in the slack i had left over when it snapped. If it fails again the only projectile is the line and whats hanging on it(which should deaden the blow). Ive been on the wrong end of a bungie cord to many times to have hunks of metal wissin at me.:shades:

[Pastorus]

Last November I bought a used Hennessy Hyperlite with the ridgeline cut and a screwlink inserted. I've been messing around with it and finally contacted Hennessy for their advise on correcting the length. Here's what Ann says about it:

The ideal length of the ridgeline is determined by the wrinkles in the
mesh. If the ridgeline is too long, there
willl be horizontal stretch marks in the mesh. If the ridgeline is too short,
there will be vertical wrinkles (like a
loose curtain). So if you adjust the ridgeline until you have neither vertical
or horizontal wrinkles in the mesh, you
should be fine. You can get a pretty accurate adjustment without anybody in the
hammock but climb in and check that there are not any horizontal or vertical
wrinkles. If necessary, do a fine adjustment.

I am very thankful to Ann for her response.

[Ramblinrev]

Last November I bought a used Hennessy Hyperlite with the ridgeline cut and a screwlink inserted. I've been messing around with it and finally contacted Hennessy for their advise on correcting the length. Here's what Ann says about it:

The ideal length of the ridgeline is determined by the wrinkles in the
mesh. If the ridgeline is too long, there
willl be horizontal stretch marks in the mesh. If the ridgeline is too short,
there will be vertical wrinkles (like a
loose curtain). So if you adjust the ridgeline until you have neither vertical
or horizontal wrinkles in the mesh, you
should be fine. You can get a pretty accurate adjustment without anybody in the
hammock but climb in and check that there are not any horizontal or vertical
wrinkles. If necessary, do a fine adjustment.

I am very thankful to Ann for her response.

The original spec for the hyperlite calls for a ridgeline of 100". You can use that as a starting point and fine tweak from there. I would only say that ridgelines can be a very personal measurement that affects the way the lie feels. If you play around and find another length helps get rid of the center ridge syndrome never mind the wrinkles. Go for comfort.