ridgeline connections for WB Superfly

I've been reading all about ridgelines and various knots and hardware for a couple of hours now and I've reached the point of negative returns where I'm just getting more confused :) So I'll just post my thoughts and see what everyone thinks ...

I'm going to go with the separate ridgeline like Brandon recommends but want to simplify it and make it more adjustable than in the video. My thought is to run one end through the split ring on the tarp and tie a prussik back onto itself. The other end would run around the tree. This way I have a prussik on both ends so I can relatively easily move the tarp in either direction. And I can just leave those knots in there so all I'll ever need to do is worry about the end that goes around the tree.

Although weight isn't really an issue, I don't want to use more biners to connect the line back to itself. So my biggest question is what knot would be best to use there?

Any other comments on what I plan? I don't know that using something like a figure 9 would save me any effort or time would it?

Thanks, I appreciate any input. I've only hung two nights so far so I'm still way early in the learning curve.

Dave

What I have on my superfly are a set of stingerZ from dutchware. Fairly lightweight, easy to use and they clip right on to the existing rings on the tarp. It is not hard at all to learn the right length over the hammock to have it setup correctly. With the stingerz I use lash-it for the cordage.

Are you wanting to leave the split ridgeline attached to the tarp?
If so you then your idea is great and you could use a tumble hitch http://www.animatedknots.com/tumble/...matedknots.com It's easy to release and you could put a toggle in the bight to keep it secure.
Or just splice or tie on a dutch hook on the end of each of your ridge lines which will hook onto the line wrapped around the tree and you just tighten up with your prusiks.
A soft shackle would also work but I tend to stay away from them because when its cold or wet out they don't tend to be very cooperative with my digits.

I thought Brandon recommends using the tie-out rings over the separate ridgeline? Hmmm, must have missed that. The videos on his site just show using the rings as far as I remember. Anyone know why the change? Thanks

Thanks guys.
8Daddy, yes I plan to just leave them attached to the split rings, I'll take a look at the tumble hitch. If I used the hardware like you suggested wouldn't I need to tie and untie it all the time based on the size of the tree?
Brady, you're right, that's what Brandon recommends, it's also what I was trying to describe :) I was saying that way so it wouldn't be confused with a continuous ridge line.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nighthauk

What I have on my superfly are a set of stingerZ from dutchware. Fairly lightweight, easy to use and they clip right on to the existing rings on the tarp. It is not hard at all to learn the right length over the hammock to have it setup correctly. With the stingerz I use lash-it for the cordage.

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Exactly what I plan to do when I get my SF. Quick, easy, and easy to adjust again if I need to.

My only input would be that imagine you have 2 scenarios -

1 - Two trees 19 feet apart and 5 feet around

2 - Two trees 14 feet apart and 1 foot around


In scenario 1, you'd have 10 feet of line tied up just around the trees (so 5 feet per side).

The Superfly has an 11 foot ridgeline so you'd need 8 feet of cord to make up the difference of the 19 foot distance between trees (so 4 feet per side).

Now you tie your prusik on each side (I'm assuming what you are meaning here is something like a taut line hitch at the end of the lines).

That's 9 feet of cord needed per side to accommodate scenario 1.

So let's say you end up with 10 feet of line per side to be on the safe side.

Your usable adjustable length per side is only going to be half that length if you keep the taut line hitch tied always at the end of the line.

Meaning, you only have a minimum usable cord length of 5 feet per side.



Looking then at scenario 2 you have an 11 foot tarp ridgeline so you'd only need 3 feet of line total to make up the difference of the 14 foot distance between trees (1.5 feet per side)

You'd need 2 feet get around the trees (1 foot per side) for a total length needed of only 2.5 feet of line per side.

Your minimum working length of cord per side is 5 feet meaning you'd have to untie your taut line hitch and retie it.


Not a huge issue but something to consider.

A way around this without having to tie and untie knots in the field and without added hardware is to tie a loop of cord out of an additional piece of cordage and string that through the split rings. Then prusik that onto your lines. You have infinite adjustability with this just remember to tie a stopper knot at the end of your tarp line or the prusik can slide right off.

Nighthauk, I'll take a look at stringerz, since I'm new at this I see myself doing a lot of adjusting, at least at first. How easy are they to adjust? I'm also worried about putting undue friction on the cordage, I'll be using the 1.75mm Dyneema that Brandon offers.

Thanks tendertoe, I did mean an actual prussik, I think it'll hold better than a tautline on the dyneema. I don't think I'll need to untie it though, the knot will be tied close to the split ring on the tarp leaving the rest of the line to go around the tree and then only need to tie to itself right near the tree, that should be the only knot I need to untie every time. If the trees are close together the excess can just hang down.

The problem with big trees far apart can happen with any set up though, and I'll be mostly in the Midwest, no sequoias here :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dsvick

Thanks tendertoe, I did mean an actual prussik, I think it'll hold better than a tautline on the dyneema. I don't think I'll need to untie it though, the knot will be tied close to the split ring on the tarp leaving the rest of the line to go around the tree and then only need to tie to itself right near the tree, that should be the only knot I need to untie every time. If the trees are close together the excess can just hang down.

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Perfect, that is exactly the solution that I was thinking of to a problem I misunderstood and thought you were talking about ;) so you should be great then.

Now what attachment method on the tree end?

I like a simple micro carabiner (or Dutch hook, or Dutch ridgeline biner, or what have you) on a locked brummel or dead eye at the end of each line.

You could tie a siberian hitch or a dozen other knots or hitches but the small amount of added hardware more than makes up for itself in simplicity IMHO.

Let us know what you end up going with.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dsvick

Nighthauk, I'll take a look at stringerz, since I'm new at this I see myself doing a lot of adjusting, at least at first. How easy are they to adjust? I'm also worried about putting undue friction on the cordage, I'll be using the 1.75mm Dyneema that Brandon offers.

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The dyneema from Brandon is what I have on mine. To readjust the cordage is to simply undo a wrap move to where you want it and rewrap. Then do the same thing on the other side. Total time most likely less than a minute or two.

my set up

i had a lot of the same questions... this is what i came up with...

Nice set up brute, I'll look at it in more detail later (I'm on my phone now).
I'll take a look at the stringerz they seem like they would work and still be adjustable. I was thinking about what tendertoe said about close together trees and realized I need to be able to adjust it at the as well. If I do it all with the prussik I could end up with the Prussik all the way at the tree.

Nighthauk

I like the stingerz, they look a lot easier to adjust than I was thinking they were. How long a line do you have on them on each side? Dutch offers to splice on a 12' piece of zing it but that doesn't sound like enough since it has to go all the way back you only get 6 feet out of it.

Do you leave them attached and stuff them with the tarp or take them off and store them separately? Leaving them attached would make me nervous I think.

I believe I have 12' dyneema on both sides. I have yet to have a problem with not enough cordage for the tarp. If you think about it you usually want the trees to be about 12-15' apart. I shoot for 15-16' personally. I have an 11' hammock so that is why the longer distance. The ridgeline on the tarp is 11' That gives you a lot of wiggle room and excess cord. I usual have 2-4' of hanging cordage.

As to taking them off or leaving them on. That is up to you. I alway leave mine on the outside of my tarp skin so they are not in direct contact with the tarp. Though Dutch does a great job rounding down all the edges.
Hope this helps.

Cool, thanks for the tips. I'll probably end up with a separate bag for excess cordage and stuff I don't want to leave it all the time. Skins looks great but aren't in the budget yet. I justified all this by telling my wife it was this or a new tent :)

Thanks again everyone, I'm sure I'll be back with more questions, I'm making my own UQ this weekend.