DIY Hammock too short?

**Mundele** · 05-30-2010, 22:43

So,

I stumbled onto some fabric at walmart and wanted to make a double layer hammock. Since my sewing machine is crap and my mom is pretty skilled, I cut the fabric and wrote up directions and mailed it to her. Well, when I got it back it seems shorter than I wanted. She had done some pretty wide channels but I took out a seam or two to "reclaim" some of the length. The length from the end wrap to end wrap is 112". Somewhere on here I found a post or video or something saying the ridgeline should be 83% of the overall length. I tried making a ridgeline that length and it didn't feel right.

Is my hammock too short? what length of ridgeline should I use? I have been using it some w/o a ridgeline but wanted to try it with one.

Thanks...

--Matt

**gargoyle** · 05-31-2010, 00:41

How wide is the material you used? Width plays a major roll in hammock comfort.
I've made a few in the same length as yours and they work fine..I'm 6-4..
But I did use wide 60 inch fabric.

Pictures of your set up might help.

**goodcaver** · 05-31-2010, 02:08

I think--if your hammock feels too short, it probably is. Better lay in it ten or twelve more times to make sure

**JohnSawyer** · 05-31-2010, 02:11

9.5' can be comfortable, but it also depends on YOUR length...

I'm 6' (ok, 5'11") and I found a 9' hammock to be too short. My current one started it's life as an 11' piece of material and it's way comfy.

**SGT Rock** · 05-31-2010, 06:53

I've made all mine from about 3 yards length (108") although one is a little shorter than that now after some mishaps...

You may want to play with whipping styles and ridge line length. The 83% is just a guideline IMO. What I did was play with the hammock lay and such until I found where I liked it, then made the ridge line for that length. I ended up with about 100-106" length (I haven't remeasured) and a foot box style bottom with channel whipping and a Hennessy style head end.

And I am 5'8"

**Mundele** · 05-31-2010, 07:12

My fabric is 60". I'm 5'7". My issue might be my trees. I have 2 trees and they're a bit far apart. I moved the straps up higher to compensate for the distance and maybe I overdid it. I think I need to get out the ladder and restring it.

Looks like I need to spend more time hangin out.

--Matt

**krugd** · 05-31-2010, 08:28

Another thing to consider is that some of that Walmart material stretches a lot. You can get a much better lay by switching to stiffer material. I just did this and was amazed by the difference.

That said, your hammock should work for you. Keep experimenting with the ridge line and whipping. Try moving about and seeking a sweet spot. There will likely be some combination of sag, whipping and lay that works for you.

If you continue having trouble you might want to attend a hang and try laying in some of the commercial hammocks and comparing the lay with yours.

**Mundele** · 05-31-2010, 11:51

Originally Posted by krugd

Another thing to consider is that some of that Walmart material stretches a lot. You can get a much better lay by switching to stiffer material. I just did this and was amazed by the difference.

That said, your hammock should work for you. Keep experimenting with the ridge line and whipping. Try moving about and seeking a sweet spot. There will likely be some combination of sag, whipping and lay that works for you.

If you continue having trouble you might want to attend a hang and try laying in some of the commercial hammocks and comparing the lay with yours.

I have a wbbb on order that should arrive sometime soon. I will keep tinkering til then. I might re-whip it and pull up the sides some.

**krugd** · 05-31-2010, 12:22

Good luck. And enjoy the Blackbird. I was able to try one and it was very comfy. But for now I'm sticking with my DIY copy.

**Frawg** · 05-31-2010, 12:45

Here's another data point for you.

I made a double layer end-channel hammock that is 95" end-to-end and 51" wide. Add about 6" to the length for end channel loops. At 6'2", that is about the minimum size I can use comfortably so yours wouldn't be too short for my taste.

As noted above, ridge line length matters. FWIW, I make my ridge line adjustable from about 82% to about 92% of the effective hammock length toggle to toggle. (both the hammock and the ridgeline loop over toggles.) IME a ridge line length somewhere between 85 - 90 % of the arc length feels pretty good.