First whoopie. Bowline? To attach?

**Knotty** · 01-13-2011, 23:05

Be wary of that bowline. Could hold for a long time, lulling you into a sense of security, then slip. As a general rule, knots should be avoided in amsteel and other high modulus ropes.

**oldgringo** · 01-14-2011, 00:51

Originally Posted by wwk10

Whoopies completed. For now I have a bowline for the larks head hammock end. I don't think I left enuf line to go back and do the brummell lock. I'll revisit later.

I'm usually patient and spend too long thinking things thru, but I wanted to finish my hammock so I just jumped in.

DIY hammock completed with DIY whoopies. Started on DIY UQ. First hang in 2 weeks.

Hardheaded, ain't ya???

Okay, look...since you've gone ahead and done this, at least stitch the bitter end to the standing part. 3 or 4 stitches with dental floss, finished off with a reef knot will probably keep this from slipping.

**TinaLouise** · 01-14-2011, 08:20

Originally Posted by wwk10

Whoopies completed. For now I have a bowline for the larks head hammock end. I don't think I left enuf line to go back and do the brummell lock. I'll revisit later. .

I can advise you from direct experience with using a bowline at the hammock on amsteel rope. DO NOT DO IT !!!

The only reason I didn't hit the ground was because I'd had the sense to put a stopper knot on the little tail rope coming off of the bowline. When it slipped (of course it was during the night) the rope actually made a "pop" sound. My guess is that there is so much force on that knot, that when it slipped, it was catastropic. Since I didn't hit the ground and it was still dark, I laid there till day light. Barely moving for fear it'd slip more. Next day I learned how to do the locked brummell and changed it out.

How much rope did you leave at the end?? I usually make my locked brummells with about 6" or so. I like to have enough rope left at the end (like about 4") so that I can bury it. The loop really doesn't need to be that large. Something I do with the whoopie end is to take a piece of masking tape and flatten that end and add the tape, tapering the tape to a point. This way it's easier to get it through the hole you're gonna have to make in the rope on the other end to finish out the lock on the brummell. I've made some of my "extra" spare ropes with locked brummels on each end just so they are easier to attach to other ropes when I need to.

TinaLouise

**Bubba** · 01-14-2011, 09:15

Good to hear about real world experience, thanks TL.

**wwk10** · 01-14-2011, 09:58

Thanks all. This is why I generally mull things over for a long time. It is against my character to jump right in. Now i remember why.

Bowline will be replaced, I just need time to mull.

I used to know a crane operator who made amazing splices. I will start looking for an old crane operator or an old pirate.

**Bubba** · 01-14-2011, 13:00

If you undo your bowline you can use this method to make a McDonald brummel so you do not have to undo the adjustable bury of your whoopie. You can get away with having about 4 inched of bury on the brummel. The recommendations IIRC are 2 inches of taper and 4 inches of bury for a total of 6 inches. I have made and use shorter ones and so have others with no issues but YMMV.

**wwk10** · 01-22-2011, 17:23

Update. I did what I knew I had to. I cut my line and started over; this time with a locked brummel fixed eye.

For some reason my fingers hurt this time. Also my knitting needle broke on the last whoopie. I will have to rig a wire or something.

If I do this again, I will get a fid. Do they make them small enuf for 7/64? Where can you buy them? I think a fid would cut the time by 75%.

**Knotty** · 01-23-2011, 18:05

I've never found a commercially made fid (actually any fid) for 7/64".

**wwk10** · 01-23-2011, 18:36

I assumed no small firs, just wishful thinking. First 4 whoopies were easy with knitting needles. I ripped them out and started over. The next 3 tore my fingers ( and the knitting needle) up. I found another knitting needle and knocked the last one out in a few minutes easy peasy. I don't know what I was doing wrong.

**ulyssesjones** · 01-23-2011, 18:38

You probably won't find a fid that small. I use a small crochet needle to push through the rope to open up the braid and then I use a darning needle much like this,

http://www.amazon.com/Darning-Needle.../dp/B002HR0YI2

You can get them at walmart.

A lot of people also use a piece of stiff wire.