Garda Hitch Line

[Little Weasel]

Trying some new suspensions on the Speer. I have extra rings and want to try the Garda. Should I use 3mm Amsteel or 2.8mm Spyderline?

[Little Weasel]

I believe I have answered my question after reading some other posts about Amsteel tendency to slip under a load unless care is taken in constructing alternative knots.

[GrizzlyAdams]

I've noticed that the unsheathed braided ropes (Vectran, Amsteel) get quite pinched and flattened between the rings; I don't know for sure that it harms the rope, but I'm not taking chances. I'm using 3.8mm Spyderline now. The core seems to resist the pinching much better.

I guess I'd try the 2.8mm Spyderline first....but I graded up to 3.8mm after a strand of 2.8mm used on the suspension snapped at a knot on me. YMMV

Grizz

[Little Weasel]

With 1½+ the load rating of the 3.8 over the 2.8 I might opt for the 3.8. I was trying to get by with the 2.8 to save the 2-3 ounces in difference in 40 ft of rope, assuming I should use about 20 ft per end since I have the rings close to the whipping and have to cover the distance from the rings and tree twice.

[GrizzlyAdams]

there are solutions where you don't need to double up the rope. The ones I can think of involve using a Marlinspike hitch and a toggle at the tree.

Observe


There are a number of postings on this, search under "Marlinspike hitch". Really simple. You essentially make a slip knot in the webbing and stick a toggle in the loop.

Once you have that, you can approach the suspension from the point-of-view of hanging something off that toggle. To pick not so random an example



a bit of loop that has the rings. Now you can run rope from hammock to the rings and do a Garda hitch. Or, if you prefer, you can put the rings next to the hammock (attached by cord to the whipping), and take some of that 3.8mm Spyderline that has a fixed loop at one end that you drape over the Marlinspike toggle, then take to the rings at the hammock-side.

Grizz

[Little Weasel]

It seems that Annapolis Performance and all other dealers of the 3.8 in black are out of stock. I hope New England Rope has not stopped making the line. I placed an order will Layline, which sells it a little cheaper, but have been advised it will be some time before I get the line unless I opt for the wild colors.