I carry 60" straps and even then, a couple of times this year I've wanted to hang off a tree where that length is insufficient. I also carry at least one, more often times 2 lengths of extra Vectrus, each 6' long. It is easy to extend the length of a tree hugger with a bit of cord
- put a bowline in one end of the rope extender
- tie the other end to a hugger, using a slippery double sheet bend
- loop the webbing around the tree and pass the webbing through the bowline
- tighten up a little and put some trail sticks between the cord and tree, a la turk's suggestion
- put the marlin spike hitch on the webbing as before
this way I can extend when I need to, but at a lower weight and bulk than the almost-always-too-long straps.
Grizz
Well, I didn't read all 17 pages of posts, but I spent the afternoon playing with this concept and ended up switching my HH from cinch buckles to the WS. I completely removed the cord from the HH, replacing it with Amsteel blue I had on hand. After looking at it a while I realized I could whip the hammock end after the HH pattern, and then bury the end of the Amsteel. I buried it about 8". Makes for a nice and clean end. Has anyone tried this? Is this a good idea? It seems to be holding up so far...but have only weighted the hammock a short time. My guess it that the same principle that applies to the UCR should apply here as well?
2QZQ Hammock Specialties
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Hennessy Hammock zipper modifications
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If I'm understanding you correctly, you made a Whoopie Sling, only instead of the fixed eye on one end, you used that end for the HH using the same whipping method that Hennessy does.
If that's what you did, then it will work very well. The adjustable loop on the Whoopie Sling works very well and the Hennessy whipping has been proven many times. So both parts should work together very well.
Enjoy.
Those who sacrifice freedom for safety, have neither.
Do not dig your grave with your teeth. (Unknown)
Sounds like rather than finishing the wrap with a bowline you buried the end. So it is an eye splice whose loop is whipping the hammock end. That's nice but you should also anchor the bury with some thread, or constrict it more with a rope whipping as someone recently suggested.
Grizz
Thanks Grizz! I think there is some thread around here somewhere!
2QZQ Hammock Specialties
Specializing in:
Hennessy Hammock zipper modifications
Sewn on Tarp doors, Pole Pockets, and Grizz Beaks
Ridgeline and gear organizers, peak storage bags, UQ protectors, 2QZQ tree table!
Ken, I am about to change out my HH suspension for Whoopie Slings. I plan on using the bowline method to keep the length down. If I do an 8 inch bury (with stitches) at each end of the hammock instead of the bowline, then my hammock effectively becomes 8+8= 16 inches longer. If I add in the whoopie bury of about 10 inches at both end I get 10+10+16 = 36 inches longer.
The extra 16 inches makes a difference as the two test trees in my back yard are exactly 12 ft apart. My HH hammock is 9.5 feet long + 20 inch for Whoop Slings = 11.2 ft. So not a lot of wiggle room. I figure the bowline has been holding me for the last year without a problem so even though the knot weakens the rope, I'm no worse off than before.
Last edited by SlowBro; 07-26-2009 at 17:34.
-SlowBro
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."-Theodore Roosevelt
Yep, I followed this same philosophy when assembling an UCR, tied the loop off because a bury adds length that increases the minimum hanging distance between trees. That cord tests to over 2000 lbs, so even if the bowline were to weaken it by half I'm still OK and in the same state as I was before tinkering around with this constrictor stuff.
I love the technique of finishing a loose end with a bury, and putting eye-splices in places where the only cost is a little bit more cord, and not changing some fundamental limits can can be avoided or at least mitigated by using a knot.
the knot-headed Grizz
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