[at-l] Hang your hammock with NO knots.

[shane@theplacewithnoname.com (Shane Steinkamp)]

> I think this was posted before, but I just got my HH and would
> like to know how set up the hammock using carabineers. I am
> klutzy with knots and ropes.

Sorry to cross post this across the globe, but I thought it might be of
interest.  I was saving it for my review on BPGT if I ever got a Hennessy,
but I'm SO proud of myself for being so clever that I'm bragging to everyone
who will listen...  :) This probably means that I'll find out that someone
already uses this method and I will be much deflated.

Ok, here's a new method, never before used.  I will have a patent pending on
this 'knotless hammocking' in a few weeks, so you may all have to pay me
royalties for it.  :)  You can now set up your hammock and never have to tie
another knot so long as you live.   You can adjust the tension instantly
with no fear of slippage.  I just worked this out for Bob with his new
Hennessy, since his knot skills aren't very good, and it works great.
Personally, I am lazy, and Tom's knot is fairly difficult to understand from
the illustration on the bag, so I wanted something different.

You will need:

Hammock w/ropes.
2 Carabineers
1 Webbing strap, 6-8 feet long.
1 tie down strap available from any auto parts store.

(We discarded the straps that came with the Hennessy because they were too
short (about 36").  We have BIG trees down here in the south, and we needed
something more substantial.)

Tie the carabineers to the hammock ropes as close to the hammock on the
ridge line as you can.  If you have a Hennessy, this means that the
carabineers can be no closer to the hammock than the maximum extension of
the canopy on the ridge line. (I think that's about 12 feet, depending on
your model...)

Ok, now you have the carabineers tied to the hammock.  Now get your webbing
strap.  Tie loops in both ends using a double figure of eight knot in the
ends of the webbing strap.  In other words, fold 10 inches or so of the
strap together and tie an overhand knot.
<http://www.realknots.com/knots/sloops.htm>

Now you have the Carabineers tied to the hammock, and loops in your webbing.

Next we need a tie down strap, such as this:
<http://www.jcwhitney.com/product.jhtml?CATID=174529&BQ=jcw2>

There are actually two types of tie down straps.  Ratcheting and
non-ratcheting.  I used the non-ratcheting type, because they are lighter.
The first thing you notice about tie down straps is that they are extremely
heavy.  This is because of the steel S hooks on each end.  Cut the S hooks
off and discard.  The webbing and tensioning device are very light, as you
will notice.  (3-4 ounces?)  You will be left with the tensioning device and
a length of webbing.  Cut 18 inches or so off the webbing, and tie it to the
back of the tensioning device, then tie a loop on the other end so that you
have some place to clip the carabineer.  Feed the long piece of webbing you
have left into the tensioner, then tie a loop in the other end just like the
loops you tied above.

Now you have the carabineers tied to the hammock, a long piece of webbing
with loops, a tensioning device with a loop on the back side, and a long
piece of webbing fed into the tensioner with a loop on the far end.

Now you can set up that hammock in less than 60 seconds and tie no knots.
Find 2 trees of an appropriate diameter about 15 feet or so apart.

Ready?  GO!

Unroll hammock between trees.  Wrap webbing with two loops around tree #1 as
many times as you can and still clip the carabineer between the two loops.
Clip carabineer #1 to loops.  Move to tree #2.  Pass long webbing strap
w/loop end around tree.  pass tensioning device through loop.  Pull until
the large lasso loop you have just made pulls tight to the tree.  Clip
carabineer #2 to webbing loop on back of tensioning device.  Grasp loose end
of webbing in tensioning device and pull tight.

Voila! Done with no knots tied.  If the hammock stretches a little, and
there is some slack in your ridgeline, simply grasp the loose end of the
webbing in the tensioner and pull it tight.  If you have used the ratcheting
type of tensioner, which is heavier, just crank it tight.  No need to untie
knots and retie.  To break it down, depress the lever on the tensioning
device and then unclip the carabineers.  If you wind up between two trees
that are too far apart, and have no other options, you can untie and retie
one or both of the carabineers, but with enough webbing in the tensioner
(10' or so) you won't have any problems.

How's that?

Shane