I like Hammocks.

[Sanji]

I kinda cheat when tieing my Hesseny Hammock up. I use a device from Hitchcraft.net http://www.hitchcraft.net/ very easy and sturdy to setup fast and adjust too. I use the Monster ropetie version.. Shame about your karabiner breaking, seems ya need some stronger locking ones, ya prob find some cheap climbing grade type.

 

[No Idea]

Hi Sanji

Do you use two rings or a ring and a carabine on the hammock end of your ropes to stop water running into your hammock?

The carabine that broke was on that end.

It was a very small marine one made out of 1/8" wire, which straightened out under my weight.

For now, my kid just tied it back on, but long term I will put another stronger one on as it means I can take the ropes off easily if I want to use my hammock as a sleeping bag or a bag and bivi.

Im trying to sort it out so its multi purpose.

I know....

Greedy

 

[Sanji]

i dont use any carabiners or rings, not had any leaking problem with the monster ropetie.. you could use two carabiners or 1 and a ring, either way it should stop the water, as long as its covered by tarp.

 

[Highbinder]

I use carabiners at each end of my hammock. Find it useful to clip my UQ to, makes it easier to add or remove my ridgeline, can hook up my bag off the ground, somewhere to put my coat, etc etc. If I were to hook it up without a carabiner I'd just use a spare piece of cord tied on to act as a drip stop.

 

[No Idea]

Hi Sanji

Hi Highbinder

I havent had any water inside my hammocks to date, despite hammocking in some unbelievably bad weather and in some really stupid places.

However, I will use my hammocks as sleeping bags indoors and also as bivvi bag/ sleeping bags outside. In these circumstances, it is easier if you can unhook the ropes, which is why I want carabines. I also want to stop using my tree huggers when hanging in the grden as it isnt doing them any good so I need to be able to unhitch them easily.

However, I will get stronger caribines from now on.

I dont need a tensioner as that simple knot I use is so easy that even my little one has mastered it and its more than adequate. It also allows me to only have one length of rope from the hammock to the tree.

 

[No Idea]

Good news...

Just finished working my way through all my posts and now I can share some more stuff....

 

[Robbi]

robbi grabs a beer, settles down and waits for more stuff

 

[No Idea]

It was a really nice day.

Too nice to waste.

A Saturday.

I decided that I would take the kids out for a nice afternoon on the boat.

We loaded up the sails and all the bits and pieces and were ready to go.

I carefully checked the weather forecast.

Then checked it again.

It said there would be a steady 10 mph wind from the South.

The harbour mouth is to the South.

Not much chance of me accidentally ending up out in the English Channel today.

Just getting in the car when the phone goes...

 

[No Idea]

LEAVE IT ! ! !

Too late.

Little one had picked it up.

Mum!

Grrr.....

Guess what! We are going boating!

Er....Yes... Dad! SHe wants to talk to you!.

Bugger.

Er... Yes?

I know you usually see them today, but.....

Ok...Ok....

Sod it.

Whatever.

Im going boating.

 

[No Idea]

Dropped the kids off at Tower Park.

Picked up her boyfriend.

Not quite what I had in mind.

However.....

Boating...

 

[No Idea]

Just about to go when she yelled that she had changed her mind.

She wanted to go boating too.

Er.....

She hates boats, water, fish, fresh air.....

Er......

 

[No Idea]

So there was me, the kids, the wife and her boyfriend all crammed in the car heading for the slipway with the boat on the back.

 

[No Idea]

Got to the slip and had a hell of a job trying to get the mast up.

Its 26 ft long.

You are supposed to jam the bottom end under the trailer wheel, then walk it upright, pick it up and then reach across the boat to stick it in its slot in the middle.

Have you ever tried holding a 26 ft length of ally at arms length in front of you?

There was only a small gust of wind, but enough to almost pull it out of my grasp.

I ended up staggering backwards towards a new rangerover with a jetski trailer on the back.

I threw the mast the other way rather than drop it on the rangerovers roof.

I missed the idiot who was trying to do a 3 point turn in a lotus between the boats.....just.

Not sure how the insurance works out if you damage a car like that.

Managed to get the mast up and tied in.

Decided I needed another way of doing that which isnt so risky.

 

[No Idea]

The wife had finally decided that going boating probably wasnt her greatest Idea and was starting to talk about going to the pics instead.

Not happening.

I WAS going boating.

 

[No Idea]

It usually takes me 30 mins to throw the boat together on my own.

45 mins if the kids help, or an hour with the wife and boyfriend helping too.

What with dropping the mast, I was getting close to a fit of the screaming abdabs.

 

[No Idea]

Got the boat in the water.

Got her in the boat. Easier said than done as she hates waterand wont go in it.

Of course, she is thin and waif like as are all ladies (just in case she is reading this), but I nearly put my back out trying to carry her the 5 ft to the boat.

Neither her or her boyfriend had been on the boat before. However, once they had a spray suit on each, something like a waterproof set of pretty overalls, they decided they were up to the challenge.

 

[No Idea]

Normally, you all sit up on the side of the boat to get it to balance against the push of the wind against the sails.

However, I was pretty sure that one or both of them would manage to fall out of the boat if they tried that, so I got them both sat on the floor in the front with their backs on the thwart like propper passengers - sort of.

Kids on, pushed off, jumped on off we went.

Easy.....

 

[No Idea]

Made it most of the way across the harbour with no problems.

She was a little put out that she hadnt seen any whales or dolphins (there arnt any in the harbour to my knowledge).

Then she started grumbling that she was feeling cold.

 

[No Idea]

Our main problem was trying to set the front sail with them in the way of the ropes.

He would move over, but on the other tack, she would grumble.

Well, grumble more...

SHe was still grumbling about being cold.

She had a thick jumper on, a waterproof suit and a life jacket.

Eventually, my little one noticed there was a lot of water on her side of the boat.

I have No Idea how she managed to sit on the bailer. Its actually 6 inches behind the thwart that she was leaning on.

But she did.

SOmehow, instead of letting water out, it was letting it in.

Maybe we just wernt going fast enough.

 

[No Idea]

Bucket.

Bailing Bucket.

er......


Missing.

Seems its still in the car.

We were out in the middle.

She was having a screaching fit as we were obviously going to drown any minute....