Shortening a ridgeline

**Roundtrip Raven** · 09-15-2016, 16:37

I have a fixed structural ridgeline with two fixed eye loops on both ends. I don't have the necessary splicing tools before my trip tomorrow. I was wondering if there was a way to shorten the ridgeline by tying a loop in the middle. First one I thought of was a sheet bend, but I was told that wasn't a good one to use if the line is going to be pulled and slackened constantly (from hanging and packing the hammock up), which causes the loops to fall out. My next consideration is the alpine butterfly loop. It seems to hold a load on both ends and is reasonably easy to undo.

Currently, the rope is 115 inches long right now, and I want to take off 15 inches.

**skyjacker** · 09-15-2016, 17:00

Are you using continuous loops? What about tying a slipknot on one end putting the spliced end through the slip knot and back onto the CL. When your done the slip knot should pull right out with some finesse.

**zukiguy** · 09-15-2016, 17:03

If you've got a mini-biner or other clip you can just open the gate and wrap turn after turn around the body until you take up the slack you want. That should be easy enough to adjust if you need to tweak the setup....

**SilvrSurfr** · 09-15-2016, 17:10

Which hammock has a 115" ridgeline, and why do you want to shorten it 15 inches? Your profile says you have a Dutch 11 ft. Hexon, which he would probably ship with a 109.56" ridgeline (83% of hammock length).

**Roundtrip Raven** · 09-15-2016, 17:43

Originally Posted by SilvrSurfr

Which hammock has a 115" ridgeline, and why do you want to shorten it 15 inches? Your profile says you have a Dutch 11 ft. Hexon, which he would probably ship with a 109.56" ridgeline (83% of hammock length).

I bought this hammock from someone online and he had said it was 11 feet. I just measured it and it is 120 inches long. I fixed my profile tto say 10 ft. Thanks! The ridgeline is 115" (I don't know why), but I definitely want a deeper sag. So max length 100" or even shorter.

**Roundtrip Raven** · 09-15-2016, 17:44

Originally Posted by zukiguy

If you've got a mini-biner or other clip you can just open the gate and wrap turn after turn around the body until you take up the slack you want. That should be easy enough to adjust if you need to tweak the setup....

I do have a regular climbing carabiner. I'll keep that as a backup in case the knots don't work out.

**Roundtrip Raven** · 09-15-2016, 17:49

Originally Posted by skyjacker

Are you using continuous loops? What about tying a slipknot on one end putting the spliced end through the slip knot and back onto the CL. When your done the slip knot should pull right out with some finesse.

At first I became excited thinking it should work and also I was overcomplicating things (as usual). But when I tried the slip knot, the lash it is too slippery. I added in a backup slip knot, but after i pulled on the continuous loop and the ridgeline, the knot became undone. Then I tried the becket hitch, and that too slipped. Sigh* back to the drawing board.

**Chemguy** · 09-15-2016, 18:04

Could you tie a clove hitch around a toggle?

**tennistime99** · 09-15-2016, 18:05

Is one of the spiced eyes big enough to slip the carabiner through and attach it? Maybe make a truckers hitch loop and place it on the carabiner as well. That could temporarily take up some slack until you have more time to mess with it and better options. You could also just cut one end and use a bowline knot where you need it.

**ylnfrt** · 09-15-2016, 19:32

Originally Posted by zukiguy

If you've got a mini-biner or other clip you can just open the gate and wrap turn after turn around the body until you take up the slack you want. That should be easy enough to adjust if you need to tweak the setup....

I'm with zukiguy- you will get @ 1" per wrap, so 15 wraps should do it. Super easy to adj. if needed.