h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: How To Make A Hammock - A721540
Author: Cafram - [actually here for once!!] - U43948

Well *something* had to come of my day swearing at the sewing machine!

...other than a hammock, that is

Hi Cafram,

Two quick points.

I really had to think about the bit under 'Additions'. I suspect that you are using the tarp as a canopy, but it isn't clear in the description. In that case, you would have to tie down the four corners as well. Or do you mean something else?

The other one is about the sewing machine. The whole paragraph sounds sexist . Better to leave out the references to your mum or your gran, I think. I, for one, wouldn't have to do that!

Point taken on the sexism...my mum didn't even know how to use hers properly! I've mastered it now though (for hemming, at least )

Fixed on both counts (I think )

The asking for help on how to use a machine is now much better .

I'm still not there yet on the tarp. For ease, I've copied the bit, so I don't have to keep going back and forth.

'If you're going to be sleeping out in the rain, take a piece of bungie cord4 and a tarpaulin with you - string the bungie cord from end to end of your hammock, drape the tarp over and peg it down and out from the hammock (some short peices of rope amy be useful here), and you'll be snug and dry. Use bungie cord rather than rope, as the distance between the two ends of your hammock will change once you sit in it.'

You don't seem to be proposing to use the tarp as a canopy, although that would be perhaps a more elegant way of using it - like a tent over the hammock, tied independently to your supports, the the four ends guyed down.

If it's to be used as a cover, why not use two bunjies and use the.m diagonally. You might feel a bit like a trussed up piece of luggage, though. Would it cover your face? It might be a bit claustrophobic.

There are a couple of typos in this short bit - 'peices of rope amy'.

Oops! Typo of my own there! (the.m should be them)

I *am* proposing to use the tarp as a canopy! By tying the bungie cord from the ends of your hammock, there is at least a foot between you and the tarp, more if you have the hammock slacker. I'll see what I can do about fixing it up so it's clearer.

Dang - my a's always jump to the front of the word - I'm lucky there're no 'ahve's in there, or 'taht'!!

Fixed.

Better?

Well, I can't comment on the comfort or otherwise aspect (having never actually slept in a hammock) but I found the article to be very well written, quite clear and (as might be expected of a subbie) nicely organised. Good work!

Anyone else got any comments?

I thought it was a great entry. Very well written !

I have a question...have you ever used one of your hammocks on a camping trip or backpacking? and have you ever gotten stuck in the rain and had to use the tarp trick?

Hi,

I have some comments!!

I may be dense - so excuse me.

If I have it right, you have a rectangular piece of material with the short ends rolled back and sewed to form a loop through which you thread the short piece of rope? I would describe that as a "tunnel" rather than a loop. (Hmm tunnel's not ideal either.)

The rope's 20 cm and the hammock is a minimum of 1 m wide.

Do I then tie the two ends of the short rope to each other, to form a "ring"? Scrunching up the end of the hammock? If so, a single bowline won't do. A bowline on the bite might, but that's hard to do if the "bite" is in this tunnel, although you can thread the bitter end back on its self. This would use up a good portion of the 20 cms though. A fisherman's bend I can visualize.

Do I then tie the long piece onto this ring? If so, a sheet bend would be good.

Some hammocks have a wooden spacer across the ends to prevent them rolling together too much. Or a lot of thinner lines fan out from the end of the hammock, to be joined maybe 15-20 cms away.

Awu

Just to let you know that this entry has been scouted - can you let me know when all the updates have been included so I can process it?

Many thanks

Ashley

Good Entry! Can I just point out that it's 'bungee', not 'bungie'?

I know - I'm very slow.

I think I know how the bowline was intended to be used. You're forming a ring. But a bowline is not ideally suited to this. It's for making a loop that won't pull together OK - but the tension is normally on the standing part. A bowline can "flip" (German "umkippen") if you put tension only the loop itself. (So hard without a picture.) The fisherman's bend is much better suited.

Awu. - Much too late

Hey Guys,

As you know, this has been scouted, but I'm going to leave it in PR a little longer asI'm unclear as to whether or not it is ready.


To all Scouts, this entry is now freed up to be picked, but please ensure that all the info has been incorporated before clicking that magic button.

Many thanks,

Ashley

I don't like to intrude, but the authors internet access is fairly intermittent at the minute, but she should be on by Tuesday to give it the final polish and go-ahead

I changed it - the short bit of rope is actually 60cm - it's threaded through the loop (or tunnel) and the ends are tied together, to form a loop. One at each end. The way the bowline works is to have the loop through the tunnel, and the knot at the top of it...it takes up a lot less rope than the fishermans, though it's not as secure and doesn't look as nice.

A sheet bend is a flat know (like a reef knot) for joining two pieces of rope of uneven diameters together - it wouldn't work for tying a loop of rope to another piece of rope...I use a bowline, the loop of which passes through the loop of the short rope at the top of the hammock.

This sounds so much more complicated than it actually is!!

The wooden spacer idea is a good one, I haven't used it for this sort of hammock though, because mine is very portable - I take it hiking - you could quite easily stick sticks in the ends though, to make it stay open. I personally like the way mine wraps around me!

this entry(as you can see from it being moved) has been recomended and accepted

Congrats and for all!

here is the sub-ed page...

A737615