"problem" with straps

[Doctari]

Last night I slept in my hammock (as usual), sometime around 06:00 it started to rain, hard. About 30 minutes (I guess, I was asleep) I felt water running down my left arm, so along the bottom of the hammock as I was laying somewhat on that side.

Here is how I am set up:

1" webbing, about 25' long, 6.4' from center are loops that I clip my Byer hammock to with carabinars then the binars hook over the webbing. Over everything is a SG tarp like Neo uses. The trees are 16' apart, so about 1.5' of webbing shows out from under the tarp at each end. There are twists in the webbing (as suggested here) about 5 turns.

On rising from getting soaked for the first time, I re-positioned the tarp to be sure the webbing was as covered as possible and that the hamock & binars are totally covered. I went back to bed as the rain stopped. about 1/2 hr later it started to rain, I smiled & went back to sleep. 08:30 I woke to sleeping in a puddle. actually what woke me was being dripped on from the ridgeline. Under me I had "tossed" a plastic bag, it was SOAKED, by the water dripping off the bottom of my hammock. The ground around it was dry, my tarp was NOT leaking. The ridgeline/webbing was totally soaked.

After I got up for the morning, I watched the water: the webbing in the rain was obviously WET, however water was steadily dripping off the knots under the tarp, a bit less was dripping off the binars, & still more off the loops for/of the hammock. The lines to the hammock felt dry at the south end, damp at the north end. A slight breeze was from the west. When laying in the hammock I could feel the water flowing down to me with my hands, it came from BOTH/EITHER end, a very thin stream, but noticable none the less. I could not feel any with my feet, but when I switched positions I could still feel water from the south end of the hammock. I was still being driped on from above.

What saved my sleeping bag somewhat was my kilt being used as a pillow absorbed alot of the water and some water was dripping thru the hammock.

This was only annoying here at home, I simply took down my "camp" & tossed everything in the basement to dry. But on the trail, having to carry all that wet gear (my kilt Aproxamatly doubled in weight, the sleeping bag was way heavier) & sleeping in a wet bag for days.

Any suggestions for a cure? This did not happen when I used the rope, I just woke up on the ground. Dry, but on the ground as nylon rope stretches when wet.

My thoughts/ideas:
Twist the webbing so much it looks like rope, then add drip lines.
Add drip lines to each individual line on the hammock (there are 20 of them, 10 at each end).
Going back to ground, :eek:
Adding a "raincoat" for the webbing that is exposed. Something like snakeskins I suppose. Altho as I always set up the tarp with the same orientation I could add "extentions" to go over the webbing, much like an umbrella. 2 - 3 ft each end should do. Hate adding the weight.
Going back to the rope, but it sags so much I need to tighten it about 3 to 4 times a night, not fun, specally in the rain.

I want to keep my current tarp & hammock. I love hanging from the webbing: no sag, easy to set up, No need for tree huggers.

HELP!!!

I DO NOT want to go back to ground!!! :eek: :mad: :(


Thank you!

Doctari.

[jlb2012]

one approach mentioned in the hammockcamping group over on yahoo was to use a sock for a drip line - tie the sock around the strap where you would have put a drip line on a rope

[Alligator]

I think you've already read about my getting wet, but what I found to help was a cotton bandana around the 20 support lines. I didn't regard it as a good solution though. Since you're tarp covers these lines, a bit of cotton bandana further up, on the webbing straps but under the tarp might do the trick. I'd prefer to avoid using a sock because a pair of wet socks is heavy. Or maybe a strip of camp towel.

[StarLyte]

one approach mentioned in the hammockcamping group over on yahoo was to use a sock for a drip line - tie the sock around the strap where you would have put a drip line on a rope

I recently found this same problem in another thread a few weeks ago, but I can't find it now. The solution is the same mentioned above, make a drip line. Good luck.

[Doctari]

So far the concensus sems to be some sort of drip line system. That is what I thought I suppose. I think I was mostly startled by this development & that confused me :rolleyes:

If memory serves, a light rain had no effect on me getting wet, but last night was a typical midwest gullywasher.

I think, maybe, my response will be to put a 1" wide 7" to 9" long piece of cotton material (I'm thinking old Tee shirt) on the ridgeline just inside the loops, And 'heavy duty" cotton thread on each of the support lines for the hammock. I am thinking that in a similar rain this solution will only help reduce, not solve the problem. I think making double driplines may be a good idea, one before & one after the loops.

Thanks for all the responses so quick. If anymore have other ideas or even confirming the ones presented already, PLEASE post them.


Doctari.

[Just Jeff]

You know those plastic barretts little girls use? How about getting a small piece of cotton, like a shred of bandana, and clipping it to the webbing with the barrett. That way the barrett will keep the cotton in contact with the webbing all the way across. Clip it on at an angle so it channels the water off the end.

Maybe that will work? I like to use my bandana during the day so I'd rather not soak it if I have another option. Not sure this will work as well as the bandana, though.

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

Years ago, we tied a knot and slipped a plastic washer with the dished side toward the tree over it. This kept water from running down our ropes. Not sure if this could be adapted to yur situation or not as I have little hammock experience.

[Doctari]

You know those plastic barretts little girls use? How about getting a small piece of cotton, like a shred of bandana, and clipping it to the webbing with the barrett. That way the barrett will keep the cotton in contact with the webbing all the way across. Clip it on at an angle so it channels the water off the end.

Maybe that will work? I like to use my bandana during the day so I'd rather not soak it if I have another option. Not sure this will work as well as the bandana, though.

Doctari smacks self in head!!!! Hard :D

That just may work.

I have to go get some, BigLots here I come. It's a shame I had only boys. No barretts laying around here.

I carry 2 bandanas, don't want to "tie them up" during the night, so to speak.

Thanks Jeff!!


Doctari.

[Amigi'sLastStand]

If JJ barrett idea doesnt work, instead of a bandana or cotton, use those cheap shammies from Wallies. I use them as a small towel and sweat bandana. They hold a ton of water and ringout almost completely dry. Good luck Doc.