Jim, when I first started hammocking, I used those pocket 'net' hammocks from Walmart. Those things need to be hung very tautly just to be able to lay anywhere near flat. The ropes felt as tight as piano strings. The newer 'assym' style hammocks don't need to be hung tightly at all, and my guess is, because you are laying diagonal to the rope axis (outside the triangle) you are able to get much steeper sides to your "triangle". To make the trig work, the angles need to be measured after the hammock is loaded and the intersection would be about where your butt is. Maybe a 70-80 deg. angle at the 'butt point', vs. 30-40 deg. with the old net hammocks. Your math is right....just have to figure out how to measure an 'assym' hammock.
Now, having marveled in the amazingness of super-light beeners, have a look at the load ratings of this stuff: http://www.samsonrope.com/index.cfm?rope=192 (scroll down to the bottom for a chart)
Isn't this stuff a bit tricky to tie in knots (vis-a-vis splicing)?
Not really. It feels like soft ski rope and holds knots well. It's hollow, so you can make slings and splices easily. Yet again it will mess with your head....1/8" dia., 2500 lbs.???!!! I have a hard time trusting that. Here's some splicing instructions: http://www.samsonrope.com/index.cfm?page=28
This means that 7/64ths string could replace the Spectra on the Hennessey and save about 1 lb. That just doesn't sound right.
Registered: 09/23/02
Posts: 294
Loc: The State of Jefferson
Jim, The rope is Spectra which doesn't stretch much but the hammock itself stretches quite a bit. I couldn't measure the angle of the suspension lines without a helper, which I didn't have.
Dryer it may appear that that stuff takes traditional knots well, but considering the loads I suggest looking further if you want knots that are anywhere near the load strength, and be prepared to lose from 20% to 50 % of the load value if there is any kind of knot. The OLD carabiners were round and pretty big, the ropes going around them were not stressed too much, but the tiny new carabiners are thin and bending rope around them severely weakens it. So there is a major offset to the weight savings. I'll bet Camp doesn't mention that in their beener information. Personally I would use a triple or even quadruple fishemans knot, but please do not take this as tested advice. Go to the manufacturer for specific knot recommendations if you depend on those knots for your safety. I have some old Dolt rings which are circles about 1.5 inch OD and they have smoothly curved internal shape so that they are shaped like an old wide carabiner. They are immensely strong and were the preferred way of bending a rope around something besides a fat beener. Heres a photo of two original Dolt rings which were either forged or milled from solid rod, and on the bottom is a modern hollow version of much smaller diameter which is rolled from a stamping. Obviously the old Dolt ring would be less destructive to the rope, but of course the modern one is cheaper, lighter and available. They are used to set up anchors where a triangle to two sets of bolts and one looped rope downward, carabiners CANNOT take a three angle load.
the lower center ring is the modern one, the other two are original Dolt rings made by Dolt, they must be from the 60s. Jim
Edited by Jimshaw (02/06/1004:40 PM)
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These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.
it may appear that that stuff takes traditional knots well, but considering the loads I suggest looking further if you want knots that are anywhere near the load strength, and be prepared to lose from 20% to 50 % of the load value if there is any kind of knot.
Agree...knots I know. That would be the one of a couple downsides of using really thin lines as suspension rope. As a line gets smaller, the mechanical advantage knot bends/loops produce on itself is huge. That certainly makes sense for hardware, too. I'll typically wrap my suspension line 3-5 times around the tree, and tie off with a couple halfhitches. Fatter line also protects the tree if huggers aren't used, which I normally don't. My new beener is for use with hugger straps.
Tim, Mine is always going to be simple, minimalist. I rarely use a tree hugger strap....instead wrapping multiple raps of suspension line around the tree. No rings here, either. The beener is to allow for use of a truckers hitch (when using a hugger strap) and/or to hang my pack. Whoopie slings are interesting and I might go there someday. West Marine sells Amsteel Blue. It's nice see side by side comparisons of different lines.
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