Hammock for a big guy: what would you do?

Howdy folks! I was hoping to make a hammock for a friend who is blessed with substantial proportions. He's a camper, but not a backpacker...not worried about weight. I don't have exact figures, but I'd guess his height is ~ 6'5"; weight oscillates between a low of ~260 with usual weights closer to 300. I was thinking gathered end, tablecloth double layer for extra support and for pad options, hoping to end up with an 11 foot long hammock that's wide enough for a larger individual, whoopies (maybe larger than 7/64 Amsteel?) and straps.

Am I on the correct path? any suggestions, corrections, alterations in plan needed?

Thanks in advance!
Bruce

I'd say that should be plenty strong to hold your buddy up off the ground. Although he would likely be fine with the 7/64 amsteel whoopies. That line is tougher than you think it is. But 1/8 inch is much easier to splice. :D

I'm close at 6'2" and 220, i use a m50 hammock. What you are taking about will be fine.

The tablecloth hammock will be fine. You wouldn't even need to double it unless you just wanted to. Of course, a place for a pad is nice :)

My DIY hammock is 11', 9' ridgeline using 1.9 ripstop... 7/64 whoopies... I let someone I work with try it thats 400lbs... he laid in it for about an hour... No issue for that amount of time...

He shares the same measurements as I do. For comfort sake in my testing its more about hammock length than width. Ive done the shorter but really wide and didn't like it as much as my longer "standard width".

I'm 6'4", currently 370 lbs.

Strengthwise, my first two were double layer 1.1 ripstop, and I've had no issues with them. I made one with an end channel, and it works fine, but I'm still a little nervous in it. For the other, I gathered the end, and then tied a sheet bend in it using a short continuous loop of nylon strap. Very happy with that method.

I bought a spool of 7/64 Amsteel, so that's all I've used. The problem is that you have shallow hang angles if your trees are far apart. The stresses are huge. I've never feared for the cord breaking, but it gets stretched and deformed looking at the bury--I'm not happy with it. I've ended up the whoopie sling attached to a long cord that goes through a soft shackle on the toggle, and then back to the hammock--this effectively cuts the stress on the whoopie sling in half. I also use the 7/64 for the structural ridge line--very important if your trees are far apart.

Size-wise, I aimed for 12' lengths, and ended up at about 11'6" after hemming and tieing off. I'm very happy at this length, but I wouldn't go shorter.

for my first 2 set of whoopie slings, I used 1/8 because that is what the local company had.
Very happy with splicing. And heck , not much heavier than 7/64.

I used the one set continuously for over 6 months. No problem.
Granted, I/m less than half the size of you guys, but that was my experience with the 1/8.

I made mine with the 2.8 plain weave nylon that DIYGearsupply sells. I'm 285, and it does great with a single layer. Even though mine is technically a double, the 2nd layer holds none of my weight since it is totally detachable.

Thanks for the feedback all! I was thinking DL would be needed. Good to know that's more of a "nice to have", than a "have to".

Re: Amsteel... Again, good to know that the 7/64 will work fine. I've not yet done my own splicing....this would be a great opportunity to learn!

Bruce