So, I was lucky enough to grab one of the Safari models on sale from Hennessy a few weeks back. My cost from them, $49.00, 64.00 shipped. This was the model missing the bug net, with the classic bottom entry. Since it’s been raining off and on here, I had to hang the Hammock up inside to start my mods. I wanted to stitch up the classic entry, and add a “mod 4” 2qzq style bug net to my hammock. I also wanted to add, the cinch buckle conversion on Just Jeff’s hammock site (tothewoods.net), and add a few tie off points along the sides for an under quilt.

The Hennessy Safari Deluxe Classic as recieved


Weight of Safari Hammock, less bug net, stuff sack, and straps.


I ordered a few things the same day I placed my order for the hammock. Starting with Backwoods Daydreamer, diygearsupply.com.
I ordered the following:
30 foot YKK #5 Coil Zipper, only needed 21 feet.
X6 Double tab Zipper Sliders
X12 Slim line Zipper Pulls, 6 each side, inside and out, three zippers per side
30 foot 1” Polyester webbing, for suspension straps
Total W/ Shipping 34.95


Next I ordered from Wilderness Logics:
X2 carabiners for Suspension
8 Foot 7/64 Amsteel Blue for Cinch Buckle HH Conversion
X2 pack #0 NightIze S Biners (4total) for UQ
4 Yards No-see-um Bug mesh 56” wide, only used 10 feet
Total $28.00 free shipping as I ordered a TQ & UQ

4 Yards Bug net weight


I also order 2 sets of 1” cinch buckle from onerope1.com (4 total)
$17.95


Finally I had to pick up a bit of goodies like thread, marking pencil, pins, cord locks, and scrap Rip stop nylon from JoAnne Fabrics, about 14 bucks.
My total cost for a custom HH Safari with dual full zip Bug mesh, closed classic entry, and cinch buckle suspension with 15’ of webbing straps each side and Carabiners was $158.90.

The Next two Pictures show my finished Cinch buckle Conversion. Conversion instructions can be found here http://www.tothewoods.net/JeffsHikingPage.html.



After removing the Velcro from my classic entry hammock, I added a double stitch to the material in order to make sure I didn’t pop a foot through in the middle of the night. The nice thing about removing the Velcro from the HH is that Hennessy adds the Velcro strips last. Meaning you don’t have to worry about the black trim pulling free when removing the Velcro stitching from the hammock edges. The trim is stitched in separately, and will stay put. I had to hang my hammock in the study from the window and a corbel, so I’m sorry if the pics are not super clear.


I then started at one end and pinned in the coil zipper to the hammock edges. Some sites and forums suggest making a cutout in order to precut the bug netting and attached the zipper to the net first. I didn’t have much luck playing with that idea, loose edges, so I strung the hammock the way I would hang it, and pinned in the zipper first. I made sure to add a few extra inches to each end to tidy thing up when finished.


Following and pinning the factory HH edge I made sure to pin and fold the area near the Asym tie off so the zipper would stitch in well. I had also split the threads in spots along the factory HH for tie out points for my UQ. You can see the added tabs sewn down in other photos.


After stitching in the zippers, I laid out the bug net over the hammock and started to pin it to the newly stitched coil zipper. I made sure the cords from the Asym tie out were pulled out to help with the pinning of the bug mesh. I had almost a full yard more No-see-um than needed (but used later).



It was at this point I had an “OH CRAP” moment! No matter how I pinned in the mesh, it simply wasn’t wide enough for the Safari! I had the length no problem, but I had tested the width from my Explorer Deluxe before ordering. The Safari is much wider than the Explorer! I stopped and did an internet search with no luck on a wider bug mesh, I had to use what I had already purchased. But I really didn’t want to try and seem together two pieces of netting!


The only thing I could do was cut the scrap of JoAnne ripstop to fill in the space. At first I hated the idea, but after cutting folding and pinning the ripstop to the zipper and net, the finish didn’t look too bad.



I then took the extra bug net and stitched up a mesh pocket for the inside of each of the ripstop nylon bits I had added. I figured since I couldn't see through it, I may as well make good use of it. The next two pictures are from inside the hammock. They show the added mesh pockets to the filler ripstop panels.



After stitching one side of the bug mesh to the zipper, I retighten my pins on the other side, and proceeded to finish up sewing the net. I also added a bit of Nylon to each end of the hammock where the netting attaches to clean up the look.


I’ve never really like the metal zipper pull tabs. A lot of folks attach the corded pulls to the metal tab itself, but I cut them off with a pair of wire snips. I then threaded a peace of cut cord from an old Hennessy tarp and attached my zipper pulls. Make sure the cord is thick enough to work with the pulls, but thin enough to fit through the zipper hole without pulling through the tiny gap at the end. I had to go back and cut my cord a bit longer, to short the first try.




This is the finished hammock! It took way longer than expected, 5 hours total. So it’s probably worth it to have the guys at 2qzq do it for you if sewing isn’t your thing. Without a factory bug net to work with, it was tougher than I thought!


I’d made a Bishops sack for my Explorer, so I switched out the thicker tie off cord with the remainder of my thinner Hennessy line, and stuffed my Safari in the Bishop for a final weight in. The total includes My Safari Deluxe, new netting with zippers, stitched up original classic bottom entry, 1” cinch buckle conversion, two 15’ webbing straps and carabiners. Not too shabby for a hammock as big as the Hennessy Safari!


Let me know what you guys think.

My next project is to figure out how to add the bug mesh stuff sack inside the hammock end. I purposefully added the piece of nylon to one end for that reason. Just couldn't figure out how to do it like I've seen on other hammocks.