Catastrophic Failure

I made a DIY HH style hammock for a friend from 1.9oz Ripstop from Hancocks Fabric. On a recent trip, it died, on it's first use. The fabric tear started about where his heels were and progressed rapidly all the way to the butt area until it the hammock was no longer occupied (it dumped him). The failure was not in or near any seam or stitching and had nothing to do with the design. I think I got a hold of some faulty fabric. He probably weighs 205# and it was real DWR ripstop.

Just an FYI to the group.

I know it is a stupid question... was he wearing his boots into the hammock? Anything in the pockets also has the potential for damaging the fabric and cause that kind of a failure. NOTE: I am not saying the fabric was fine... Although in my experience if the fabric was faulty enough to cause that kind of failure I would think you would have seen it while you were making it. There are several things that can cause that kind of collapse.

Sorry to hear about the dumping. Funny how we have the tendency towards blaming the victim these days. ;) Hope nothing was seriously hurt besides the hammock.

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Originally Posted by NCPatrick

Sorry to hear about the dumping. Funny how we have the tendency towards blaming the victim these days. ;) Hope nothing was seriously hurt besides the hammock.

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Hey... I'm not blaming the victim... I've been there myself. I've punched a hole in good fabric and I've found nasty patches while I've been sewing. Just saying...

I have a spot in my DIY hammock that I think the valve from my therarest was pushed against it when I was getting in or out . Not a hole but a stress mark and it worries me every time I go camping. This gives a hole new meaning to "going to ground" :).

There was definitely something wrong in there somewhere. I guess you're right Rev that a "post-mortem" is the only way to determine what it was.

Considering I've been sleeping (lately) in a single layer 1.1, and I'm 210lbs (with no issues)

I'd have to agree that something happened to start that failure.... Strung too tight, or fabric... I understand Deet isn't nice to fabrics, but nylon???

Hope nothing more than his pride was hurt... Adds new meaning to the words "going to ground"