Putting a UCR on a Hennessy

**Just Jeff** · 07-31-2010, 09:37

I did some searching and didn't find exactly what I'm looking for, though I have a hard time believing it's not on here somewhere.

Has anyone put a UCR on a Hennessy simply by sliding the amsteel sheath over the stock HH cords? The thumb loop would be on the bottom of the amsteel and the biner to connect to the huggers would be on the far end of the amsteel (away from the hammock), with the HH cord sliding thru to be adjusted.

It seems like this would work on the Backpacker since the cord is pretty narrow, and there's more friction with the HH cords than with amsteel.

Anyone?

I'm thinking this would be a very easy mod since I don't even have to remove the HH cords.

**angrysparrow** · 07-31-2010, 09:39

I haven't seen that before.

What is the outside diameter of the cording on the HH? I would imagine that it could work, but you might have to buy a larger size of Amsteel than is typically used.

**Just Jeff** · 07-31-2010, 09:40

Not sure exactly, but it's smaller than the 1/8" spyderwire I bought...so probably somewhere around 7/64".

HH Explorers have much thicker cords.

**Ken** · 07-31-2010, 09:44

Hasn't the outside sheath on some of the Hennessy cord failed before?
That could be an issue if the sheath is carrying most of the load and it fails between the ucr and the hammock. Just a thought.

Ken

**angrysparrow** · 07-31-2010, 09:50

Originally Posted by Ken

That could be an issue if the sheath is carrying most of the load and it fails between the ucr and the hammock. Just a thought.

That's a good point. If the HH has a sheathed cord it will by relying on that for much of the friction in the splice. That might abrade in a different manner than the single braid cords that are normally used for spliced slings.

It might be worth an experiment, though.

**Just Jeff** · 07-31-2010, 11:51

It does have a sheathed cord.

**Frawg** · 07-31-2010, 12:21

IMHO, Ken is right on. A UCR configuration as described would put most of the load on the sheath, although the constriction would probably also squeeze the sheath around the inner cord(s), transferring some of the load to the innards. Feeling gutsy?

Edit: As posted in another thread, deer man uses a friction hitch with the stock Hennessy rope in the same way a UCR would be used. Perhaps the concentrated force of the hitch transfers more load to the core than a UCR would. Food for thought, anyway.

**Just Jeff** · 07-31-2010, 22:20

I think the sheath has failed in the past from abrasion, and usually either b/c of knots or the sawing motion of the cord on the tree huggers. I don't know that the sheath has failed on normal use...someone please correct me if this isn't the case.

I think it's worth watching to see if this would cause the sheath to fail, but I also wonder if the constriction would transfer enough load to the inner core that it wouldn't matter. If it did transfer too much force, I bet I could see it distorting the sheath right at the end of the amsteel.

This may be worth testing, at least. I'm planning it for Joker's hammock, so it may be ok at his weight even if it's not something I would use for an adult. I'll test it at my weight, and if it works then it should be safe for his weight for a few years.

Now to convince my wife to suspend my internet-buying-probation, right at back-to-school-buying time.