How much weight will 7/64 really hold?

[hppyfngy]

I've made a hammock for my large bro-in-law. It's a double layer Hancock ripstop I weighed as 1.8 oz/yd.

He weighs in around 230# but I've seen him weigh 250+#.

I know the specs, but don't have any experience with this weight range. Also his kids will probably use it and his son is about his size and there may be swinging and other careless/wreckless behavior that will stress the lines more than I ever would.

Any qualms about hanging his weight or more with 7/64 whoopies?

What do you big boys use?

[traftonm]

You will be ok with 7/64, I'm 230# and have been using the same woopie sling for about a year. About 40 nights total.

[Tendertoe]

I'm 260ish now.

Hung off Dynaglide in my more bloated days - pushing 280.

There are a couple 300+ pounders hanging off Dynaglide now.

Moral of the story - Dynaglide is rated at 1000 lbs. 7/64 Amsteel is rated at 1,600 lbs.

Chart below from Knotty I believe (whomever this chart is from, feel free to chime in as I saw this ages ago and saved it in my documents) -



As long as he is hanging at a 5 degree angle or greater he should be fine.

[rb_daniel]

Chart below from Knotty I believe (whomever this chart is from, feel free to chime in as I saw this ages ago and saved it in my documents) -

I think there are some typos in this. The second sample scenario on the left confused me for a minute. Still really interesting info, though.

[opie]

276# here and I use 7/64. There are several 400#+ hangers using 7/64.

Below is myself and both kids in a ENO double hanging off 7/64....



And what it did to my pole...



Oh... and a 7/64 sling will fail between 1400 and 1600 pounds.

[BrianWillan]

I currently weight more than your brother and I use 7/64th amsteel whoopie slings for my hammock suspension with polyester tree straps that I tie a marlin spike hitch with. I've not had any issues with hanging many nights. The important thing to get right is your suspension angle as that will reduce the forces on your suspension to approximately your body weight.

As for fabric I use a BMBH and I believe is a 1.9 oz ripstop with an extra layer of it to form the pad pocket.

Cheers

Brian

[gmcttr]

...Also his kids will probably use it and his son is about his size and there may be swinging and other careless/wreckless behavior that will stress the lines more than I ever would...

I foresee less than optimal setup angles in addition to the above.

I spent too many years as a safety officer...I would go with 1/8" just to add in more margin for error.

[hppyfngy]

I foresee less than optimal setup angles in addition to the above.

"and there may be swinging and other careless/wreckless behavior"

I spent too many years as a safety officer...I would go with 1/8" just to add in more margin for error.

Yeah see that's what I'm more concerned about. These guys aren't going to camp in it, it's for recreational use down by the river and such. I know 7/64 will hold him if he gets in it and takes a nap. But ad in any sort of horseplay and I don't know what the forces would be.

I'm also inclined to go with 1/8 even though it seems unlikely to be necessary.

[Rain Man]

Yeah, I might just go with 1/8 anyway just for maximum safety...

Agreed. If they aren't hauling it on their back somewhere, no reason to not go with 1/8 for safety sake.

I'm also inclined to go with 1/8 even though it seems unlikely to be necessary.

I spent too many years as a safety officer...I would go with 1/8" just to add in more margin for error.

1/8th inch??? Don't you all mean 1/4th? 8/64ths rather than 4/64ths?

Rain Man

.

[gmcttr]

1/8th inch??? Don't you all mean 1/4th? 8/64ths rather than 4/64ths?

Rain Man

.

Ummm...not sure what you're thinking here (unless something is going whoosh over my head).

8/64" = 1/8" and starts off with 900 lbs additional breaking strength over 7/64" Amsteel Blue.