Hit by Dutch: A Funny Story

**FireInMyBones** · 12-02-2011, 07:44

Yesterday, my uncle comes over for some uncle-nephew time. Yes, it is quite nice to be growing closer to my family. He has lost over 30lbs this last year so we were talking about going camping.

As it was a beautiful day, I ask if has ever been hammock camping, thinking I'd show him some of my gear. He had only ever slept in a tent. He has never even slept without the fly on, just in case it rained. I felt a little bad, so I decided to introduce him to my modified HHULBP. I also pulled out my DIY Hammock.

We went out to the area of trees I normally hang out in. I showed him how to set up and I climbed in the HH to show him the ease of getting in and out. As he was getting ready to climb in, I went over to my DIY. I had my back turned for a second and I hear a "snap, pop, ouch."

I turn around to see my uncle holding his head sitting in my hammock. When I heard the noise I thought he may have missed and landed on the ground, not that is not what happened. I had, earlier this year, modified my HH with a DIY Whoopie Sling suspension and a new ridgeline made out of 1.25mm z cord and a Dutch binner (this allows me to unclip the ridgeline so I can easily use the HH as a camp chair. I've never had an issue with this setup. My uncle snapped the 1.25mm cord and was smacked in the forehead by Dutch's binner. The hammock was fine, but I'll need to replace the ridgeline.

After checking to see if he was alright, we hung out talking about some of the ins and outs of hammock camping. He can not wait to try it. He loved the idea of falling asleep watching the stars on a clear night, not having to worry about laying on uneven ground being constantly pestered by a mole like rock or stick just popping up from time to time to say hello.

My uncle weighs around 190lbs. I weigh around 150lbs. This is the big reason I did not let him try my DIY hammock. I did not want him to rip the 1.1 nylon. The moral of the story? Know the weight limits of your materials and the forces to be acted on them. The good news? My uncle plans on selling his tent and having me make him a tarp and a personalized camping hammock approved for his weight.

Another one saved from the ground's cold hard surface.

**NCPatrick** · 12-02-2011, 07:48

Your Uncle is a great sport. I have family that will not go near my hammocks and view them with distrust, and they have never even attempted to get in.

**SlowBro** · 12-02-2011, 07:54

Yeah, I would agree, he is a good sport.

Sounds like you may have had the hammock strung a little tight if 190lb snapped the ridgeline. I know Hennessy diagrams show a straight line tree to tree, but it will work fine with some angle, too.

-Mark

**FireInMyBones** · 12-02-2011, 08:06

I had the ridgeline set for 83% of the hammock length. But come to think of it the bug net was a little loose, perhaps I did not have it long enough.

I love my uncle. Latter in the day, he called and asked for my health insurance number. When I told him I did not have health insurance he said that that wasn't fair and we had a big laugh.

**Dutch** · 12-02-2011, 09:26

Finish the story...Is the mini biner OK???????

**dragon360** · 12-02-2011, 09:30

A Dutch smackdown! Glad he wasn't hurt. Seems odd the the 1.75 would react that way with someone 190 pounds.

**pellet gun** · 12-02-2011, 09:33

Originally Posted by Dutch

Finish the story...Is the mini biner OK???????

now that's funny right there, I don't care who ya are!

**jlb2012** · 12-02-2011, 09:47

depending on where the ridge line snapped you may not need to replace it - if there is enough line to tie a small bowline loop on each side of the break you can then just use an adjustable loop between the bowlines as a replacement for the 'biner - I have used this approach for a couple years with my HH - I just cut the line and put in an adjustable loop made with some Aircore 2 spectra line.

**Badchef** · 12-02-2011, 10:54

Originally Posted by Dutch

Finish the story...Is the mini biner OK???????

Dutch, this could be a new marketing feature for you. Hammock security with Dutch Clips - when an unauthorized person tries to commandeer your hammock, the clip is released.