Stake Boom

**Yarome** · 02-13-2020, 16:10

Originally Posted by scum

Sorry, I meant cheap alternative to steel 'boom' stick.

I don't know that I would call them "cheap", but the boomstakes tensa sells use titanium stakes. I've been whacking on my 40cm stakes and they are extremely sturdy and quite lightweight. For the length of the spikes, the reinforced boom construction and the convenient head design that works so well with booms, it's not an unfair deal at all, IMHO. Especially considering that even buying direct from China the 40cm spikes are going to run you $10 a pop. Different lengths are available though.... the shorter 24cm spikes being more in the $5 a pop range. Might be an option.

**cougarmeat** · 02-14-2020, 14:15

Looks like the boom is only to address the direction of pull. If that's the case, then it doesn't have to be strong. Or circular. So some PVC pipe or rectangular stick might work. As far and the knot slipping. It seems you could hitch (your hitch of choice) the line where you want it on the boom, then run a tail back to the ground stake. Because most the force will be distributed along the boom/stake combination, the shouldn't be much additional pull on the knot's tail. It has more of a keeper duty with the hitch on the boom doing the major holding.

If one needed to use this setup, I could imagine a set of light weight booms to go with your stakes. I'd think small diameter PVC pipe, that's still big enough to drill a hole for the angled stake, would work.

**Yarome** · 02-14-2020, 14:55

Originally Posted by cougarmeat

....then it doesn't have to be strong. Or circular.

I dunno. I don't know the math, but it seems like the greatest stress point is where the stake passes through the boom, so at least in that area it would make sense to have a fairly sturdy, or at least reinforced, connection point. Of course, it depends on what kind of load you're putting on it, but if you feel the need for boom stakes to begin with... it might make it safe to assume the load is more significant than a stake alone would handle(?)

I don't think circular is "critical", but it may be that load and friction is more evenly distributed on your cordage with a circular boom vs. square. Going square I would think you would want it to have a large enough opening to allow the stakes to be stored inside for "packability". I also have to wonder if a circular configuration might help distribute load in the boom material at the stake pass through point(?)

Just spit-balling and hopefully someone more learned in the mechanics will jump in.

**Latherdome** · 02-14-2020, 20:12

Originally Posted by Yarome

I dunno. I don't know the math, but it seems like the greatest stress point is where the stake passes through the boom, so at least in that area it would make sense to have a fairly sturdy, or at least reinforced, connection point.

Correct. That’s why our 7075 booms are reinforced at this point. They tear otherwise. Thicker-walled tubing would do as well, but be heavier; the extra wall thickness isn’t needed other than at the point of contact with the stake.

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**TominMN** · 02-14-2020, 21:49

Doesn't the boom also have to be rigid enough so that it exerts the force in the proper direction? It would seem that a flimsy boom would essentially just be an extension of the guy line.

**Yarome** · 02-14-2020, 23:12

Originally Posted by TominMN

Doesn't the boom also have to be rigid ....

It probably depends on what you're using them for. For tarp tie-outs and other fairly light loads I think you could probably get away with something lighter weight and less rigid like PVC or something similar, but it would still have to be able to take the entire load without flexing. For stand tie-outs or main hammock suspensions... not so much. After... oh... 40-ish setups over the past 3-1/2 months on the tensa boomstakes... a solid/rigid boom is certainly an integral part. Using them on something like the tensa solo or other pole type hammock suspension I would say it's an absolute must... and not just one.

I'm using 40cm spikes and have had my share of downpours this winter. I haven't had any pull-outs yet, but I've reset half a dozen or so boomstakes that were starting to look a bit "iffy". The stakes themselves though show hardly any signs of wear/distress.

**jeff-oh** · 02-15-2020, 08:27

Originally Posted by TominMN

Doesn't the boom also have to be rigid enough so that it exerts the force in the proper direction? It would seem that a flimsy boom would essentially just be an extension of the guy line.

You are absolutely right. If the boom is not rigid enough it does not impart the mechanical advantage it is designed for.

**cougarmeat** · 02-15-2020, 14:16

I don't understand the "flimsy" issue. I would if the forces were shifting direction and the boom was designed to keep them in line. But it seems the force is only from one direction and the boom is directing that force to the stake. I do see how it needs to be strong enough so the stake will not pull out of the pipe. And it's cool that the boom itself can be a storage container for one or more stakes.

Now I'm picturing that if by "flimsy" you mean the boom could bend upward. That would be a problem. I'd think a SHORT piece of PVC pipe would be strong (i.e. not flexible) enough as long as it was sufficiently strong at the stake end.