You're so pushy sometimes bubba.
You're so pushy sometimes bubba.
"Any night in a hammock, is a good night."
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I am a new member and am looking to replace the hammock suspension on my Clark NX250 and my wifes NX150. After reading this thread I do not see any difference in the Amsteel 7/64" cord used by bushcraftbasics and the stock cord that comes on the Clark hammocks other than the Clark cord is larger in diameter (approx 3/8" vs 1/8").
It seems to me that the clark cord is no better than the Amsteel, yet I have not found were any forum members have been hammering Clark Hammocks like they did BushCraftBasics.
Regardless, I've made some whoopieslings and now just need four tree huggers to complete the package.
I have a cottage (in Ontario) so don't hang as often as many here - so I don't come to this forum often. I have a Hennessy but have used it only about 15 times on canoe trips (and I don’t foresee returning to a tent). So I have tended to partition cottaging vs. camping/hanging in my mind.
However I was opening the cottage for the season last weekend - and moving the two floating docks into place (one is 10' x 16' with a 10' ramp), which included tying them off to trees on shore with 5/8" ropes. That is what people do on our lake. And I realized that I have been using the same 4 trees (2 per dock) for 30 years!
The trees are 3 cedars and 1 pine, the pine is the smallest and no bigger around than my knee. All trees are healthy and are showing new sprouts at the ends of the branches this spring. Only two of them show the smallest amount of callous indicating any strain through the years.
I agree that straps put less stress on one narrow portion of the bark, and for setting an example to others and gaining permission from park rangers I think this method must be endorsed. But as for the concern of killing trees, I think paranoia about the actual effect of ropes is unfounded, at least on the cedars and pines in Ontario.
If I had not found this thread I would have started a new one, but I expected this topic to be ongoing - so here is my $.02.
The force of a piece of rope keeping a dock in place is likely MUCH lower than the force of holding a person in a hammock. Paranoia is a pretty strong word if you don't have the numbers to back it up. If you've measured the numbers, please provide them as it would definitely add some evidence to the conversation.
“Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall when the wise are banished from the public councils because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.” ~Judge Joseph Story
- My site: http://www.tothewoods.net/
- Designer, Jeff's Gear Hammock / Pack Cover by JRB
IMPOSSIBLE JUST TAKES LONGER
Yes Jeff, measurements would improve a dispassionate discussion. Sorry I don't have any.
Here is a picture similar to our small dock, although it does not show any mooring ropes.
The ropes on my dock go from the trees to the corners of the dock closest to shore, and are already as tight as I can pull them (using a trucker's hitch) before there is any additional strain from wind and waves. I believe when whitecaps are splashing against the side of the dock and trying to push it down the shore, the force on the rope and the windward tree is at least as much as a hammock with a 200# person. Especially as the wave movement is not constant.
Our large dock is 12x16 and when we are there it has a 16' boat attached, obliging more load on the rope when it is windy, and I presume much more strain than for the small dock.
Maybe after this chat I will use straps instead of rope. But up until now, I expect the trees got more abuse from the dock than from a hanger, and they continue to do well.
Perhaps paranoia was a rather strong word; I possibly should have used 'anxiety'.
Last edited by Greg H; 05-18-2013 at 08:53.
Could be. Also depends on the type of tree, too...thick bark vs thin bark, for example. If you do any experimentation, it would be great to see it here!
“Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall when the wise are banished from the public councils because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.” ~Judge Joseph Story
- My site: http://www.tothewoods.net/
- Designer, Jeff's Gear Hammock / Pack Cover by JRB
IMPOSSIBLE JUST TAKES LONGER
The ropes that come on the Clark Hammocks are approx. 3/8" diameter and they are definitely intended to hang the hammock to the tree by wrapping the rope around the subject tree and tying it off with a bowline knot. The instructions included with the hammock even show how to do it and provide instructions for tying the bowline not. The tree huggers sold by Clark are optional equipment. The hammocks are sold ready to hang with only the rope.
Regardless, up until this now I've used the stock Clark ropes to hang with on Oak, Poplar and Pine and I've not observed any damage. On small trees I take up most of the slack by wrapping the rope around the trunk multiple times, I believe this helps spread the load better than a single wrap.
My reason for changing the suspension to whoopie slings is to save time setting up, adjusting the sag and packing out. You would think that, for the price and the PR, that Clark would include tree huggers with the purchase of a hammock. I really like the NX250 and my only complaint is the stock suspension.
Classically, nobody does. So, I wonder that Clark did not update the set-up instructions to address the use of tree straps.
Clark has been tree straps as desireable accessories. Mildly interesting is that they are two inches /50mm wide, and polypropylene, not polyester. Polyprop is less tolerant of UV degradation than polyester, but maybe Clark figures that failure would come from other means first. /
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