Printable View
Is anyone building catenary curves into the ridge of their DIY tarps, or just into the perimeter? I read somewhere here that the WB Superfly has a cat cut ridge, but don't see cat cut ridges mentioned in many DIY build threads.
Is it worth the trouble?
A search of the obvious words combinations turns up every tarp thread ever created.
I personally say no. I like the option of running my tarp over or under ridge line and not sure that its possible to put tarp over line with a cat cut, I would think not. I have Hammockgear winter palace cuben and its not cat cut on ridge line and I can get it really tight without it.
Never thought about it from the perspective of a tarp ridegeline user; interesting.
Its possible to have a curve set into the RL quite easily, effectively making it a cat cut but conserving the flexibitly of a straight seam. Only works with a tarp that hangs under the ridgeline.
I've been using this method since I've been on here and it works a treat;
I shorten the centre tie-out and lengthen the Ridgeline-Tarp attachment. This gives a nice curve to the RL without having to have the RL tight and the tarp hangs dead straight whether its in porch or storm mode.
If I make a tarp, I make the hanging loops different lengths. If Its a bought, I wrap a prussic around the centre tie out which also makes the curve adjustable.
The cat cut's some put on the ridgeline are very minimal- maybe 1"-2" drop over the entire length. IMO it's added complexity for sewing, on an already complex seam, and the benefit (tarp pitches "wider" but "lower") is negligible, especially if you make a larger tarp with panel pulls.
Interesting thoughts guys, thanks for the input. It sounds like there is no obvious advantage, so not worth the trouble.
I made my hex cat tarp with a straight ridgeline. It seems to naturally take on a catenary curve anyway. I'm not sure it would be worth the effort to add it in.