I put my overcover back on my Explorer just now and took the opportunity to study the Shelter Undercover a bit closer than I have before. The question arises every so often how difficult it would be to make a DIY clone. I couldn't find a specific thread so I started this one.
I have made several attempts to make a clone before I broke down and purchased the system from the manufacturer. None of them were particularly successful and I have discovered why.
There are some shaping darts sewn into the shell of the Super Shelter undercover which are instrumental in getting the cover to fit to the shape of the hammock. Unless those darts are replicated, it just ain't gonna fit right. That will leave the foam pad either too compressed or too loose
There are four in total if I remember correctly. Two run from the edge of the cover toward the centerline at the position of the tieouts. Two run lengthwise from each end for a ways. (not the whole length.)
In answer to a question which will undoubtedly be asked, I did not do any measurements, nor do I intend to, for a couple of reasons. Without undoing the stitches and opening the entire cover up for a pattern I could not begin to suggest what the original sizing of the fabric was and how much or how long the removed sections of fabric are. So the figures would not do anyone any particular good.
The second reason is that Tom did a lot of research and development in terms of getting this to fit right on the two models that he makes. I would not feel right in short circuiting what he obviously feels is proprietary information in making those measurements public. I will say the darts do not appear to be down the center of the cover but are offset up onto the sides in terms of the lengthwise darts.
Given that information the enterprising DIY artist could probably tuck, roll and fit some fabric to come up with their own pattern. Whether it would be worth the effort or not when you can purchase the piece at a relatively reasonable cost would be up to the individual.
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