Hammocking and Rain

**Ramblinrev** · 03-17-2010, 15:42

I roll my tarp with dry undersides together. How did you pack it? I also use skins on it to make it easier to handle. Tends to keep the dry sides together. I also hang and pack my tarp separately to avoid the water migrating from the tarp to the hammock.

**Ramblinrev** · 03-17-2010, 15:43

Originally Posted by JosephCurwen

Sorry about that, but english is not my mother tongue...
So i need to ask: what do you mean with "is the ridge line sealed?"
a kind of waterproof RL?

The ridgeline seam usually needs to be waterproofed by adding a seam sealer to it. That way the stitches and stitch holes don't allow water to leak through.

**Kerflop** · 03-17-2010, 15:44

My tarp has a seam that runs along the ridgeline. The ridgeline being the top of the tarp where your rope attaches to the tarp. By sealed he means has it been waterproofed... There is a sylicon mixture that you can use for a do it yourself project. I haven't ever done that, since the tarp is suppose to be waterproof. I might try that now though...

**Ramblinrev** · 03-17-2010, 15:46

Originally Posted by Kerflop

My tarp has a seam that runs along the ridgeline. The ridgeline being the top of the tarp where your rope attaches to the tarp. By sealed he means has it been waterproofed... There is a sylicon mixture that you can use for a do it yourself project. I haven't ever done that, since the tarp is suppose to be waterproof. I might try that now though...

Thread tends to wick water and the holes made by the needle tend to allow water to seep through by "capillary action" so the tarp can be waterproof and still need to have the ridgeseam sealed.

**JosephCurwen** · 03-17-2010, 15:47

Originally Posted by Ramblinrev

The ridgeline seam usually needs to be waterproofed by adding a seam sealer to it. That way the stitches and stitch holes don't allow water to leak through.

thank you, i understand now. i think i make a confusion between the ridge line and the line that sustain the tarp

I learn a lot of vocabulary with this forum

**Kerflop** · 03-17-2010, 15:51

I pack most of my gear in a trash compactor bag. It is light weight and water resistant... My tarp does not go into my pack until the very last. As far as hanging it, it always goes up first and I hung it this last time for about an hour by itself.

Also, I do not use snake skins but I did put the dry sides together before puting it into the stuff sack. But it got really wet anyways. Hey, I learned some stuff here... As I look back I see this as a learning experince. If everytime I went out everything went as it should I would never learn to adapt and overcome. Failure is a win for me

**Ramblinrev** · 03-17-2010, 16:03

Originally Posted by Kerflop

As far as hanging it, it always goes up first and I hung it this last time for about an hour by itself.

I'm thinking there may have been something different about the hang that allowed a pool to form. Is this a DWR coating or silnyl or what? Did something touch the tarp and break the surface tension on the tarp. This would not be a concern with silnyl but could be with a DWR. How hard was it raining? Rain can hit with such force that it mists through the fabric particularly with sil or DWR. If you only got one drip it sounds to me like something was localized that had not be so the night before.

**bigbamaguy** · 03-17-2010, 16:27

Kerflop:
What color is the GG 12X12 tarp that you have. If it is the tan colored one that comes with the poles it will leak, I know I have one. I don't care how much seam sealed it or coated it with "Camp Dry" it still leaked. This is why I have a BWDD WT and I highly recommend them. The one that is white in color will not leak, if you seam seal the ridgeline, I learned this later and then sold it to Hikingshoes! I think he is using it or has used it with no problems. I hope this helps!!!!!

**Kerflop** · 03-17-2010, 16:30

I do have the white 12x12 one... I want to get a tarp from BBWD once he starts back up... I am working on lighting up my pack some more and so one of his 3 season tarps will work nicely.

Thanks

**turnerminator** · 03-17-2010, 17:17

I fear this may be no help either, but my coated polyester dd tarp has seen some serious rain and wind for days on end in the scottish mountains, and has not let a thing through. I really rate it. I can touch it as much as I want, only condensation gets it wet.
It laughs at non stop rain, which is more than can be said for me.