Weather shelter tarp for Group

**CowtownCarlton** · 05-28-2010, 01:06

Does anyone carry a large tarp (15x15 or bigger) to use as a place to hang (not a pun) out under. With our large family we want to be able to sit out together to talk and play games with out having to be under the same Hammock tarp?

I have seen these used on canoe trips and used similar ones car camping. The age old question of weight versus comfort. I see that shug and hickory have overlaped their tarp in some recent videos, and this would work for two, but need bigger option if we could find the right place to hang it.

**TOB9595** · 05-28-2010, 02:08

OES has a 12x15 that was written about HERE

Our tarp making folk may be able to make bigger or multiples of that.
You won't get better than OES, just different.. ALL the TARP makers here are of the same level. OES seam seals his before delivery. I do NOT think the others seam seal their's before shipping.
Tom
added: CHINOOK has the 12x14 that is less expensive but still functional.

**uproar6** · 11-18-2010, 20:46

Try Kelty's 16 x 16 it has 22 ft of RL. I have one its HUGE! I love it with a family of six we have plenty of space under it.

**KayakCarl** · 11-18-2010, 20:59

I picked up a OES 12x15 tarp a couple of weeks ago. This is one large tarp, and very well made. It took only one week from the day ordered to my door step. Top notch workmanship, and customer service.

Carl

**wisenber** · 11-23-2010, 19:23

Originally Posted by KayakCarl

I picked up a OES 12x15 tarp a couple of weeks ago. This is one large tarp, and very well made. It took only one week from the day ordered to my door step. Top notch workmanship, and customer service.

Carl

I thought the whole point behind cat cut was to keep the tarp more taut than a rectangular tarp while also saving the weight of the cat cut?

**cataraftgirl** · 11-23-2010, 19:38

Originally Posted by wisenber

I thought the whole point behind cat cut was to keep the tarp more taut than a rectangular tarp while also saving the weight of the cat cut?

Depends on the design of the cat cut I think. My old Kelty Noah was a cat cut, and it worked great on the diagonal over a hammock. That's the way it was designed to be pitched. But it didn't work as well as our river kitchen tarp. It was difficult to get all sides totally taut (and trust me we tried.... many times). The 12X15 OES cat cut looks like it will work better. It appears to be designed to be pitched in a rectangle manner, with less pronounced cat cuts along the edges. Just going by the pics on the OES website. Will see how it works when it arrives.
Sounds like Kayak Karl has been happy with his large OES tarp.
KJ

**wisenber** · 11-23-2010, 20:01

Originally Posted by cataraftgirl

Depends on the design of the cat cut I think. My old Kelty Noah was a cat cut, and it worked great on the diagonal over a hammock. That's the way it was designed to be pitched. But it didn't work as well as our river kitchen tarp. It was difficult to get all sides totally taut (and trust me we tried.... many times). The 12X15 OES cat cut looks like it will work better. It appears to be designed to be pitched in a rectangle manner, with less pronounced cat cuts along the edges. Just going by the pics on the OES website. Will see how it works when it arrives.
Sounds like Kayak Karl has been happy with his large OES tarp.
KJ

I've got a Kelty Noah 9 as well. I think the difference between a Maccat and the Kelty is that the Kelty has a cat cut ridgelines as well. The MacCat has cat cuts on the sides only which will make for a tauter pitch (albeit with fewer pitching options than the Kelty diamond tarps).

I really don't think you can go wrong with an OES.

**cataraftgirl** · 11-21-2010, 11:02

Just ordered the OES 12x15 Cat Cut tarp. Glad I did a search and could see the pictures of the tarp in action. This tarp should nicely fill the gap between our large & heavy MSR Outfitter Wing (16X18, 10+ lbs) for groups of 6 or more, and smaller groups of 2-4 people on river trips. My Kelty Noah 12x12 was just a wee bit small for the river kitchen, 4 humans, 1 dog, and the camp chairs & table on a trip in September. I love my MacCat Deluxe, so I'm sure this new tarp will rock as well. My river buddies were really impressed with how light & well made my MacCat tarp was on that trip.
KJ

**KayakCarl** · 11-21-2010, 11:09

I was afraid that with the cat cut you would have to ues all the tieouts to hold it taught. 2 rigde, and 16 guy lines. I went with the rectangle one. I think I could get it set up with the two ridge and 4 corners in the nice weather. I will carry enough to batten down the hatches if need be.

**cataraftgirl** · 11-21-2010, 11:18

The pics on the OES website show the Cat Cut 12x15 pitched nice & tight without using all the tie outs. I think they just give you more options for pitching & securing. I'm thinking this tarp may make a great (somewhat large) foul weather hammock tarp, as I could use the extra length & tie outs to close off the ends to make "doors." Multiple uses are always great.
KJ