Hammock vs. Earl

**psyculman** · 09-06-2010, 03:51

It's just not possible to waste a three day weekend. So, we headed up to the Whites, near Randolph NH as hurricane Earl was forcasted to bring only "moderate" rain on Friday night, brushing that region slightly as it moved up the eastern coast. And so it did.

Arriving at camp in the afternoon, it was very hot for up there, and at sunset still over 80 degrees, and, humid to the max. (but not a single insect to be seen, oh yeah!) About 11:30 pm, it started to rain, and at midnight, the solid tropical down pour began, for about an hour and a half, though still very warm.

My DIY silicon tarp failed.

The material I sprayed with silicon let the rain weep right through. Big disapointment. Thank goodness for the rain fly. The people with me had a stock Hennessy poly hex tarp, and, they had weepage too. But, it was extremely intense rain. The heavy rain lasted only about an hour or so, then tapered down for a couple of hours more. It was sure good to be up off the ground in a hammock!!! By noon the next day it cleared up, and cooled off, and a dry wind prevailed the rest of the trip. Night time temperature hovered at about 45 degrees, with considerable breeze. This seemed to be the limit temperature of my single layer DIY insultex over and under cover as I kept waking up with shivers every so often. Not a threatening situation, just concerning as I had on all the clothing I had with me.

While my DIY tarp stood up to considerable wind, it did not to rain, something noteworthy. The fabric is completely saturated with silicon, but, for some reason not able to withstand directly falling rain drops. If you have made this material, or are considering making it, it's worth looking into further.

So, it's back to the sewing machine today!

**gargoyle** · 09-06-2010, 04:29

Did you spray on regular store bought spray silicone?

Or did you follow the diy tutorial for silicone (5:1 ratio of mineral spirits to 100% silicone caulk), and then spray that?

Your tarps not a total loss. It can be dipped in the mixture, stir it and dunk it repeatedly for a minute or two, hang it up to dry.

It can be saved!

But hey, make another tarp anyway!

**Running Feather** · 09-06-2010, 04:49

It can work. My DIY via the tutorial has withstood 50+ mph horizontal rain. It's quite heavy (10.x12'/32 oz) but I trust it after it withstood such a beating!

Sorry yours didn't hold up but Gargoyle's right. Just give it a bath

**gargoyle** · 09-06-2010, 04:53

I don't need a bath! It's not Saturday!

**Poppabear** · 09-06-2010, 12:01

Earl - 1 Tarp - 0 but who's keeping score. I would try some of the other suggestions you have already gotten before giving up on your tarp.

**Barefoot Child** · 09-06-2010, 12:22

Definetely try the silicone dunking process with the prescribed ratio of blends.

And I agree also that Gargoyle needs a bath, whether it is Saturday or not, he may not think so...but others do.

**MAD777** · 09-06-2010, 13:31

Sounds like an extreme trip! I just came back from a trip in the Whites a couple of weeks ago when the temps were very mild, both high and lows. I was glad I didn't go last week when Hurricane Earl was pushing tropical air into New England. I have to live with that weather year round here in Florida.

As to rain penetrating silnylon, there are reports of commercial 1.1 silnylon having some minor misting during Florida thunderstorms, which is what we get all the time. It's not enough to pay any attention to, or maybe, it's just so humid in Florida, we are just as wet whether it is raining or not. Only the impact of the drops indicate actual rain

**Knotty** · 09-06-2010, 16:26

I'm going to promote the dunk and squeeze method again for DIY silnylon. That method provides the best chance for the silicone to get into each thread.

Tell us more about how you did yours. We learn as much from failures as we do successes.