Tarp tie-outs: measure twice, cut once

[sturgeon]

I'm planning to cut my dynaglide 50' in half to make tarp ridgeline tie-outs of 25' each side. Not interested in continuous ridgeline. Before i cut it, just want to see if anyone thinks 25' is too much or too little (I guess I could order more, but it's a hassle with customs and shipping).

So for separate (non-continuous) ridgeline tie-outs, how long do you make your cord?

[jbryan]

I would think 10 feet on each side is plenty. I have a CRL and use 30 feet and often have 5 feet of extra when done setting up my ridgeline. Just consider all the normal factors for your area such as tree diameter and distance between trees. For a typical 15 foot span with a 10 foot tarp you could get away with 7 feet per side on about a 6 inch diameter tree.

[kayak karl]

i always measure my maximum length of hammock with suspension, and make the tarp with tie outs the same length.

[sturgeon]

Thanks, jbryan. Forgot to consider tree diameter. Trees in Southern Ontario are seldom bigger than you can reach around, and in Northern Ontario usually much much smaller than that--6-8" diameter for a hanging tree, I'm guessing--never measured.

@ karl, you mean, for example, Warbonnet is 11' and if on average i use about 6' of the 14' stock webbing on each side, so roughly 11 +6 + 6 = 23' ?

[Shewie]

30ft continuous for me too, but I've seen the size of the trees where you are so you might not be too far off.

For average 2ft diameter pines then I have plenty normally, I did pitch in a large cedar plantation last autumn and I was almost running out of line, I think they were about 4ft diameter.

I tie mine off with knots too so if you were to use a small carabiner instead you'd save a few feet.

[sturgeon]

ok if you are using 30' for the whole CRL, then 25' tie outs on each side is overkill. Jbryan suggests 10' which makes me nervous, so I think I'll scale them back to, say, 16-17', which will leave me a nice extra 16' piece left from my 50' to play with. Thanks everybody for your input.

[Shewie]

What about making them easy to remove and replace and then carry a second longer set if you should need it. 50ft of dynaglide doesn't take up much space and you wouldn't notice the weight.

Might be worth doing until you get an idea of what you need anyway.

[Bubba]

I use a 30' foot continuous RL so I agree that 25' on each side is a little much. 15' on each side is a good meduim IMO. I always carry extra cordage so I can always extend if needed.

[jbryan]

Or for just your next trip just use a CRL for the one time to see what kind of distances you might want for your tie outs. That way you are not cutting anything. You would just need to create a way to attach your tarp to the ridge line - prusiks. While out in the field just estimate how much you then need for each side and when you get back cut it to the appropriate length plus a few feet for good measure. You never know you might end up needing that 25feet per side - I doubt it but you never know.