Anyone know if a leech line is bad on a tarp?

[howzithangin]

I'm new to hammocks, but not new to sewing ripstop, coming from a kite building background.
In kites, we sew a thin dyneema line in channel around the edge, and tension the line to quiet edgeflap, and even out tension along non-supported edges. but

I don't see this construction technique advertised in commercial tarps, and I'm wondering if it's just not in the descriptions, or if there's a reason it's bad to do this on a tarp.

I'm going to start building my tarp this weekend, so I thought I'd ask those that know more than me... which is pretty much everyone.

[VictoriaGuy]

Leech lines are common on sails (for boats); I didn't know that kites used them too.
No harm in trying something new...that's what DIY is all about.

However, I'd worry about having a tight edge on a tarp which could lead to forming a bit of a 'bowl' in the tarp body which could trap puddles in rainstorms, if the tarp is pitched fairly flat. (This can be an issue just with the rolled edge on a tarp, IME.)

Let us know how it works out!

How do you tie off the leech line? On a sail there's plastic hardware for that, but too heavy for tarp/kite.

[nuttysquirrel]

nylon streches, more so when wet. thats probably why. many tarps have grossgrain binding on the edges though

[MAD777]

I used to race sailing yachts. The leech line is in a sail in order to make it form an airfoil to get better lift. Not what you want a tarp to do!

[howzithangin]

nylon streches, more so when wet. thats probably why. many tarps have grossgrain binding on the edges though

We usually use a coated polyester rather than nylon.
Nicer fabrics are polycarbonate coated polyester.
They don't streatch really, and have bias stability.
They are also light at roughtly .5-.7 oz per yard.

For leech lines, they terminate at a supported end, which is usually the end of a carbon fiber arrow shaft that's re-purposed as a light stick. We tie the leech ends to the arrow knocks.

If you need to use arrow shafts for spreaders, or rods.. you should check with kite suppliers first, as the kite industry uses factory seconds from archery. Arrows need to be very tight tolerance or they shatter. But for building a kite, or a tent or something it's not a problem and the seconds are way way cheaper way to frame stuff in carbon fiber.

http://kitesandfunthings.com/categor...16&startpage=0 <=== good place for cheap wrapped carbon rods of various strength.

[howzithangin]

I guess I'll just try it. worst case scenario, I can untension the leech and it will do nothing.

[Turtle Creek]

I guess I'll just try it. worst case scenario, I can untension the leech and it will do nothing.

Please, Keep us posted on this project.

[CamoDeafie82]

After looking up what a Leech Line is for both sailing and kites....... what if you used a single piece of line on all the edges, and made alpine butterfly loops or similar loops at the tie out points and integrate those loops into the corner tie out loops, would that help keep a somewhat even tension on the whole tarp's edging? it would make the tarp very taut edged, not sure about the panels, but with pull outs or crossed poles, might be okay?

[MDSH]

I used to race sailing yachts. The leech line is in a sail in order to make it form an airfoil to get better lift. Not what you want a tarp to do!

Exactly.

Tarps accomplish the edge flap problem with cat cuts.

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