Weather shelter tarp for Group

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

If you aren't having to carry it very far, it is hard to be a standard blue tarp

Yeah as above if its a short journey a big bluey should be sufficient but a few weeks ago me and a friend created an are to sit in with two regular tarps combined.

For our canoe tripping (not so weight sensitive travel), we carry a large "dining" tarp for sitting, eating and relaxing while being sheltered from the rain and/or wind. Pitching can be "creative" to use the available space, trees, rocks, etc.

Here's a picture...

http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...7775_thumb.jpg

hi all, i have one of these, its great fun sofar.http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tchlink:top:en

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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

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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?

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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?

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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

Check out (cookecustomsewing.com ) and I believe you will find what you want

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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

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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.

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Originally Posted by wisenber

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.

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That explains why it was always such a pain to pitch on the rectangle as a kitchen tarp. We've driven ourselves nuts trying to get that thing tight. I'm sure the 12x15 OES will work much better. We usually use a VERY heavy MSR Outfitter Wing (16X18) for large groups, but I was in search of a lightweight smaller tarp for when we have 2-4 people. I'm excited to get this tarp. It looks like it will work out great.
I agree that the Kelty tarps are also awesome. I still have an old Noah 9 that's seen better days in my gear shed.
KJ

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Originally Posted by cataraftgirl

That explains why it was always such a pain to pitch on the rectangle as a kitchen tarp. We've driven ourselves nuts trying to get that thing tight. I'm sure the 12x15 OES will work much better. We usually use a VERY heavy MSR Outfitter Wing (16X18) for large groups, but I was in search of a lightweight smaller tarp for when we have 2-4 people. I'm excited to get this tarp. It looks like it will work out great.
I agree that the Kelty tarps are also awesome. I still have an old Noah 9 that's seen better days in my gear shed.
KJ

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I think the "trick" to the Kelty is to use the attachment point in the center and hang that, then tie out the corners. I may be making that up as I go along, but it seems that I've seen then set up that way. I hope you enjoy your OES, but you might try the center pullout on the Kelty as well.

BTW, how much longer is your season going?

My river season usually ends with an early September Middle Fork Salmon trip, then a float & fly fish in October on the Southfork Snake River. I had to skip the October trip this year to have knee replacement surgery. Rehab (and buy new gear) in the winter, then back on the river in late April/May.
We are currently having a blizzard outside, so the snowshoe/ski/winter camping folks will be in full swing. Maybe now that I have all this awesome hammock gear, I'll have to give winter snow camping a try.
Gotta get this new knee working first.
As for the Kelty....we thought about that top center thing, but never could find a suitable thing to tie it up to.
KJ

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Originally Posted by cataraftgirl

My river season usually ends with an early September Middle Fork Salmon trip, then a float & fly fish in October on the Southfork Snake River. I had to skip the October trip this year to have knee replacement surgery. Rehab (and buy new gear) in the winter, then back on the river in late April/May.
We are currently having a blizzard outside, so the snowshoe/ski/winter camping folks will be in full swing. Maybe now that I have all this awesome hammock gear, I'll have to give winter snow camping a try.
Gotta get this new knee working first.
As for the Kelty....we thought about that top center thing, but never could find a suitable thing to tie it up to.
KJ

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Well I hope that knee replacement was not too bad. I've heard grandmothers scream things that would make a sailor blush after that surgery. Once it's good, it's good, but before then I hear it can be pretty bad.
Don't rush it! That being said, it would be a nice change from the Southeast to get out your way for a visit.

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Originally Posted by wisenber

Well I hope that knee replacement was not too bad. I've heard grandmothers scream things that would make a sailor blush after that surgery. Once it's good, it's good, but before then I hear it can be pretty bad.
Don't rush it! That being said, it would be a nice change from the Southeast to get out your way for a visit.

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I moved to Utah from Florida 23 years ago and Love it. No humidity, very few mosquitos, no cockroaches, nice change of seasons, beautiful mountains, deserts, and rivers.
Yep, the knee thing is frustrating & slow. But hopefully the final outcome will be worth it.
KJ

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