tarp design

Other than blackbishop's design, is there any other design that is worth looking at? I am trying to contact blackbishop right now to get some info on how to make is tarp, but I wanted to get some info on other designs so I can make sure what kind of tarp I wanted.

I am 6'1" tall and will have a hammock that is about 10'6" long. I weight 200lbs. I am wondering what the smallest size tarp is that I can get away with. I've heard 7'x9' is a good size but I've also been told 8'x10'. I'm just wanting some of the folks here to weigh in on this also. Thanks for the help guys!

I would add one foot min to each tarp end, plus the hammock length. Eighteen inches would be better.

There are many tarp designs out there; probably to many to list. You need to look at what's out there and take the features that you need and incorporate them into your own design.

Blackbishop has instructions on his website for making the Black Cat tarps.

There are lots of tarp designs that are worth looking at. The question is really what you want to do with the tarp. I have a DIY 12x10 tarp that is really great for spending a rainy day in camp. Not the best choice for fast and light, though. Too many tie-outs to mess with, too heavy, too bulky. A smaller, cat-cut tarp is on my project list, but pretty far down.

You could make a priority list (weight, ease of setup, coverage, versatility for different pitches, wind protection, durability, cost, dual-use, difficulty of construction etc.). Based on what is important to you, it should be pretty easy to figure out the right tarp design. Might be a tarp/poncho for fastpacking, or a 12x10 rectangular tarp for chilling out in camp, or blackbishop's design. The nice thing about making it yourself is that you can get exactly what you want.

No real websites that I know of. My next tarp is going to be a rectangle with extra tie-outs. I think I can close the ends with it and it will be more versitle.

I think that maybe a flat 8x10 made out of Spinnker or Cuben would satisfy both light weight, and large area. Also, like HE said, add multiple tieouts for a variety of pitch options. I would love to be able to close off one side or both or a 8x10 tarp around my hammock like a Speer Winter Tarp.

On the Speer website, they show the 8x10 cat tarp closed off. I think you should be able to do the same thing with a simple rectangular 8x10.

schneiderlein,
I have also seen that page, and I think I am going to make a tarp today. The only thing that I am trying to figure out now is how I need to cut the tarp, and what will be the most versitle shape and placing of tie out points.

If you want to make your life real easy, get a hot knife. I got the one suggested by Darby to cut the fabric for a new 3/4 underquilt I am working on, and it worked really well and saved a lot of time and aggravation tracing and cutting with scissors.

Are you trying to decide whether to use catenary curves or not? Maybe someone who has the Speer can give you an idea of how deep to make the cuts.

FWIW, on my rectangular tarp, I put two side tie-outs splitting the length into 3 equal segments. I did not reinforce the side tie-outs. So far, no problems.

thanks so much! This is the kind of info I'm wanting so I can know what to do about my tarp. I am not looking to do the catenary curves yet. Just want to get a very basic tarp down first.

Just in case you have not seen it, here is some information on how to sew a tarp. It has a nice diagram for the flat-felled ridgeline seam. Well, actually, it is the central seam on this tarp, not the ridgeline.

It can be a bit daunting to get started on DIY sewing projects if you do too much research on the internet. Some people will tell you that your tarp will rip to pieces if you have the flat-felled seam running across instead of along the ridgeline. There are dissertations about how a mock flat felled seam is so much weaker and will not hold up in a storm. There are pages and pages dealing with the proper way of attaching tie-outs so they won't rip out. Since it's the internet, all these things are typically just opinions or speculation without any data to back them up. I have come to the conclusion that none of these things matter to a great degree. There are lots of people who make their tarps exactly the wrong way according to many things you read on the internet, and they seem to hold up fine. Ed Speers instructions are the perfect example.

I guess what I'm trying to say is don't stress out and get started. As long as you use some common sense, your project will turn out great.

had not seen that. Thanks for the info. I'm going to make a tarp this weekend!

Well put. I think a lot of the talk or debating about certain aspects really don't make a big difference in the end. Most things only come into play if you are trying to squeeze every gram out of something, or using it consistantly in hurricane force winds.

Just pick a design and go with it. I like my cat cut tarp, but my next one is going to be rectangular. Sometimes simpiler is better.

The BatTarp