Tarp stretching in the wind

[robaperez]

Hello everyone!

I just purchased a Mamajamba and I love it! It is so big and light, about the same weight in the hand as my Yukon tarp but way bigger! I've been having a small problem with staking it out I suppose. Let me start by telling you how I have it set up.

I have it suspended with a continuous ridgeline using carabiners like here.

http://theultimatehang.com/wp-conten...eline-tarp.gif

For the tieouts/pullouts I have zing it (6' and 9' lengths for the corners and tieouts respectively) attached to Dutch tarpworms on shock cord attached to the tri-ring on the tarp. That sounds confusing..... so here is a picture!

IMG_20150419_175622.jpg

My problem comes in when the wind blows into the tarp it stretches the shock cord out and the tarp starts to encroach on my hammock. I go from a nice roomy tarp, to a claustrophobic mess in a few seconds. I really like the adjustment of the tarpworms but this inward stretch is uncool.



Does anyone have advice on how I can remedy this situation? I would like to continue using the tarpworms (honestly just because I paid for them) but if I can't so be it.

[Shug]

I'd say get rid of the shock-cord on the side pullouts. That would solve the encroachment.
Carry forth.....
Shug

[Martyn]

The problem is the shockcord. It's got very little strength in it to resist wind. What you could try is making the shock cord much shorter. The strength will remain the same, but there will be less play in the system. Either that or remove the shock cord altogether and just use the tarpworms attached to loops of line.

[Deathstar77]

I made small (8") continuous loops that I girth hitched to my tie-outs. That worked very well a few weeks ago.

[robaperez]

The problem is the shockcord. It's got very little strength in it to resist wind. What you could try is making the shock cord much shorter. The strength will remain the same, but there will be less play in the system. Either that or remove the shock cord altogether and just use the tarpworms attached to loops of line.

If I were to remove it entirely, how much of a problem is not having a tarp tensioner?

[Martyn]

If I were to remove it entirely, how much of a problem is not having a tarp tensioner?

You dont need them, they just reduce the amount of 'fiddling' you need to do to compensate for stretch in the nylon. The problem is with thin shock cord, it's so weak it hardly puts any tension into the tarp. I think you'd have less re-tensioning work with none at all. You could try just shortening them first. The strength of the elastic will be the same, but shortening will remove some of the play.

[robaperez]

I'll try shortening the shock cord, and then if that doesn't work I'll just remove it and figure out how to attach the tarpworms directly to the tieouts

[Martyn]

I'll try shortening the shock cord, and then if that doesn't work I'll just remove it and figure out how to attach the tarpworms directly to the tieouts

That's what I'd do. You might find shortening them works for you. Dont be frightened to go very short with the shockcord. If that doesnt work for you, then just tie the tarpworms onto loops made from the same stuff you are using for your guylines, then girth hitch them onto the corners. If you want to get fancy, you can splice the tarpworms onto small continuous loops as mentioned above. All neat and tidy. If you dont fancy splicing, then just tie the loops with double-fishermans.

[robaperez]

That's what I'd do. You might find shortening them works for you. Dont be frightened to go very short with the shockcord. If that doesnt work for you, then just tie the tarpworms onto loops made from the same stuff you are using for your guylines, then girth hitch them onto the corners. If you want to get fancy, you can splice the tarpworms onto small continuous loops as mentioned above. All neat and tidy. If you dont fancy splicing, then just tie the loops with double-fishermans.

Thanks a lot for all the help!

[gbolt]

Since he got his help and I hopefully won't hijack the thread, which is better - Tarpworms or Fleas on a Collar? Especially if you replace the shock cord on the Tarpworms as he is being told and as I though would happen if using a CF Tarp.