first diy tarp (sort of)

[gfstanley]

As I am beginning my hammocking venture, I didn't want to dump a lot of money into my gear yet (and neither did my wife). I used a 10x12 polypropylene tarp and sewed webbing tie-outs in each corner and along one 2 of the sides. I'm glad I found a green one to better fit in the woods. I plan to sew 2 more tie-outs along the other 2 sides and possibly in other places to make it more versatile. I have it hung up by a continuous ridgeline (thanks Derek Hansen) with soft shackles made of amsteel (instead of micro-biners) and the tie-outs have self-tensioning guy lines (thanks to a lot of people). After I determine what size and shape tarp works best for me, I'll make one out of silnylon or silpoly.

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[lubbockhammockguy]

Looks like a good place to start and to see what works best for you

[geneaut]

Lots of us start with a poly tarp. Yours looks good.

[Rekoob]

That looks good.

I'm sure I will go that route too.

Can you post a pic of a line and tie out that you added.?

[gfstanley]

That looks good.

I'm sure I will go that route too.

Can you post a pic of a line and tie out that you added.?

Thanks for the compliment! I set it up overnight last week and it had the same tension in the morning. Here are the pics of the ridge line tie out and a corner tie out. I reinforced each tie out with a 3-5" piece of webbing that was sewn with multiple box patterns and the loops are 5-8" webbing. You will see in one pic with the #12 (I have #10 on others) on the tie out so I can quickly identify a 12' ridge line pitch versus a 10' ridge line pitch. I also sewed in tie outs about 3' from each corner with the 12' ridge line config so I can close off the ends (hopefully). I haven't tried closing off the ends yet, so we'll wait and see if it works like I think it should. Lastly, the self-tensioning guy lines are each about 5' long that I learned compliments of creativeKayt (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sli3Wc6Dtcw) I used guy lines with bowlines at each end rather than splicing braided mason's line. Good luck on your tarp and let me know if I can answer any other questions!

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[Rekoob]

That is great. This site is amazing. Nice job on the lines and the reinforced loops, that does seem to be the weak spot of those tarps.

Next time I have my hammock on the turtledog stand I'll have to toss on some of my tarps to see which one will work the best, and then get to doing this.

[Rekoob]

One more question, on the 10 and 12 foot ridgeline tabs, is that just the center points of the tarp? As in you used a 10x12 or are you putting it diagonally? Guess thats two questions. Lol
And when you get the doors worked out let me know how it goes.

[gfstanley]

One more question, on the 10 and 12 foot ridgeline tabs, is that just the center points of the tarp? As in you used a 10x12 or are you putting it diagonally? Guess thats two questions. Lol
And when you get the doors worked out let me know how it goes.

Yes, the ridge line tie outs are the center points of each of the four sides. I plan to pitch the tarp in A-frame mode with a 12' ridge line. To pitch this tarp on the diagonal would create a 15.6' ft ridge line and I don't think I will ever need to go that big. I'll keep this thread updated when I get the doors worked out.