i just commented about this in the hammock stand thread, i was saying the best way might be to equalize each stake individually to the anchor point, the same way climbers equalize multiple pieces of gear into a single anchor point. a properly equalized anchor spreads out the load evenly among all the points/stakes at the same time, with the inline method, the front stake takes a much higher % of the load and would pull much easier, from here, it's likely going to be a chain reaction.
the perimeter loaded tarp is just something i call it, sounds about right anyways. the idea is that there are no "regular pull tabs" regular pull tabs being the patch that goes across the corner of the tarp to disperse the load comming from the guyline. the load is distributed to those stitches that go across the patch, usually 3-4" wide. this is the weakest point in the tarp.
silnylon is strong, but heavy wind hitting a tarp broadside can create alot of force, the more stitches you can distribute this force amongst, the more force the tarp can handle. the idea is to have a structural ring of webbing/edge binding (1/2" gg ribbon is strong enough, the less stretch the better, bias tape would not work) that wraps around the tarp. where the webbing turns the corner, the sil is folded back, and you can just "hook" the corner of the webbing, this is your anti-pull tab so to speak. since the webbing follows a curved edge, tension on the pull tab will create lateral movement of the webbing, pulling the sides of the tarp out in all directions at once, makes for a really good pitch. basically it is alot like a square trampoline, there are springs all the way around the perimeter, not just at the corners. a perimeter loaded tarp will distribute the force to the stitches around the perimeter like the trampoline, it's 30 feet or so all the way around, that's thousands of stitches to disperse the force amongst.
the end pull tabs are just regular pull tabs, the webbing terminates underneath them at each end. since there is a ridgeline seam, there is no need to try and spread the force out with a reinforcement patch. my ridge seam has 4 layers, i feel the strongest method of attachment is to sew a single piece of webbing straight down the seam for several inches, the webbing is the same width as the seam. this is a good example of the inline method discussed above. i use a zig zag with a pretty close stitch length and stitch down the webbing, i use enough to make the stitches at least 6-7" long, the other end of the webbing is just folded under to create the pull tab and stitched to the opposite side of the seam in the same manner, it is not necessary to make the bottom side as long as the top, just long enough to meke a suficiently strong loop.
Bookmarks