It aint pretty but it's DIY!-tarp

**millarky** · 04-10-2011, 10:15

I wanted a warm weather/dry weather tarp that didn't have much side coverage but would keep the eastern dew off me and the Switchback. I ordered 1.6oz Coated Camo Ripstop from BWDD and set to work. It took 5 days to think about design and a day to make it

Ended up with a no seam 13' ridgeline with 5 foot cat cut sides. Unfortunately, it looks like a cat did indeed cut it as I just free handed the cuts

but it came out OK in spite of it. And that coated ripstop is mighty curly

I hung it on a continuous ridge line with prussiks and such and had quite a bit of ridge sag. Not happy. So, I broke down and made a support for each end. Happy

. Since I didn't want to rule out a continuous ridgeline, and I wanted a simple tensioning system, I added Line Locks to the ends along with the loop. Very happy with it. I also added a D ring to each end to hang stuff underneath. Tie outs are generic shock cord to cord to line lock.

Question though...do you think the line locks will hold up to the stress?

So overall, I am very happy with the whole shebang and I especially like the ridgeline underneath-it make a nice easy arch.

**jred** · 04-10-2011, 11:01

Knock it if you want, looks pretty good to me. If the line locks don't hold, it's better for them to fail than for your nylon to rip

**millarky** · 04-10-2011, 12:45

thank you jred and good point about component failure

**chickenwing** · 04-10-2011, 12:55

As my kids would say -- Your right, it's not pretty...

It's beautiful and the fact that it is DIY is even better. Looks Great!!!

**hangnout** · 04-10-2011, 12:59

Tarp looks good. I like the diamond tarps.

I use the linelocs on most of my tarps. I have never had a problem and have been in some pretty heavy winds. On our trip to the Linville Gorge last fall there was a little bit of wind one night

that sent some to the cars. We had 3 tarps using the linelocs and no problems with any of them. You can use the smaller 2mm cords in them if you back it up with a half hitch.

**HamMike** · 04-10-2011, 14:42

It's hard to not be critical with anything you do yourself. One always tends to focus on the little things that didn't turn out just the way you wanted. I think it looks great! I realy like those D rings for hangin stuff! Nice touch! Really dig that camo print too!

**jamlution** · 04-10-2011, 17:15

Looks Great!

**Fronkey** · 04-10-2011, 17:53

It looks cool, it keeps you dry and you made it yourself. I would be really proud of it.

Fronkey

**SpaceCadet** · 04-10-2011, 18:58

Where'd you pick up those linelocks?

**Chop** · 04-10-2011, 21:07

Not sure where about the original poster, but I picked up what looks to be the same linelocks from zpacks. I believe zpacks uses those linelocks for all the tie outs on their hammock tarp, if I am not mistaken.