GAR-Gantous

**default** · 09-05-2011, 01:07

human pinata

**Gra_factor** · 09-05-2011, 01:36

Originally Posted by REV

human pinata

The bears can't get you either.

**opie** · 09-05-2011, 05:31

What if you take your first design and just spread the attachment points away from one another. Say give them 10' or so. I would think that would help with shoulder squeeze and help with the claustrophobic feeling.

**R00K** · 09-05-2011, 05:32

Very neat thread - and very neat idea!

**gargoyle** · 09-05-2011, 06:08

Originally Posted by opie

What if you take your first design and just spread the attachment points away from one another. Say give them 10' or so. I would think that would help with shoulder squeeze and help with the claustrophobic feeling.

I tried that off the start..When I was attempting the 2 person hammock. Major cacoon effect. It was similar to setting a small chid into a normal hammock. Even laying full asym (90*) was cacoonish.
If I had spreader bars on each end, it may have helped? But I wasnt after a design that had 10' long spreaders.

And then theres the weight/bulk issue (not me, the hammock

).
Just a whole bunch o' fabric. Not a packable item, at all. Now that I shaved down the size, it is doable. Some lighter fabric, a different spreader bar...the new tarp came in at ~10 oz. And I'll get a weight on the hammcok as is now, but its a reasonable size.

I think it'd be possible to seam the hammock body to achieve the +100" width factor. Just stagger the seam so it isnt riding up the middle, similar to the paneled hammocks we all know. 60" wide panel in the center, two 30" wide panels at the edges...120" of hammock width x 100" or so long..I'm still wondering how the length thing factors into this design, if it can go shorter, say 7 0r 8 feet only, but still at 100-120 wide?

**gargoyle** · 09-07-2011, 15:25

Okay heres what I came up with.
Gargantu-tarp 1
Played with a domed design, cat cuts, and while it worked, side exposure was evident in the winds we've been having. Several unique design features needed to be addressed.
Center support.
Clearance for gargantuos hammock spin radius.
Higher than normal ridgeline, or lack of a ridgeline.

I had to come up with a center supported tarp, so this circle was part of the first few steps. Thru this circle will pass a loop of webbing that supports the hammock and the tarp. Unique is one word...

gargantous tarp 1 001.jpg

gargantous tarp 1 003.jpg
The dome design was too flat, I can adjust that some. But with this design, I needed poles for the angles to work out or 30 feet of guyline..not good. I might be able to use neighboring trees in the woods, but not available in my yard. And the lack of side coverage wasnt good.
gargantous tarp 1 022.jpg
But I took the tarp to the ground, and its features are pretty cool. Folding and turning the tarp creates a lot of different set up options.
gargantous tarp 1 025.jpg

One neat feature was tent mode. So all was not lost

Learned a few tricks while messing around tho.
Pythagoras was a smart guy. And I referenced his theories and math....a lot.

Trying to stake out a center supported tarp can suck! The centerline changes as you try to guy out the tarp. So this lesson was to pull the center line down to the ground and temporarily stake it, to keep it vertical. Once the tarp is centered, then guy out the sides. Once the tarp is guyed out, then remove the centerline stake, and hang the hammock.

So I shelved V1, and went all out on V2.

Version 2 carried over some of the same basic design features, center support, pass thru suspension, clearance for the spreader bar/rotation of the hammock. But without a bunch of crazy angles, slopes, curves.

gargantous tarp 2 001.jpg
My dog is mad at me.

First off, we'll address the suspension. Tossed the webbing over the limb, same as in the previous post. I marlin spike hitched a quicklink into the webbing, as a toggle, getting the right elevation. (I'll get some better looking webbing)
Onto that goes the amsteel continous loop, resting on the hitch, which passes thru the tarps peak and allows for hammock attachment. Grosgrain crosses over the center peak. I burned a small hole into the grosgrain after stitching it together. Think buttonhole. I'll fashion a raincap for this area.

gargantous tarp 2 006.jpg
From the inside.
After the amsteel loop comes thru the tarp, I tied a big ol' knot, which is holding a large washer. The washer only supports the tarp at the peak. The grosgrain cross runs down outside on all the seams...yeah it was tricky.

Then the standard hook and whoopies attach to the loop, supporting the hammock. The weight is beared by the continous loop and the tarp rides freely supported at the peak. I'll silicone the grosgrain inside and out to seal the system.

gargantous tarp 2 004.jpg

gargantous tarp 2 005.jpg
Grosgrain seam and tieout detail.

gargantous tarp 2 007.jpg
gargantous tarp 2 002.jpg
And some pics of the outside.
The hammock/spreader bar has good clearance, and allows for spinning and swaying. The pyramid shape is stable and even in the gusty winds we are having, it staked well after figuring out the usual rookie/virgin tarp set up issues. The tarp has excellent headroom too.
Dimensions are 90" at the long edge/base, and 72-1/2 slanted seams. Which according to my new friend Pythagoras gives the sidewall length of 60-1/4", and a center height of 42"..IIRC .

I dont need the support poles. They were just handy.

**Hawk-eye** · 09-07-2011, 15:49

I'm not sure .... but I think that might be illegal in at least eight states!

**Cannibal** · 09-07-2011, 16:06

Originally Posted by Hawk-eye

I'm not sure .... but I think that might be illegal in at least eight states!

If not, it should be!

Gargoyle- NEATO!
What's your plan for water running down the line? I can see that casual water isn't likely to sneak through the opening, but I envision water running straight down that Amsteel. Tell me I'm wrong and you used some magic pixie dust or something. Wouldn't bother me a bit cause that is a cool looking tarp. Bet you can sell that to the new-agers all day long.

**gargoyle** · 09-07-2011, 19:02

Originally Posted by Hawk-eye

I'm not sure .... but I think that might be illegal in at least eight states!

I could put a HH botom slit in there...MULTI-PURPOSE.

Originally Posted by Cannibal

If not, it should be!

Gargoyle- NEATO!
What's your plan for water running down the line? I can see that casual water isn't likely to sneak through the opening, but I envision water running straight down that Amsteel. Tell me I'm wrong and you used some magic pixie dust or something. Wouldn't bother me a bit cause that is a cool looking tarp. Bet you can sell that to the new-agers all day long.

Thanks.
On the webbing will be a rain cap/mini-umbrella which will slope out covering the peak. I'll figure it all out and do some pics. I'll goop on some sil at the peak of the tarp...and for now carry a bucket.

prototyping on the fly..Literally!

Hey, I can string up my water bottle under there.

That hammock is comfortable. Got clearance from Mrs. G to hang it indoors too.