Cat cuts on tarp. What is the actual benefit?

[eviscerate3]

Hello, now that I have graduated to sewing 1.1 sil I am looking at making a new tarp. My current hammock is 11 foot long. What shape and size would you recommend? I have read a lot of threads about tarps but am looking for the real benefit of cat cuts? Seems like minimal weight savings. Will the tarp pull out tighter with them? I think my goal for a tarp is using cuben fiber for the top and a shorter layer of sil for the bottom to save some money. Would I be OK to just make it a rectangle and add appropriate tie outs? Thanks!

[Hctits]

if you take a piece of string and lay it straight and pull the ends, all the force is on the length of the string is inline with it.

if you take the same piece of string and lay it in an arc, when you pull the ends the middle will move to try and be straight again.

you get the same effect on the tarp, the guys are able to pull tension along the entire cat cut curve and more evenly tension the surface.

[VictoriaGuy]

you get the same effect on the tarp, the guys are able to pull tension along the entire cat cut curve and more evenly tension the surface.

This would be completely correct if the guys were aligned parallel to the tarp edge (rather than at an angle to the edge).


Cat cuts do look cool, though, even though you may not like them if you ever have to use your tarp on the ground.....

[VictoriaGuy]

I think my goal for a tarp is using cuben fiber for the top and a shorter layer of sil for the bottom to save some money.

Make the whole tarp with silnylon, IMO. The $$$ spent per gram saved with cuben doesn't work for me; I'm hauling a few extra kg in my 'spare tire' and it would be cheap to just lose weight!

Also, don't folks glue/tape cuben rather than sewing it?

[gunner76]

Also, don't folks glue/tape cuben rather than sewing it?

Yes, one uses a special tape

[Hctits]

This would be completely correct if the guys were aligned parallel to the tarp edge (rather than at an angle to the edge).

yeah its not the exact same, but as far as understanding the effects they can have that was the easiest way I could think of.

[Seeker]

The real benefit of cat cuts to me is that the darned tarp edge doesn't flap all night in the wind, keeping me awake.

[desmobob]

The real benefit of cat cuts to me is that the darned tarp edge doesn't flap all night in the wind, keeping me awake.

+1!

Take it easy,
desmobob