UV Protection for tarps???

[LuvmyBonnet]

I see that most people here recommend seam sealing their tarps with clear spreadable silicone. Does any use any UV product on their tarp?? I have a product called 303 that is a spray that I spray on my plastic kayaks to protect them from fading and degradation from UV rays from the sun. Does anyone use UV protectant on their tarps???

[OutandBack]

I don't treat for UV.
Most of the time my tarp lives in its skins and is only deployed if I expect rain. Which usually means it's cloudy.

[Bushwhacker]

I don't treat for UV.
Most of the time my tarp lives in its skins and is only deployed if I expect rain. Which usually means it's cloudy.

Exactly. And most of the time you'll also have night or tree cover.

[LuvmyBonnet]

I use my hammock in my backyard and sometimes I use the tarp as a sun shield. Living in the city I only have one set of trees to set up in my yard and they aren't heavily shaded. I'm assuming that the UV rays will eventually degrade my Superfly.

[Bushwhacker]

I use my hammock in my backyard and sometimes I use the tarp as a sun shield. Living in the city I only have one set of trees to set up in my yard and they aren't heavily shaded. I'm assuming that the UV rays will eventually degrade my Superfly.

You may want to consider purchasing a cheap heavy duty blue tarp from a hardware store for backyard hangs. I'm skeptical that UV stuff works, and that it won't cause further damage to the tarp. If you have scrap material, you could try pinning up an untreated and treated sample outside, and checking for wear.

[seanholio]

It may be a good idea, if you've the funds, to buy a second tarp for the back yard. The Yukon Outfitters special on Woot would have been perfect, at $20.

Save your lightweight stuff for when you're actually camping. Less-expensive items can be sacrificed to the everyday lazing about in the back yard.

[OutandBack]

I use my hammock in my backyard and sometimes I use the tarp as a sun shield. Living in the city I only have one set of trees to set up in my yard and they aren't heavily shaded. I'm assuming that the UV rays will eventually degrade my Superfly.

Oh sorry. Most of us have weekend camping, backpacking on the mind when questions like this come up.
I am not sure any of the gear we use for hammock camping was designed to be used as backyard lawn furnature.
I would not expect it to last very long if exposed to that much sun light even if you did treat it regularly.

[LuvmyBonnet]

It may be a good idea, if you've the funds, to buy a second tarp for the back yard. The Yukon Outfitters special on Woot would have been perfect, at $20.

Save your lightweight stuff for when you're actually camping. Less-expensive items can be sacrificed to the everyday lazing about in the back yard.

Yeah, that's probably a good idea to get or make a cheap one for the backyard as a sunscreen and use the Superfly for the camping.

Oh sorry. Most of us have weekend camping, backpacking on the mind when questions like this come up.
I am not sure any of the gear we use for hammock camping was designed to be used as backyard lawn furnature.
I would not expect it to last very long if exposed to that much sun light even if you did treat it regularly.

I don't leave it up in the backyard. I just set it up back there when I'm itching to hang for a while. You know have a beer and a nap in the yard. I wish I had some extra silnylon so I could try a sun test and see if the 303 really helps. I do know that the 303 does keep the plastic kayaks looking like new.

[DanglingModifier]

Swatches are either dirt cheap, or free (ripstopbytheroll.com), then consider a DIY job now or down the road if you like the selection.

[LuvmyBonnet]

Swatches are either dirt cheap, or free (ripstopbytheroll.com), then consider a DIY job now or down the road if you like the selection.

Well after your suggestion, I talked to Brandon from Warbonnet and he is sending me some scrap to do some tests on.
I'll keep everyone posted on the results.