Sil Argon tarp problems

[Mouseskowitz]

A while back I completed my 4 season sil argon tarp. So far I've really liked it, but the last couple days I've started having problems.

The first issue I think is a design flaw on my part. I put a couple ribbons in the center of the ridge line for securing the internal pole mod. I found out that it also functions as a wick and drips on me. Fortunately, I'm still using my military sleep system. So, a little water on the gortex bivy isn't an issue. The grosgrain ridge line is not sealed, so I'm thinking I'll need to seal the area around the ribbons. Can anyone think of a different way to fix this?

The second issue might be the fabric. It seems to stretch a lot. I've been hanging in the back yard the last two nights to test the tarp in snow. The first night it worked pretty will and the snow was self shedding. Last night wasn't so good. By this morning there was a lot of slack in the tarp. I had retensioned it before going to sleep. I'm not sure I could prove it, but I'm guess the tarp has stretched close of 4". Now that I'm thinking of it, I'm not sure if the stretch has been caused by the rain or the snow load as it stuck to the tarp last night.

The stretch issue is rather frustrating. If poles and shock cord on the tie outs can't manage it, I'm not sure what to do.

[Mouseskowitz]

I forgot to add pictures.

[SirMarkos]

How did you end up sewing your RL? Double french seam or bound it with the ribbon?

[Mouseskowitz]

How did you end up sewing your RL? Double french seam or bound it with the ribbon?

Sewed the two halves together with the ribbon between then bound with grosgrain. I don't see evidence of leakage anywhere else. The ridge line was soaked, now frozen. Same with the ribbon.

[SirMarkos]

Sewed the two halves together with the ribbon between then bound with grosgrain. I don't see evidence of leakage anywhere else. The ridge line was soaked, now frozen. Same with the ribbon.

Yeah, I didn't go that route. You may have to seal the RL. I'm willing to bet the ribbon is wicking the moisture from the grosgrain into your rig

[Mouseskowitz]

Yeah, I didn't go that route. You may have to seal the RL. I'm willing to bet the ribbon is wicking the moisture from the grosgrain into your rig

That's my thinking too. I'm wondering if I can just do a couple inches on either side of the ribbons. The grosgrain is poly which I don't think will wick too bad under a little sil.

[SirMarkos]

That's my thinking too. I'm wondering if I can just do a couple inches on either side of the ribbons. The grosgrain is poly which I don't think will wick too bad under a little sil.

You mean from the inside?

[Mouseskowitz]

You mean from the inside?

Kind of. I wouldn't want to coat the whole thing, so there would be a covered section with bare areas on each side. So, there is a possibility for wicking under the sil and down the ribbon. I think that would take quite a bit of water pressure though.

[SirMarkos]

Kind of. I wouldn't want to coat the whole thing, so there would be a covered section with bare areas on each side. So, there is a possibility for wicking under the sil and down the ribbon. I think that would take quite a bit of water pressure though.

Well, I hope it works out. My personal recommendation would be to do the double french seam on any new tarps you do with the SF RL. I'm sold on it personally. I seriously doubt I'll ever construct a flat felled/french hybrid again unless I just don't have the grosgrain or the spare cash to invest.

I do think they're pretty awesome for outside pole mods though.

[Mouseskowitz]

My personal recommendation would be to do the double french seam on any new tarps you do with the SF RL.

Could you point me in the right direction of what you're talking about there?