The Cowboy Batwing Widebody All-Season Tarp

[kitsapcowboy]

Just an update on the tarp after it's inaugural trip .... the porch mode is just awesome on the trail, very convenient for several people if weather turns wet, everyone loved the design...

Enjoy all that space.

[Cruiser51]

A pic of the tarp in the wild where it belongs.

[kitsapcowboy]

That is awesome; floating porch mode is my favorite.

A pic of the tarp in the wild where it belongs.

[Winnie]

When you sew the rectangular patch at the ridgeline is the leading edge of the patch sewn into the door hem?

[kitsapcowboy]

When you sew the rectangular patch at the ridgeline is the leading edge of the patch sewn into the door hem?

Yes. Typically, I start and stop the first and second stitch rows on the standing ridge line seam about an inch from the raw edge of the cut fabric. Then I position the reinforcement patch at the tie-out point spanning the RL seam; on a tarp design with vestibule doors like the Batwing, when the corners of the unhemmed edge are brought to the raw edge of the fabric, there will be an excess triangular section centered on the RL to trim away so the edge of the patch is flush with the raw edges of the joined tarp panels. Then the perimeter is roll-hemmed, and the unsewn corners of the tarp panels right at the ridge line can be neatly involved into the hem as it's tacked down without significantly constraining the vertical tab on the standing seam. This gives you something to sew right to the very end of the ridge line when the folded grosgrain ribbon is attached to encapsulate the standing seam.

[Rekoob]

That is awesome; floating porch mode is my favorite.

Very nice tarp!

How long are your poles? I have some tent poles from a long gone tent that I want to try to use on my "winter" tarp to open it up like that but not sure what length I'm looking for and not sure if they are too heavy duty. Also not sure how to connect them to the tarp without sewing in some pockets.

I need to go back and just read this thread from the beginning.

Great tarp!

[Shug]

I love tarps.
All tarps.
Shug

[JustAnotherDude]

.... while polyester fibers may have much less stretch than nylon ones, there is still a perceptible amount of stretch under high tension in the weave of these outdoor fabrics, especially when pulled on the bias. I think the cat-cuts still have some noticeable benefit as applied in these silpoly tarp builds. They also help save a little weight and increase packability by reducing bulk.....
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...at-Tangle-Tarp



(Diagram showing dimensions of the Cat Tangle tarp with shape of my previous Batwing 12' x 12' DIY all-season tarp superimposed for comparison.)

I've been searching the threads but cannot find the answer to my question. You touch on it in the quoted portion above. My question is: What is the purpose of catenary cuts? Weight savings only? You seem to indicate the cut helps in some way to reduce stretching of the material in addition to a very minor weight benefit. Can you do any kind of diagram that shows how the catenary cut helps reduce stretching? Also, how do I determine which direction "bias" runs in material?

Thanks,

Dude

[SteelSkywalker]

na na na na na na na na bat tarp!

[MikekiM]

I've been searching the threads but cannot find the answer to my question. You touch on it in the quoted portion above. My question is: What is the purpose of catenary cuts? Weight savings only? You seem to indicate the cut helps in some way to reduce stretching of the material in addition to a very minor weight benefit. Can you do any kind of diagram that shows how the catenary cut helps reduce stretching? Also, how do I determine which direction "bias" runs in material?

Thanks,

Dude

Kitsap hasn't been around in quite a while.. Truth told, I hope he is okay.

I may be wrong, but as I understand it, the cat cuts help get a tighter pitch with less wrinkles and flutter in the tarp. How? No idea.