Question on SilPoly and Cat Cuts

[jifigz]

I'm getting ready to make a silpoly hex tarp for a buddy here in the next few weeks. It will be a 12 ft ridgeline that is tapered to 8 ft on each side. He does not like the tiny bit of lost coverage that cat cuts allows so I swayed him towards silpoly instead of silnylon because I heard silpoly doens't benefit as much from cat cuts as does silnylon. I am basically looking for some input from people that have used silpoly tarps as I am only familiar with silnylon. All of my tarps are silnylon and it is the only material I have used to make a tarp. The few threads I've encountered seems to support the fact that he won't really be missing the cat cuts if silpoly is used. He is a total noob and just getting into hammocking. He just ordered a hammock, suspension, etc from Dutch tonight and I will be supplying his first tarp, so I want him set up as best as possible.

Thanks for the input!

[calpal]

I think the sag is less of an issue post pitch, but cat cuts always make a tight pitch easier. I used 2 " cat cuts and would do it again for the ease of pitching. Definitely not necessary IMO.

[BillC523]

This is off your topic, but Warbonnet is offering silpoly tarps in 20d and 30d fabric. Do you have info on the ounce weight of these two fabrics?
I ave checked several web sites on line and none give that information.

[jms53]

I have a DD 3x3 and it works great. It has lots of tie-outs which makes having a tight pitch a breeze. Given its square shape I can easily put it in diamond formation en then use the extra tie-outs to tighten the pitch, pulling the extremities in so that the water falls off of the tarp.

Would cat cuts make a difference? Perhaps saving a couple of grams. But not enough to warrant the hassle of making them. (IMO)

Cheers,

[OneClick]

Maybe with cuben, but comparing nylon and poly I think the results are the same. I find a cat cut necessary on both.

[kitsapcowboy]

Short version, bottom line: there is a difference between "low-stretch" and "no-stretch"; ergo I still use cat-cuts on my sil-poly tarps and am in agreement that they make a taut pitch easier. Not necessary, but nice.

[Scouter_Ken]

agree that cat-cuts make for a tauter tarp, but I am still a little hesitant about sewing the cat-cuts until I get a good bit of practice with the narrow hem foot that Jellyfish has recommended. Foot arrived, but no time to play for a few weeks

[jellyfish]

You can always add cat cuts in later and re-hem the tarp if you decide you want them.