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  1. #1
    Senior Member Banjoman's Avatar
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    Cat cut depth for rectangular tarp

    Hey guys,

    Just wondering if anyone has a suggestion for the depth of cat cuts for my tarp. I am making a rectangular tarp that will end up being a couple inches over 11ft long when finished. I am using 1.1 silpoly. I'm also thinking I'll add cat cuts on the vertical edges as well but not sure.

    I made a similar tarp with silpoly xl and a 12 ft ridgeline a couple of years ago, and am fairly happy with it so I know I can figure it out but was wanting some input/suggestions.

    My main reason for making this is because my favorite tarp is the Warbonnet cloudburst. I have 4-5 differently-shaped and high-quality tarps, but I almost always reach for the cloudburst when it's go time. I do wish it had some slight cat cuts to tighten it up a bit when pitched though.

    Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

  2. #2
    Senior Member Redoleary's Avatar
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    Somewhere in the 4-6% of the length of a side is a good depth for the cat cut. It's at least something to deviate from, modify to taste.
    Good luck,
    RED

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  3. #3
    Senior Member Banjoman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Redoleary View Post
    Somewhere in the 4-6% of the length of a side is a good depth for the cat cut. It's at least something to deviate from, modify to taste.
    Thanks Red! In your opinion, on the conservative to aggressive spectrum, would this 4-6% be moderate? I'm wanting to lean on the conservative side, as I know the straight edge of the cloudburst is acceptable for me.

    By the way, your coffee grounds pouch video got me making cold-brewed coffee when I think ahead enough to make some.

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  4. #4
    Senior Member Redoleary's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Banjoman View Post
    Thanks Red! In your opinion, on the conservative to aggressive spectrum, would this 4-6% be moderate? I'm wanting to lean on the conservative side, as I know the straight edge of the cloudburst is acceptable for me.

    By the way, your coffee grounds pouch video got me making cold-brewed coffee when I think ahead enough to make some.

    Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk
    Its my understanding is that silpoly doesn't have that much stretch (never used it)so you could probably even go a bit shallower like 2-3%, over 11' a 3" cat cut should be enough, especially if you don't have many complaints about a straight cut tarp.
    Thanks for the feedback on the coffee. Always good to hear people actually watch that stuff.
    Good luck,
    RED

    My Youtube Channel

    Deep peace of the running wave to you.
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  5. #5
    Senior Member Monkeyboy42's Avatar
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    I have an 11x9’6 rectangle with no cat cuts in 1.1 silpoly and an 11x 7’6 rectangle with cat cuts in membrane silpoly. I love the weight of the of the smaller tarp, but wish I hadn’t done the cat cuts. I put tie outs for doors at around 2’6ish in on each end, and cat cuts between the tie outs. The cat cuts don’t add much, and they mean I always have to use 8 stakes to pitch, even if I’m not using the door feature. On my bigger tarp I can just stake the 4 corners and be done.

  6. #6
    ObdewlaX's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Banjoman View Post
    Hey guys,

    Just wondering if anyone has a suggestion for the depth of cat cuts for my tarp. I am making a rectangular tarp that will end up being a couple inches over 11ft long when finished. I am using 1.1 silpoly. I'm also thinking I'll add cat cuts on the vertical edges as well but not sure.

    I made a similar tarp with silpoly xl and a 12 ft ridgeline a couple of years ago, and am fairly happy with it so I know I can figure it out but was wanting some input/suggestions.

    My main reason for making this is because my favorite tarp is the Warbonnet cloudburst. I have 4-5 differently-shaped and high-quality tarps, but I almost always reach for the cloudburst when it's go time. I do wish it had some slight cat cuts to tighten it up a bit when pitched though.

    Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk
    When I did my tarp, I used Xtrekkers Curve Generator to help me with my cat curves. Pretty useful.

  7. #7
    Senior Member mab0852's Avatar
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    Performance wise, silpoly doesn't really need cat cuts, so it would be a purely aesthetic thing. The very minor weight savings is definitely not worth the effort in my opinion. Like noted above, if you ever and to go to full rectangle then they are a definite drawback.

  8. #8
    Senior Member Banjoman's Avatar
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    I have heard this before, and this may ultimately be correct. However, I already have a rectangular silpoly tarp and I feel that some minor cat cuts might help the sides and that long bottom edge tighten up just a bit more. If I knew for sure it wouldn't help, then I wouldn't do it. Cat cuts don't improve aesthetics IMO.

    Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

  9. #9
    Senior Member P-Dub's Avatar
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    I made a tarp and had read somewhere to make the cat cuts an inch deep for each foot. My tarp is 12' long, and has a tie out in the middle, so that makes 2 stretches of 6' each. I did not want to cut that much, so I halved it -- two 3" cat cuts per side, between the tie outs. It seems to be just fine.

  10. #10
    Senior Member Banjoman's Avatar
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    I cut them Sunday evening. I did 3" over the 11.5 ft. Ultra-conservative, I know, but that's OK with me. I want to err on the side of more coverage. I decided not to add cat cuts on the vertical sides.

    Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

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