How tight am I supposed to make my tarp? I've been really hauling at it, and I haven't noticed any problem but I'm not sure if I should have it that tight. Are there conditions when a tarp might need to be loosened? I haven't got shock cord on the guy lines yet but I plan on doing that this week. My dog ran into the guy line and though the line had been very taught and the ridgeline even tighter, the tarp seemed to have enough stretch to recover from it.
Tarp should be tight enough to shed rain. Tarp should be tight enough to not billow up, like a sail, when wind blows.Originally Posted by bearito
If tarp raises up too high in a breeze then your hammock and quilts get wet from wind blown rain.
If tarp is too tight then there is a chance of damaging tarp at seams, pullouts, and loops.
Use your best judgement!
Enough to be firm, but no more. Tarps don't need too much. There is no advantage to be gained from "really cranking it down".
If you put elastic on the guy lines, you'll get auto-tensioning (nice!), but you also get "billows in the wind" (not nice). That said, i like to have elastic guy lines.
Firm but not super taut.
I've had setups with and without shock cord, now no longer use it. I find that there is enough 'dynamic flex' in the system to help spread out shock from accidental trips. I use DCF tarps and so far so good. Now if I used a silnylon tarp I'd probably use an elastic cord because those tarps can really stretch.
However, as far as the shock from tripping, once a shock cord is stretched to the max it becomes a static cord so it does not entirely remove the potential for tarp damage.
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Tight enough so it does not flap in the wind.
I do know a few who truly like a saggy, baggy tarp.
Hard for me to make eye-contact with them....haaaaa
Shug
Whooooo Buddy)))) All Secure in Sector Seven
I use shock cord on the 4 corner pull outs (Shug video). I marlin-spike hitch the stake and stretch until the shock cord is about half-way stretched. It seems to create a nice tight pitch. Then, when the wind begins, I get a nice shake going on. Lot like an Elvis show in the woods.
I use directly tied ridge lines and learned the hard way you CAN go too tight. I pulled too hard and put a couple of tears in a sil poly Dutch tarp I really liked. I’ve made a patch but it’s in an area under tension so yes, it’s not that hard to go too far.
I’m now using shock cord loops on the tie outs and will try them on the ridge as well next.
The deep mystery gives rise to the spirits -Charc
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I have never had a desire to overtighten my tarp. Just take the slack out and it should be good to withstand 40 to 60 mph winds (if the stakes are properly secured).
"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." Ralph Waldo Emerson
From end to end, I center it over the hammock, snug, but not tight. To the ground it's tightish.
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Given an increasing force, what in your setup will break first? On a boat, the propeller shaft may present different metals to the saltwater. It causes a reaction that eats away at the metal. To stop that erosion, a piece of zine is place there. The erosion action “eats” the zinc first. It’s called “Sacrificial Zinc” and is replaced as needed.
So with your tarp, what do you want to break first? What is your “sacrificial zinc”? I put a cheap split ring or two on the ridge line so in a strong wind, that ring will deform first. Sometimes I might put a “jumper” cord around it so if it breaks, the tarp end wouldn’t be flapping around. Or I just pay attention to it. Depends on severity and duration.
Shock cord will stretch until it won’t; then what? I wouldn’t want forces to build up that strongly. If the wind is strong enough to open my split ring, then it’s time to consider a different location or tarp orientation.
In order to see what few have seen, you must go where few have gone. And DO what few have done.
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