My group is entering the BWCA next Tuesday. Forecast looks rainy, and in the past we've brought cheap, torn, raggedy tarps in the event that there's a persistent rain... We've been fairly fortunate to never experience anything like that (at least while traveling, or during the day). We end up using the tarps to cover our gear during brief but torrential downpours.

After doing a lot of reading on here about tarp use for shade or rain protection, I figured I'd try and rig one up on the cheap. (It's also weird seeing tarps in >50% of the photos posted on here... I'd never heard of spending $200+ on a tarp until browsing this site!). I could have sprung $25 for a few industrial-grade tarps from Sam's Club, but I'm already way over-budget on this trip (mostly impulsive fishing purchases).

I took a 9'x12' (I think) tarp with a tear along one edge for this project. I used duct tape to seal the rip. The edge of the tarp was then folded inward so that the tear was no longer near the edge. This also serves the purpose of reinforcing the corner (two layers of polyethylene instead of one). The other side was also folded in, but not quite as far.

I then added 4 layers of duct tape to reinforce the corners: one strip going one direction, another in the other direction (perpindicular), and repeated this.

The goal of folding the tarp in and adding duct tape layers is to help distribute the stress from the tie-lines over a larger area, and also prevent tearing of the weave.

Next, I used a soldering iron to melt a hole in the corners, then placed some plastic grommets in the hole. The union of the grommets seemed pretty weak (with my finger underneath a lip of the grommet, I could easily pry them apart--wouldn't trust it for high winds or severe weather.. and I don't want to spend time digging through my pack looking for part of a grommet), so I reinforced them with some shoe goo.

Here's the final result. We'll have a ridgeline of paracord, while the corners will be rigged to bungees that are tied to paracord.



Letting it cure overnight.. Hoping it works next week, but hoping even more we don't have tons of rain.

Good luck with the modifications. I hope they work out for you.
In my experience those tarps work fine and dandy for a trip or two or until a good wind hits it. That's where the good, expensive tarps come into play. Save on weight and save on repairs or replacement tarps. The type you are showing though work fine. I wouldn't suggest to anyone to go out and buy an expensive tarp unless they are doing 2 or 3 trips a year. For the price of an expensive one, a person can buy a lot of $25 tarps. Heck it's not about the equipment used, it's about being there right. Wasn't long ago that tarps were not even part of a gear list. Let us know how it works out for you.

You have never been in a torrential downpour! Do you go to the same BWCA that I do. Out of my 12 trips I remember at least 5 with severe downpours. One trip was an 18 hour pour resulting in 4 inches of rain.

Most of the storms I have been through would have shredded cheap tarps. I trust my CCS.

Hope your luck holds out.

Good luck...

one can always resort to a rock/pebble folded in fabric at tie outs, if grommets give out. hopefully you won't deal an intense storm/hi winds moving thru.
have a great trip.

I've always heard the grommets give out.
I have a rain fly from an old tent that I use as a tarp. The tents long gone but the fly, and the grommets, are still going strong after 40 years.

My friend Jay always brings a big blue poly tarp and it also has served well. Here we used it as a wind break on LLC.



Yes, the CCS is a superior tarp, but if money's tight you can get by with a heavier and cheaper tarp. I have set up poly tarp canopies at my cabin for deer season and left them up all winter without damage. I wouldn't risk that with a nice CCS. Besides, I'm thrifty (spelled cheapscate).

No offense guys, but I'd rather spend my dollars on fishing tackle than tarps any time.

For future reference, you don't have to spend big bucks to own a decent lightweight tarp, Matt. I have the larger one. All-in-one setup for windbreak & overhead cover.
11 X 11 tarp

Matt, Just go with what you have and you'll have a great time. Maybe rent a CCS sometime. I love mine, but if I didn't have it I'd make due with what I had.

We trip with three tarps. A 10X10 CCS, a top off of a pop up shelter and a throw away hardware store tarp. We have a great time jury rigging them together.

We find that we need wind protection and much as rain protection.

You did a nice job modifying what you have.

I throw in 6 of these to help with set up. Maybe a good idea if your grommets tear out.

Tarp Clips

quote mjmkjun: "one can always resort to a rock/pebble folded in fabric at tie outs, if grommets give out. hopefully you won't deal an intense storm/hi winds moving thru.
have a great trip."

Couldn't agree more. Especially this time of year. :)
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