BWCA CCS tarp - seam sealing? Boundary Waters Gear Forum
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PapaBear1975
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05/19/2019 05:49PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I bought my tarp at Canoecopia back in March. I've been pretty busy with work/life in general since then and I am taking off on my trip on Thursday. cI was rigging up my tarp today and noticed in the instructions that I should seam seal my tarp since it doesn't come sealed from the shop (oops).

The next three days, I'll be fairly busy tying up loose ends so I can leave work for a couple days. Would it be a huge issue if the tarp is NOT seam sealed before I leave? I fully intend on doing this one Saturday soon when I get back.

Option "B" is applying the seam sealer in camp when I get there Friday afternoon along with other camp chores (i.e. cutting firewood, etc).
 
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05/19/2019 07:05PM  
My CCS tarp came unsealed also. I bought it more than 10 yrs ago so I was advised to seam seal it before I used it. I did so after erecting it in the back yard. It has worked out well since then and I have resealed it a couple of times since purchase. Resealing it is not a big job.
 
05/19/2019 07:28PM  
Yep, the CCS tarps do not come pre-seam sealed. While you most likely won't have any issues using it as is, if you get enough rain it will eventually wick through at said seams. If it were me I would take a half hour and seal it before the trip. My technique is to lay it out upside down flat on the floor with a heavy book in each corner to keep it spread out fairly taut, then after sealing the center work your way out from the along each seam. I let it sit for a day or two so it completely cures. I definitely would not attempt to do it in camp, as too many things are flying around that could get permanently stuck to the sealer before it sets.
 
cyclones30
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05/19/2019 08:22PM  
unshavenman: "My technique is to lay it out upside down flat on the floor with a heavy book in each corner to keep it spread out fairly taut, then after sealing the center work your way out from the along each seam. "

You're applying to the underside? I did mine when I first got it a few years ago, don't recall how I did it.
 
Rs130754
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05/19/2019 08:48PM  
I just bought one this year as well and just screwed some eye bolts in my garage to tie off the corners so everything was snug and about 4' off the floor. I sealed both sides and every tie-out point. I have a heated garage so I was able to do it in the winter. Also, I made my own using 100% silicone thinned with mineral spirits.
 
Jackfish
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05/19/2019 10:22PM  
Seriously, I don't think we've ever seam sealed our CCS tarps, and to my knowledge, we've never had a problem with leakage. Seems like we would (or should) have had a problem by now.

You'll be fine. If you don't have time, seal the seams when you get back.
 
05/19/2019 10:46PM  
If you do seam seal and don't have the time for it to cure properly (12-24 hours?)-- use some talcum powder and spread it on the seam sealer so when tarp is folded up it doesn't get tacky and stick to itself.
 
ozarkpaddler
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05/19/2019 11:41PM  
Jackfish: "Seriously, I don't think we've ever seam sealed our CCS tarps, and to my knowledge, we've never had a problem with leakage. Seems like we would (or should) have had a problem by now.

You'll be fine. If you don't have time, seal the seams when you get back. "

Me too. I can remember seam sealing old tents religiously but never got around to it with my tarp. Have had my CCS several years and in several frog stranglers without leakage.
 
mgraber
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05/20/2019 12:02AM  
At the worst you will have a few drips. Just do it when you have a chance.
 
Savage Voyageur
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05/20/2019 06:36AM  
Don’t sweat it if it’s not seam sealed. It won’t leak until it’s after a long rain, and then only a few drops at the seam. Do it later when you have time.
 
Troutbum77
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05/20/2019 07:54AM  
I spent three rain soaked days under a non-seam sealed CCS Lean shelter. Toward the end of the second day we got a few very minor drops that continued through the trip. It was not a big deal.

Seam seal the tarp later this summer when you have time. You'll be fine on this trip.
 
PapaBear1975
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05/20/2019 05:50PM  
Well....I feel better about it now. Looking at the forecast on Friday, it's looking kinda soggy....it will be nice to pull into camp and unfurl this bad boy and have a nice place to get out of the weather for a change. The tarp will probably be the first thing out of my pack....I learned a long time ago in Boy Scouts to get the dining fly set up first...then set the tent up UNDER the tarp. Especially with today's backpacking tents that are 75% mesh. Thanks for the advice everyone!
 
yellowcanoe
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05/20/2019 07:01PM  
WhiteWolf: "If you do seam seal and don't have the time for it to cure properly (12-24 hours?)-- use some talcum powder and spread it on the seam sealer so when tarp is folded up it doesn't get tacky and stick to itself. "


Yup.. You will find over the years that the seams will leak in various places.Probably not now but in the future. I have had my CCS tarp since 2006. I sealed it when I got it and again last year.

I suggest NOT doing it in camp.. Seam sealer and dirt are a messy combo and even if you try hard to keep clean, pine needles have an invasive bent. You can wait if needed. At most you will get a persistent drip in one spot and may not even get that!
 
Minnesotian
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05/21/2019 09:44AM  
ozarkpaddler: "
Jackfish: "Seriously, I don't think we've ever seam sealed our CCS tarps, and to my knowledge, we've never had a problem with leakage. Seems like we would (or should) have had a problem by now.

You'll be fine. If you don't have time, seal the seams when you get back. "

Me too. I can remember seam sealing old tents religiously but never got around to it with my tarp. Have had my CCS several years and in several frog stranglers without leakage."


Make that 3. Haven't sealed it as well and have spent some drenching days under that tarp. If it doesn't get sealed before you go you will be fine.
 
tonyyarusso
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05/21/2019 10:19AM  
I sealed mine in camp the first night I used it. I avoided the dirt and pine needle issues others have mentioned by just sealing it while it was pitched, which of course also kept everything taut for me. It was a little awkward crawling around under it, but it worked well. Good thing too, as I endured a massive thunderstorm two nights later.
 
05/21/2019 11:35AM  
Jackfish: "Seriously, I don't think we've ever seam sealed our CCS tarps, and to my knowledge, we've never had a problem with leakage. Seems like we would (or should) have had a problem by now.


You'll be fine. If you don't have time, seal the seams when you get back. "


Same with mine. I did seal my Lean1+, but only after several years of use, and then only the "Quad Loop" needed sealing.

butthead
 
joewildlife
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05/26/2019 10:26PM  
I seam sealed mine in camp the first time I used it. Set it up, sealed it, and it was good to go the next morning when I packed it up.
 
mjmkjun
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05/27/2019 04:34PM  
I used my finger to smear & press the silicone in thread holes and it wasn't as neat looking than when I seam sealed a tent 3 yrs ago. Should have placed easy-remove masking tape first.
 
05/30/2020 10:43PM  
Rs130754: "...Also, I made my own using 100% silicone thinned with mineral spirits. "


I did this too except I used camp fuel. I got the idea from YouTube from a guy who also used mineral spirits. But several of the comments advised using camp fuel instead as it is a superior thinning agent. So I went with that. The only thing I noticed was that the surface remained tacky for a couple of days so I applied baby powder. It really worked well otherwise.

I think this is what outfitters must use. Surely they aren't using those little expensive sticks of sealer with the spongy ends.
 
gymcoachdon
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05/31/2020 09:36AM  
I use my CCS tarp over my hammock, so I sealed it. I still had a minor drip, of course from the center post section, and it rained all but 1 day of the trip. I just pulled the tarp off the center line so the drip missed my top quilt and hammock.
If I was just using it as a rainfly, there would have been no worries, and I resealed that section top and bottom when i got back from the trip, no worries since.
 
sdebol
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05/31/2020 05:48PM  
ozarkpaddler: "
Jackfish: "Seriously, I don't think we've ever seam sealed our CCS tarps, and to my knowledge, we've never had a problem with leakage. Seems like we would (or should) have had a problem by now.

You'll be fine. If you don't have time, seal the seams when you get back. "

Me too. I can remember seam sealing old tents religiously but never got around to it with my tarp. Have had my CCS several years and in several frog stranglers without leakage."


^this
 
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