BWCA Some tarp rigging questions... Boundary Waters Group Forum: BWCA Hanging
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      Some tarp rigging questions...     

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Blackdogyak
distinguished member (210)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/12/2022 10:24AM  
I'm not at all new to camping but I'm new to hanging and modern tarps.
Questions:
1. I read about people suspending the tarp from a ridgeline...with the ridgeline above and using the tie-outs (with prussiks) to hang it.
Doesn't this just put a lot of strain on the tie-out attachments?
It seems simpler and stronger to just drape the tarp over a tight ridgeline. No?

2. When rigging a tarp with poles......you're just using short hiking poles? What about the center one.... surely that has to be an 8-10 foot pole? Are we cutting sticks in site or packing a dedicated aluminum pole?

Thanks for any help!
 
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Loony_canoe
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01/12/2022 12:43PM  
I use both methods, of the two I seem to use the continuous ridgeline the most. The continuous ridge line is positioned above my tarp. I place it above to reduce the cutting of the tarp underside by the line.
The height of the tarp depends on the weather. Non-windy days I keep the tarp high and usually put it in porch mode. Very cold or very windy days I lower the tarp and maybe even close it in closer to the hammock at the bottom.
I have never connected my tarp to the hammock tarp line, I think it would droop too much when weight is in the hammock.

For camp tarps we use poles found at or near the camp site. Instead of using the smaller wood for a camp fire, we use it for poles. Not all setups require a center pole or even a pole at each end of the tarp. I tend to use as few poles as possible. I have never used a ridge pole in my set ups and rely more on the ropes to keep the tarp up and taunt. The tarps (CCS) I use for the camp area is very well reinforced, so it handles the tarp being taunt, even in the wind.
 
Blackdogyak
distinguished member (210)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/12/2022 01:29PM  
Loony_canoe: "I use both methods, of the two I seem to use the continuous ridgeline the most. The continuous ridge line is positioned above my tarp. I place it above to reduce the cutting of the tarp underside by the line.
The height of the tarp depends on the weather. Non-windy days I keep the tarp high and usually put it in porch mode. Very cold or very windy days I lower the tarp and maybe even close it in closer to the hammock at the bottom.
I have never connected my tarp to the hammock tarp line, I think it would droop too much when weight is in the hammock.


For camp tarps we use poles found at or near the camp site. Instead of using the smaller wood for a camp fire, we use it for poles. Not all setups require a center pole or even a pole at each end of the tarp. I tend to use as few poles as possible. I have never used a ridge pole in my set ups and rely more on the ropes to keep the tarp up and taunt. The tarps (CCS) I use for the camp area is very well reinforced, so it handles the tarp being taunt, even in the wind."


Thanks
How does a center pole work since the hammock is in the way below?
 
Loony_canoe
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01/12/2022 02:14PM  
My hammock tarp only is screeched between two trees. This is not the tarp I use a center pole with. You can get a pole mode to widen the top of the tarp. These attach to the tarp tie out points. When I use these I find a couple small sticks cut off all small branches and attach it with stretch cords. I do have titanium ones, but only use the part of the time.

The center pole is only used in the camp tarp. That tarp is hung by the fire pit. I only use it if I have a sag in the middle that collects rain, or to help support the tarp against the wind. I also may tie the center section to a higher tree or branch to the same effect.
 
Blackdogyak
distinguished member (210)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/12/2022 03:00PM  
Loony_canoe: "My hammock tarp only is screeched between two trees. This is not the tarp I use a center pole with. You can get a pole mode to widen the top of the tarp. These attach to the tarp tie out points. When I use these I find a couple small sticks cut off all small branches and attach it with stretch cords. I do have titanium ones, but only use the part of the time.


The center pole is only used in the camp tarp. That tarp is hung by the fire pit. I only use it if I have a sag in the middle that collects rain, or to help support the tarp against the wind. I also may tie the center section to a higher tree or branch to the same effect."


Ah yes....I usually use a kayak paddle for the center pole in the camp tarp.
 
Hammertime
distinguished member (275)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/13/2022 05:43PM  
I think draping the tarp over a ridgeline would cause serious abrasion problems.

The stress on your tieouts is determined by the placement of your prussik knots. The ridgeline can be guitar string tight and the tarp could still be loose.
 
01/14/2022 03:04PM  
Hammertime: "I think draping the tarp over a ridgeline would cause serious abrasion problems.


The stress on your tieouts is determined by the placement of your prussik knots. The ridgeline can be guitar string tight and the tarp could still be loose."


It may cause abrasion and it may also be a source of water flow under the tarp. But over the top provides greater support and less sag.

Over vs under is one of the great camping controversies similar to innie vs outie.

It's all about trade-offs. In the end it's whatever floats your boat.
 
Savage Voyageur
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01/14/2022 04:25PM  
When I rig my tarp for my hammock I use a long piece of cord in a big loop around two trees. This is my middle support for my tarp. I just flip my tarp over the two lines. Then I tie out the two ends to the tree so it is tight using two of the grommets. This way there is very little pulling on the tarp. Then just tie out the bottom corners.

When rigging for a camp tarp I bring aluminum poles for two corners and the other end of the tarp goes close to the ground. Then I lash a wood pole I found in the woods to the center so rain drains off.
 
01/15/2022 06:24AM  
I don’t use a ridge line for my tarp but rather use all tie outs. Then deploy small spreader bars over the superfly tarp to open it up in the middle. See Shugemery you tube site for lots of hammock how to’s.
 
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