SUL Self Tightening Tarp

John, very nice! Create way of tensioning the ridgeline – I like it. I especially like that you were able to free up your interior space by moving the front pole out. You'll have to let us know how your tensioning system works. Very cool!

Thanks again George.

I scoured the internet for images and articles on tying and tensioning guylines. My goal was to be able to set my stakes and forget about my guylines until morning. It also naturally had to simple and light.

Most of what I was able to find on the web was bulky and or complicated in their design. I saw a few designs that allowed you to re-tension the guylines from under the tarp that were not bulky or complicated. But I didn't want to have to re-tension the guylines at all.

I will be back with a field test report on how the tensioning system works as soon as my schedule permits. Until then for all of you dinosaurs out there that remember the term "shareware" feel free to try out and use the design. I only ask that anyone that does try it get back to us with a field test report of their own on this thread.

My front and rear tieouts are probably not the lightest around but they simplified the setting up of the tarp. I can live with the additional "gram load" :-) if it makes life simpler.

As you said they also allowed me to free up the space underneath the tarp by locating the pole outside. With the extra 12" of ridgeline that I added I should be able to stretch out in style and still have ample space for my gear.

I'm a country music sort of guy but I do like K.I.S.S.
Keeping It Sublimely Simple.

Party On ! 2010

Newton

Don’t know if you ever saw this thread about self-tensioning guylines, FWIW.

Douglas,

Thanks for the link. I thought I had looked almost everywhere. Apparently I had looked "almost" everywhere and not "there". :-)

So it seems that mine is just a variation of a theme then. The methods are quite similar though the knotting styles differ where the guyline and shockcord join. The parallel guyline and shockcord arragement is interesting. It achieves the same goal without "betting the house" on the non-paralleled shockcord not breaking.

I had seen a tent guyline tip similar to the second style of self tensioning guyline on McNett's website.

http://www.mcnett-outdoor.com/Repair-Guide/Tents/Tent-Tips/235.aspx

It is interesting that this approach uses the "fisherman's knot". It's the same knot but a different manner of usage. I used it to join the shockcord and guyline and the author of the post uses it to join the ends of the shockcord loop that he ties into an unbroken guyline.

I don't care for the look of the guyline paralleling the shockcord. But in the back of my mind a little voice is whispering, form follows function! I'd hate to go to sleep under a tarp and wake up in a bivy. :-)

I am considering the parallel guyline/shockcord approach as an "upgrade" to my guylines.

Thanks again.

Party On ! 2010

Newton

John,
That's a good-looking tarp.

You might consider using a curtain bug net attached along the hems. That can save a lot of weight and fiddling. I make them 18-20 inches on the sides and 6" longer than the center front and back heights. If you make the end pieces sorta diamond shaped, you can just lift the net to get in and out.

very nice tarp!

Vick and Evan,

Thank you for the kind words. :-)

Vick,

Can you post a picture or 2 or 3 Heh! Heh! I kind of understand where you're going with your description. What is confusing to me is the diamond shaped entrance netting.

I am all over saving weight and reducing the "fiddling". :-)

Party On ! 2010

Newton

I like this tarp/setup….alot.

Kyle,

I am admittedly biased but so do I or I wouldn't be going back to the ground! Check out my soon to be changed avatar.

One of my goals was to go lighter if not ultralight. I saw that the weight of my shelter of choice could be "adjusted" lower.

I've been bitten by the MYOG bug and I like it! :-)

My wet weight with water (2 liters) and food for three days is now at 14 pounds with my new tarp. :-)

Party On ! 2010

Newton

Douglas,

>>Don't know if you ever saw this thread about self-tensioning guylines, FWIW.<<

Thanks again. Your FWIW brought about a modification and improvement to the guylines on my SUL tarp.

I added what I call the "safety line" going to the tieout on the tarp from the "fishermans knot" and ultimately to the stake. I replaced the length of Kelty Triptease at each tieout point so that it would be one single piece as opposed to two pieces at each point. This was my effort at K.eeping I.t S.ublimely S.imple!

I used a bowline to secure the Triptease to the tieout. I followed that with the fishermans knot to join the Triptease to the shockcord as before but left some length for the safety loop.

The the knot that I used on the stake loop is what I call a modified slip knot.

Above are the front and rear views of this modified slip knot.

It is formed by first making a loose overhand knot. Follow this with threading the free end of the line back through the loosely formed overhand knot. Keeping everything you've done to this point "in place" form another overhand knot around the line coming into the first overhand knot using the same free end. Put your finger into the loop that you formed earlier and pull everything tight while holding the free end. Allow the last overhand knot to slide down to the first overhand knot and you're done. The result will be what looks like another fishermans knot that forms a locked loop for attachment to the stake.

I originally looked at a similar knot called a lariat loop for an example of what I wanted to acomplish. If any of you boy scouts or sailors out there know the real name for this knot if there is one please post it. As far as I know it is simply a combination of two knots forming a locked loop.

Party On ! 2010

Newton

Happy I could be of some assistance!

Douglas,

You only got to see the part of the post where I expressed my thanks for the link. I inadvertently posted the message prior to adding my text & pictures of the final result. :-(

Now let's play name that knot. :-)

Did I create a new knot, combine two existing knots or just re-tie an already existing knot to form my stake loop?

I don't know and I'm hoping someone else does.

Party On ! 2010

Newton

I don't know about the knots! But it looks great, what a super modification.

NM

Why did you want to use that knot in your application rather than a bowline?

Paul,

>>Why did you want to use that knot in your application rather than a bowline?<<

I used a bowline at the tieout because it was simpler for me working with only so much line and one free end.

I used the other knot or combination of knots on the other end simply because I liked the looks of it better and it performed the same function of a bowline in this application. I would have probably used this knot at the tieout also but the grosgrain and shockcord make tightening the loop a little challenging.

I had originally used a doubled over figure 8 knot for the stake loops but I found it too bulky.

I like lighter and leaner gear. By that I mean if I can't lighten it I try to at least make it less bulky.

I hope this answers your question.

Do you have an answer for "Name That Knot"? :-)

Party On ! 2010

Newton

Not sure if you folks have seen this http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=19526

Scott,

Not only did I see it, I bought all the supplies at my local Wal-Mart. I actually went so far as to cut to size the elastic tubing.

Denis's idea is a good one. I just chose to go a different direction. I liked the "stuffability" of my tensioners over the elastic tubing style.

Thanks for the link reference. Now, "Name That Knot". :-)

Party On ! 2010

Newton

As it is a unslippable slip knot I'd call it a Non-Slip Slip Knot. Stake Knot? The Donewar Knot has an elegant ring to it.

The customization possibility is one of my favorite parts of ultra light and MYOG in general.

"Do you have an answer for "Name That Knot"? :-)"

I'm a bit frazzled at the moment, so I'm afraid not.

(a frayed knot)
–B.G.–

"The result will be what looks like another fishermans knot"

I think you hit the nail on the head, this is still a fisherman's knot, but tied using one strand instead of two. As far as I know, using it in this manner doesn't have it's own name, but I'm far from a knot expert. I've used the same arrangement for ice axe leashes so they can loosen (one-way slippable) but won't overtighten on the wrist.

Kind people,

I would "stake knot" my life on it but I am "a frayed" that I can "knot" call it a "Donewar" because I want to "slip knot" and cause "knot fishermens" to think of stringing me up! ;-)

Party On ! 2010

Newton

Since I’m a bit of a knot nut, I just had to track this thing down. This knot is known by numerous names, most of which also refer to other knots: fisherman’s, englishman’s or angler’s loop; the true love knot, and middleman’s knot.

Here are some links: http://www.scoutingresources.org.uk/knots/knots_mn.html and http://www.thedump.scoutscan.com/knotbook.pdf

Thanks, that was fun :)

Matthew,

>>Thanks, that was fun :)<<

I'm glad that you enjoyed it.

As you can tell from my last post I'm a bit of a "knut" myself. :-)

Party On ! 2010

Newton