Polycro

If there is no way to make a bathtub out of the polycryo I already own, what is the lightest bathtub groundsheet I can purchase/make?

Thanks-
Wayne

Joe at Zpacks sells a cuben version.

That said, a stiffer fabric, like tyvek, is easily taped (clear packing tape) at the corners to make a tub. Been wondering myself if I could do it w/polycro.

Use sheet bend knots to attach shock cord to the polycro, and then tie the other end to the corners of you tarp. This should pull the edges up while you lie on it. It's not strictly a bathtub, but may be good enough.

With a piece 6" longer and 6" wider than your intended tub, fold up a 3" tub wall on each side. you'll have triangular "wing" at each corner where the sides now meet. Fold that to eaither side and tape it down with 3" wide duct tape. Or tape all the way around the corner for added strength. You could also fold it to the inside, and throw a layer of tape inside and out. If you're intending to "hang" the sides off something to keep them from sagging, run the duct tape up an inch above the corners (and maybe mid-way on the long sides), and carefully punch some holes in it. If you're careful with the tension, you won't need grommets.

Without something to hang the side-walls from, you'll have some problems with sagging (less so with the head/foot walls). If you're sleeping single, you can run a string from side-to-side over your bag/bivy to keep the walls from sagging.

15 minutes. $1 worth of tape. Minimal weight penalty. Increased peace of mind. I don't think there's a downside.

I hope this was what you were after.
Ken

If you buy it from the hardware store, it comes with a role of double-sided tape, a short length of this, the height you wish your bathtub to be, would do the trick, and leave you with a triangular piece to which you can tie a bit of cordage for use as a stake point at each corner.

It's possible. But I wouldn't want to put in the effort to make something out of a disposable material. Call me lazy.

If you are lazy, then I would say to stick some plastic sheet together with tape and call it done.

If you own a sewing machine, then I would say to get some spinnaker fabric, cut it and hem it with turned up edges, and call it done.

–B.G.–

http://bearpawwd.com/shelters_floors/bathtub_floor.html

Thanks, Ken (and everyone else who contributed). This is exactly what I was looking for. In fact, this is better than I had hoped (regarding ease and cost).

Eternally grateful-
Wayne