Re: Tacoma Tarp

Hi, I am new to the group; came over from a sailing forum...

Saw this, was thinking it might work well for a cockpit tent...could 
loop ends over cleats, hang center from boom, guy the front to the 
mast, etc...

Anyone here ever tried something like that?  I could use the pole, if 
necessary...

Bruce

--- In BackpackingLight-F5Bj5G+ccuY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "cmcrooker" 
<cmcrooker@xxxx> wrote:
> Jimmy,
> You probably found my report on the Tacoma in your archives 
search.  
> But, in case you didn't, here it is again with a few additional 
> comments.
> 
> I've spent a few more nights in the Tacoma since I wrote the 
> following so I'll add a few comments.  The tarp did well in a light 
> rain.  It did stretch a bit so I tightened the pitch up after the 
> rain. On another occasion I sat and watched it hold up very well in 
> approximately 20 mph gusts.  I pitch mine quite high (about 50" at 
> the peak) yet it still held with no problems in these gusts.  Still 
> love the ease of set up after using a 5' x 8' rectangular tarp!
>       
> TACOMA TARP GEAR REVIEW
> The Tacoma tarp is made by Brawny and Rainmaker.  See  
> http://www.trailquest.net/dlgctacomatarp.html for photos and 
> description.  They can't make any more until mid August when Brawny 
> comes off the AT.  The tarp with mosquito netting is $120.  Mine 
> weighs 14.5 oz including Kelty triptease guylines.  It is basically 
> a rectangular tarp with a 17" beak in front, full netting over the 
> front entrance and 8" of netting extending from the other three 
> sides of the tarp.  My tarp's finished size is approximately 5' 
4.5" 
> x 9' 1.5".  A hiking pole is used to support the center of one long 
> side, the 4 corners are staked out.  A loop is also provided to 
> attach the peak to a tree instead of using a hiking pole.  A 
> reinforced loop is attached along the middle of the other long 
side, 
> 19" up from the bottom edge.  This loop can be pulled out using a 
> second hiking pole or a tree to create more useable room inside the 
> tarp.  
> 
> I have a total of 5 nights in the Tacoma.  I like it.  In the past, 
> I used a 5' x 8' ID silnylon tarp.  The Tacoma is much easier to 
set 
> up.  I stake out the 2 back corners, put my hiking pole in the 
front 
> and stake the guy line, then stake the 2 front corners.  That
> may be enough in a pinch but I prefer more space so I put rocks in 
> the loops I've
> tied to the middle of the 2 short sides and use my 2nd pole or a 
> tree to
> pull out the back.  I'm 5'10" and there is just enough room for me 
> to sleep
> diagonally.  I set the front pole high (about 50" I think) so I 
have 
> lots of
> room to sit up and get in and out of the tarp.  This gives less 
room 
> to stretch out though.  This hike in Oregon we got no rain but some 
> humidity.  I did have slight condensation inside the tarp the 3rd 
> night when we were camped next to Eagle Creek.  The two people in 
> Europa tents also had condensation.  I tied up the netting covering 
> the front entrance in the middle of the night and felt like there 
> was more air circulation that way.  The
> night I had condensation it was still to a slight breeze.  The foot 
> and hood of my sleeping bag got slightly damp from contacting the 
> tarp walls.
> 
> I don't know how well the mosquito netting works, I've encountered 
> few of the
> critters while using the Tacoma.  It looks like it will work well.  
> The sides of the tarp have 8" of netting.  The sides ride up to 
give 
> an inch or two of ventilation space
> under the tarp on all sides.
> 
> No rain to test the tarp in yet, but it looks like rain will not be 
> a problem.
> 
> Things I like: 
> Easy to set up
> Lots of room to change clothes and sit up
> Pretty good ventilation from what I've experienced
> 
> Things I don't like or could be improved:
> I find it a little awkward to get in under the netting.  The 
netting 
> would get caught on my back as I entered the tarp.  The netting 
only 
> pushes up to within about 10" of the peak.  Don't know if this is 
> because I pitch the tarp high.
> The beak is sewn in so one long side of the main tarp can't be laid 
> out flat to its full length.  The first night I had to jury rig the 
> tarp since there wasn't enough room to set it up in a normal 
> configuration.  The jury rig worked but was a bit sloppy.  It would 
> have been prettier (and the Tacoma more versatile) if the peak was 
> detachable or in two pieces so the Tacoma could be used as a true 
> rectangular tarp.
> 
> Conclusion:
> Two thumbs up (my left and right).
> 
> Notes:
> Brawny and Rainmaker were great to work with.  My tarp arrived with 
> one seam apparently not "singed".  They paid for me to ship it 
back, 
> fixed the seam and finished it in addition and even sent me a 
little 
> gift for my trouble.  Total turn around time from me shipping the 
> tarp to getting it back was a few days.
> 
> The Tacoma without the netting is $75 and weighs 9.5 oz according 
to 
> the web site.  Since fewer and/or shorter guy lines are required 
for 
> the Tacoma vs. a 5' x 8' tarp, the weight of the Tacoma with guy 
> lines is very close to a 5' x 8' tarp with guy lines.
> 
> Carol Crooker
> Transformation Coach