Thinking of sewing up a simple shelter to give a bit more coverage than my 2.4 x 1.4 Terra Nova tarp for those times when the weather's a bit pants.
I've sewn frame bags, seatpacks and a bar harness but never a tarp, and I've never worked with silnylon, so keeping it simple is a key part of the plan.
I like the idea of a side opening design (like the BPWD Lair etc) that blocks the weather while letting you look out while sat up or lying down.
I've come up with the following design which should require a minimum of sewing skill and time while, I hope, achieving what I'm after.
It will be made from just three flat sections:
The main section is 3.4m x 2.2m x1.5m and the 'doors' are just triangles.
Height is 110cm but I'd plan to use a longer pole and have a gap at the base.
Footprint is roughly 2.5m x 1.6m.
The doors will be sewn together at the top to form a small beak and tied back in normal use (as in the second pic), leaving an opening 70 cm high from the base of the shelter (but further from the floor due to the gap at the base).
In really bad weather it would be possible to close the doors, which will have an overlap. I don't have a plan for ventilation, other than leaving the door ajar so I'd expect to suffer the inevitable condensation.
In terms of construction, I'm planning to cut the three sections out and hem them then sew the door sections together at the top to make a single piece which I'll then sew to the main section. The plan is to use flat-felled seams for the joins.
Finally, I'll add tie-outs made from narrow to the corners, the beak and probably one or two in the middle of the back panel to add taughtness and increase internal space. I'll reinforce these with a silnylon patch and also add some reinforcement where the pole locates. Seams and stitching will be sealed with silicone sealant.
Now I realise this won't be as stable, solid and flap-free as a professional job with catenary curves and more sophisticated panelling but I'm hopeful it might work out OK.
Point North have some cheap silnylon at the moment which should keep the cost to under £30 and weight to around 400g.
So, what do you think? Is it worth the effort or will it be a flappy, dripping nightmare? Have I got the dimensions right? Any tips on technique? Any good sources of silnylon? Any tips on reinforcing the pole pocket and tie-outs (material, how to do it)?
Sorry for the epic post.
