Lots of the replies in one of the recent posts listed the CCS Tarp. I'm intrigued and have a few questions:

-What size tarp do you prefer for a group of 4 people? How big is too big for reasonable use?

-How do you lift the center of the tarp? Do you bring a pole? - if so, what kind? Is there a way to attach the center to a branch and lift it up that way?

-Pics I've seen make it look like folks are using some pretty long line for erecting the tarp. What lines do you use?

-Are the tarps sold on piragis.com CCS tarps? I think they are. Any other better sources?

Thanks,

Ken K.

i have my first ccs on the way right now. bought from ccs directly.

cut a pole (dead of course) if you want to use that option.

id opt for a rope, if possible. branch throwing technique.

bring twice as much cordage as you think youll need.

1/8" is plenty...and not clothesline either. lol atleast double the 80' you get from Dan.

for a 4 person group...atleast a 12x12.

ccs

Ken,

Here are my answers to your questions:

-What size tarp do you prefer for a group of 4 people? How big is too big for reasonable use?

I would take one 10x12 per two people. I think it is better to have two 10x12's than one larger tarp. With two you can set them up together or separate. Two are just more versatile.


-How do you lift the center of the tarp? Do you bring a pole? - if so, what kind? Is there a way to attach the center to a branch and lift it up that way?

Don't bring a pole. Part of the fun is finding just the right pole. In a lot of campsites you may find a piece of dead cedar that is conveniently available to use - as if it might have been used for that very purpose before. CCS has a loop system in the middle of the tarp that allows you to tie in the center poll. I have yet to have one slip out. I am pretty sure Dan still puts instructions in with them.


-Pics I've seen make it look like folks are using some pretty long line for erecting the tarp. What lines do you use?

Bad question. Last year I got some of the reflective cord that Dan sells. I am now spoiled.

-Are the tarps sold on piragis.com CCS tarps? I think they are. Any other better sources?

The best place to get them is from Dan's website: http://www.cookecustomsewing.com

You can get the tarps other places but if you can go to the source, why not?

TB

We absolutely love our CCS tarps (and packs). We have two 10' x 12' tarps that work fine for me and my wife. For a group of four, a 12' x 14' may offer better kitchen shelter coverage, especially in windy rain conditions.

For the center, we haven't had any trouble finding an adequate pole around camp and just cutting it for our purposes. If you have an overhang branch, you can also just throw a line around it and tie it to the top center loop. A pole is maybe preferable, though, since it won't blow in the wind.

Get 1/8" polyester tent cord. 80 feet come with each tarp which is enough for most setups. Another 80' per tarp is good for extreme situations. Like Troutbreath, I'm now spoiled by the reflective rope that Dan sells. Dan supplies the quality rope with the braided core, so you would do well to get that from him as well.

I cut each 80 foot rope into ten 8' sections. Then if I need a length longer than 8', I use Kanoes' method to slice two or more sections together with interlocking loops.

This all worked great on our trip last week between Kawishiwi Lake and Fishdance. A week ago we had those flood rains on Lake Polly, yet stayed nice and dry under the tarps.

subscribing

Beautiful pictures. Looks like the carnival has come to town, are those the 1.5 or the 1.9? I ordered a 1.5 from Dan. He says it will take about 4 weeks. I always have him make my stuff a little different. The 2nd C stands for Custom and he earns that name,

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-What size tarp do you prefer for a group of 4 people? How big is too big for reasonable use?

I'd also recommend a pair of 10x12 tarps. Larger tarps can be hard to rig on many campsites.

-How do you lift the center of the tarp? Do you bring a pole? - if so, what kind? Is there a way to attach the center to a branch and lift it up that way?

I do bring poles, just so I don't have to search for just the right stick in the rain. Kelty makes a 4 section light weight pole (REI $30) that works well for a center pole. It's a shock corded model, I cut the cord so I could use just part of if that's all I needed. If you are using a pole on the corner of a tarp in high winds you need something stronger than this (I just had on break on me on Polly Thursday, replaced it with a stick)

I prefer to tie a cord to the top of the tarp an pull it out when possible, one less thing to run into under the tarp.

-Pics I've seen make it look like folks are using some pretty long line for erecting the tarp. What lines do you use?

I have both nylon and polyester parachute cord (buy the poly from Dan, it doesn't stretch like the nylon. I cut it in 20ft lengths and I have a dozen of them for each tarp. If I need longer, I tie them to together with a "slippery" sheet bend

-Are the tarps sold on Piragis.com CCS tarps? I think they are. Any other better sources?

Piragis tarps could be Kondos. Not sure. I have two 10x12 CCS 1.1oz SilNylon tarps and highly recommend CCS.

CCS has a PDF with tarp rigging suggestions. Cliff Jacobson's "Forgotten Skills" video has an execlent section on tarp rigging.

Suko - Both tarps are the 1.5 oz. I think Dan has 1.1 oz available now too.

I picked the color for the green tarp and my wife chose the other. I think it could be said that choice in tarp color may say something about one's personality.

I don't own one but friends do.

The first two pictures below are from our October 2007 trip and the third was less than a week ago. Larry's tarp is the blue one and Jim's the red. I think both are 12 x 12. Four guys on the first trip and two and the second.

No poles, just lines. I believe all the lines used to string up the tarps were from CCS.

Pic 1 - Stuart Lake
Pic 2 - Agnes
Pic 3 - Canoe

If you have used tennis balls around, cut a slit in one, put over stick/pole end against the tarp, no more worries about poking a hole thru it.

I just bought a pole that I think will work great. It might be the one Merganser referred to. Kelty Noah's staff. This thing won't take much space in a pack and is light. There's one that's a bit beefier but I like the tradeoff on this one.
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___22047

Thanks for all the info everyone. I just got back from a week at Yellowstone/Tetons today and finally got to read the replies.

I'll have to order myself one after the bills from this last trip get paid (my wife & 2 kids stayed in some cabins - VERY nice trip).

I know I'm supposed to get the more subtle green tarp to blend in, but I LOOOOVE the bright red one. It might also make it easier to spot the camp when out on those late evening paddles (pre-dark, pre-skeeter-time).

Thanks!

Ken

I just bought a military HALO parachute off of ebay that I plan to cut to size and add grommets to so I can use as a tarp. I suppose I will spray with a water proofer too. Do any of you have any experience with this or foresee any issues? I noticed that the custom tarp company in an above link advertises that their material is the same as used in parachutes, so I thought... HMMM. Might as well give it a shot.

i wouldnt do brass grommets..id do nylon webbing tie out loops.

H.S. That's it. It'll work file as a center pole or for other light duty rigging. It won't hold up on the corner of a tarp when a 40mph wind gust come in though.

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Here is a picture of my twin tarp rig from last week. Note the stick where the Kelty pole used to be. The wind was coming in off the lake so I tied the outside edge of the tarp down. The downward force on the top of the tarp is what snapped the pole.

I just got mine from Dan yesterday, and I have to say I am impressed with the quality. I can't wait for 2 weeks when I get to put it up!

I sealed the seams today. Thats onething I hate to do, but oh well.

-Bigger the better

-Overhead Branch if possible...if not use a rod case or stick

-I also recommend small aluminum carabineers to attach the 1/8 cordage to the webbing tie outs. The 1/8 cordage has cut through my webbing.

"I also recommend small aluminum carabineers to attach the 1/8 cordage to the webbing tie outs. The 1/8 cordage has cut through my webbing."

Wow! Has anyone else had that problem with the 1/8" cord cutting the webbing?

I finally bought a 10'x12' CCS Tundra Tarp and am excited about using it. It seems that an alternative to the carabiners would be to use paracord rather than the 1/8" cord.

Paracord would be just as abrasive. The mini carabineers "not for climbing" are nonabrasive and make the attachment a breeze. The mini carabineers weigh 22grams each. If you are concerned about weight, 6 bineers weigh less than 5oz.