Dyneema tarp ridgeline

[AudiolabQ]

Hi guys,
I've had a really good price for 10m / 6mm Dyneema cordage, would 6mm be overkill for a tarp ridgeline and against weight / storage?

 

[sunndog]

That's near winch rope strength dude. 3000kg breaking strength or there abouts

 

[C_Claycomb]

Hi guys,
I've had a really good price for 10m / 6mm Dyneema cordage, would 6mm be overkill for a tarp ridgeline and against weight / storage?

What kind of Dyneema cord? 100% Dyneema braid, or does it have a polyester over-braid? The former tends to be slick and not take tarp set-up knots well.

For a single person shelter, 6mm dyneema is overkill.

I weigh around the 160lb mark and hang my hammock on sub-3mm Amsteel (100% Dyneema braid). Tarp ridge does not need to be as strong as hammock suspension.

There is a point of view that suggest that in jungle, where tree limbs may fall on the camp, that a strong tarp ridge can save you by deflecting wood, but I have seen the arguments about this and don't think it stands up well to examination and debate.

Outside the jungle, pretty ridiculous reason for using a rope to put up a little tarp.

Now on bigger tarps used for group cooking/living area, 6mm line isn't so bad an idea, but, although you don't need Dyneema strength. I use a 6mm polyester rope for a ridge on my 4m x 3m tarp when setting up a living area at the Moot. Think I have about 15m of line for that. The thicker rope allows for better gripping of prussik type knots, which resist wind loading on the bigger tarp. I can put a bit more tension on the bigger line, without worrying about breaking knots. Longer spans which one often wants in order to position a bigger dry footprint in a convenient clearing do benefit from higher tension to limit sag.

For 10m, for single person use, I think 3mm is plenty.

 

[sunndog]

Oh tamerack have 2.5mm single braid for 99p a metre atm
Can't remember if I said earlier in the thread but I use 2mm double braid for the ridgeline