Basha confusion!

[Ogri the trog]

Hi All,
I recently bought a tarp , one of the Webtex DPM ones. It comes with loops and such sewn around the edges and in a line down the middle. And this is where the Doubting Thomas" in me took charge.
Should the ridgeline loops be on the upper surface when put up so that the whole thing is suspended from the ridge rope? (This would seem to be the intended way as the other seams are sewn underneath)

Or...

Should the loops be on the underside so that the tarp can shed more rain water? (which makes a bit more sense until I start thinking too deeply)

The confusion arrose when I started thinking about shedding rain and water tracking down the ridge rope; in one scenario a wet ridge rope can shed water onto the tarp, and in the other scenario, the ridge rope won't get so wet anyway.

What are your thoughts?



Ogri the trog

 

[leon-1]

Hi mate, the loops are normally on the outside of your tarp, but I have used them with a ridge line and without (just using the 2 end loops attached to cord running out to the trees with no ridge line at all).

It doesn't seem to make any difference at all, but the loops are pretty much always set outside rather than in, hope that makes sense

 

[gregorach]

If you put the ridgeline under the tarp, water will trickle down it from the ends (which will be getting wet from the trees you tied 'em to) and drip off the lowest point, which is probably right above you. Water will always find its way...

With the ridgeline over the tarp, any water it sheds is still outside the tarp.

 

[Ogri the trog]

Jeez you guys were quick!

Thanks for the replies - I really must stop analysing little problems to the infinite degree.

Ogri the trog

 

[george]

Ogri

One tip with hammock lines that stick out either end of the basha to stop water running down the hammock lines and ending up in your hammock, is to tie "drip tips" to the lines a couple of inches away from your hammock.

These "drip tips" are just short lengths of string (3 or 4 inches) tied around the hammock lines and hanging downwards. Any water running down the lines will meet the drip tips and then drip off from there. the same can be done from basha lines if you use a ridge rope running underneath the tarp.

George