Tarpology Knots
- Thread starter C_Claycomb
- Start date
The pictures strike me as being particularly clear. You must have put a lot of thought into that, Chris.
In 1986 my wife gave me a copy of The Ashley Book of Knots. I browse through it occasionally looking for interesting items. One that caught my eye a few weeks ago is The Span Loop (number 1049 in that book). Clifford Ashley writes "This is exceptionally easy to untie and is, moreover, one of the strongest and most secure of the series."
The knot can be tied in a span without access to the ends.
I tried this whilst camping out last Thursday night. It was used in the ridge line of my tarp in order to provide tension. The next day I came to undo it and found that indeed it was remarkably easy to untie.
I shall try and attach an illustration.
Steve
In 1986 my wife gave me a copy of The Ashley Book of Knots. I browse through it occasionally looking for interesting items. One that caught my eye a few weeks ago is The Span Loop (number 1049 in that book). Clifford Ashley writes "This is exceptionally easy to untie and is, moreover, one of the strongest and most secure of the series."
The knot can be tied in a span without access to the ends.
I tried this whilst camping out last Thursday night. It was used in the ridge line of my tarp in order to provide tension. The next day I came to undo it and found that indeed it was remarkably easy to untie.
I shall try and attach an illustration.
Steve
Attachments
Great tutorial Chris,
As an adendum. I tend to leave my ridgeline attached to my tarp. When packing I fold the whole thing and roll toward the ridge and then leave one end of my ridgeline (always the same one) hanging out of the bag. I then wrap this around the bag and tuck the end under.
This means that when i set up again, my 1st securing knot is done before I take the tarp out of the bag. This stops it dragging on the ground, through thorns etc. and makes it easier to handle in high winds and stuff.
Hope this helps
Mark
As an adendum. I tend to leave my ridgeline attached to my tarp. When packing I fold the whole thing and roll toward the ridge and then leave one end of my ridgeline (always the same one) hanging out of the bag. I then wrap this around the bag and tuck the end under.
This means that when i set up again, my 1st securing knot is done before I take the tarp out of the bag. This stops it dragging on the ground, through thorns etc. and makes it easier to handle in high winds and stuff.
Hope this helps
Mark
You could look at it the other way too Mark, tying the ridgeline separately allows you to leave the tarp in a dry bag, once the line is up you clip one end on and move to the other end. You can even clip the dry bag onto the ridgeline to keep it up off the floor and then slide it down.
I've done both ways and now I'm back to leaving the ridgeline attached permanently, I've got a silnylon tarp which packs down tiny, with a 2mm ridgeline hanked up it takes no space at all. I do one end of the ridge first leaving everything else in the bag, I then take the other end of the ridge and tie that up, what I end up with is my ridgeline up and nice and taught, with my tarp still covered up in the bag clipped on the line.
Putting away is much the same, gather the tarp at one end of the ridge, stuff it all into a sack leaving just the ridgeline out, clip it on the rdigeline and then untie each end, hank up the cord and away you go.
I like what you are saying Rich.
I am aiming to get a larger tarp over the winter (I currently use an '8 tarp) and am looking at the separate ridgeline/tarp setup scenario. I am a big fan of knots and only use Ribena's to act as a drip loop on my DD (my Hennesy has a snakeskin).
Any comments on how best to set up/pack down using knots will be greedily consumed and tested to within an inch of their life >;o)
Mark
I am aiming to get a larger tarp over the winter (I currently use an '8 tarp) and am looking at the separate ridgeline/tarp setup scenario. I am a big fan of knots and only use Ribena's to act as a drip loop on my DD (my Hennesy has a snakeskin).
Any comments on how best to set up/pack down using knots will be greedily consumed and tested to within an inch of their life >;o)
Mark
BOD
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Excellent tutorial and photographs Chris.
In my case a quick and easy and dependable rig is what is needed,
First knot is a falconers, next is a slipped buntline hitch then all guys, tensioners etc are rolling hitches.
Whatever one uses it must be something one can put up in a couple of minutes and, if necesary take down and put up again in a pitch black night when the head torch fails
In my case a quick and easy and dependable rig is what is needed,
First knot is a falconers, next is a slipped buntline hitch then all guys, tensioners etc are rolling hitches.
Whatever one uses it must be something one can put up in a couple of minutes and, if necesary take down and put up again in a pitch black night when the head torch fails
that looks very much like an alpine butterfly and they are great for creating a fixed loop in a rope
Why have I not seen this before!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why does my desk have no string, grrrrrrr. Will have to wait till I get home to play now.
Why does my desk have no string, grrrrrrr. Will have to wait till I get home to play now.
Great Tutorial Chris..Thank you
I've been out of the game for a while so I will be inwardly digesting this over the next few days to get myself back up to speed again...cheers
I've been out of the game for a while so I will be inwardly digesting this over the next few days to get myself back up to speed again...cheers
Great tutorial there C –Claycomb.
very clear instructions and great images of the knots.
I just got a tarp and was wondering what was the best way to attach it to the ridgeline to the tarp, prussic it is then
Ps That’s a lovely part of Hemel Hampstead you have there, reminds me of the midge infested hellhole I like to camp @ in Jockland..
Well done Chris cheers Bro.
very clear instructions and great images of the knots.
I just got a tarp and was wondering what was the best way to attach it to the ridgeline to the tarp, prussic it is then
Ps That’s a lovely part of Hemel Hampstead you have there, reminds me of the midge infested hellhole I like to camp @ in Jockland..
Well done Chris cheers Bro.
Last edited:
Oops sorry Chris just reread through the tutorial again not prussic knot.
I already carry some gutted paracord so that’s handy, I will use that for the ridge line loops with the Cow Hitch “Lark’s head” and just leave them on.
Cheers again and good luck @ the next Bushmoot.
I already carry some gutted paracord so that’s handy, I will use that for the ridge line loops with the Cow Hitch “Lark’s head” and just leave them on.
Cheers again and good luck @ the next Bushmoot.
The guy line knot is a variation on the Rolling Hitch / Midshipman's Hitch. See here or details http://www.animatedknots.com/rollinghitch/index.php?Categ=boating&LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com
Nice job! I have seen that last one called the truckie hitch, which differs from the truckers hitch, which can be difficult to undo after tension.
Last edited by a moderator:
On the first tree I tie a siberian(evenk) hitch, at the second tree, I tie an alpine butterfly in the ridge line about 2ft from the tree, go round the tree and the loose working end goes through the alpine butterfly (this gives the mechanical advantage much like in the previous photos), pull the working end back towards the tree and secure with a slippery half hitch, everythings always come undone easily for me
