Kelty has a "Sun Shade" that sells for about $150. Weighs eleven pounds (sales pitch says "nine"). All the weight is in the poles-- which is the salient problem of sunshades. The bigger they are, the bigger the wind hazard. I used one of these two years ago in Prince William Sound in a fairly vigorous storm and it did fine. I have seen some homemade models, however, that did as much with lighter poles than Kelty's. I do like the Kelty design, but I'm no engineer. Four people can while away a stormy day under one in relative comfort. Doug Montgomery San Francisco *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I have been "researching" this for a while and recently purchased a Kelty Noah Tarp and the two different aluminum poles designed for the tarp. I used it for the first time this weekend while camping in the everglades national park (90F and no clouds) and was generally pleased. I used the 4 main anchor points and staked 2 directly into the ground (like a tent). This provided shelter for the 3 of us sitting in chairs. With the sides guyed, it would easily accommodate 5 or 6 folks. The aluminum poles are gold anodized and shock corded and the large one is adjustable to 108" (I think). My only change will be some sand anchors of some type, because when the winds hit 15 knots, the thin kelty stakes lost it.. Moss, REI, Campmor and Walrus are all sources for wing shelters. cya c *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
<snip> Rich Mitchell wrote: <<But what about hot climates where neither trees nor pole material of any sort are to be found? What do Paddlewisers use and how do you rig it to provide maximum shade, strength in the wind (and we had wind aplenty in Baja) with due consideration for weight and size to carry? >> Functional, reliable shelter is a must. Rain, sun, more rain, gusting wind, sustained wind...all need to be considered before just pitching your cover. I really like my current method of pitching a tarp. It includes several adapted ideas from others ....none of this is new or my idea ! Poles: I have a number of home-made poles made from 2 pieces of electrical conduit of different diameter so that one pole nests in the other. Both poles are drilled through with a small diameter bit, at intervals of 6" on the inside pole to make the assembly adjustable. Use a hitch pin to connect nested poles. Some poles are larger diameter and will handle a range of 6'-10'. (pretty heavy here and super strong !) Some are smaller diameter and range from 4'-7' (pretty light here, but still very strong). Use wood dowel and silicone to plug an end with a round-head wood screw protruding as a nib for tarp grommet. Lines and bungees: I ALWAYS use a bungee on ALL support lines. They flex and give just a little to keep the wind from building up too much stress. UV will finally get to the rubber truck straps. The fabric covered bungees last a lot longer. Put guy-lines away properly and re-use them. Don't always be cutting new lengths. Learn some neat slip knots and hitches that WILL hold and that WILL untie for quick adjustments. Side wings: Smaller pieces of tarp that can be attached (clipped, alligator snaps, grommet ties or lacing, etc) and provide side wall or wing coverage to block driving wind-rain. Won't be water tight here, but it sure cuts down the blast. Tarp material: A couple of my friends had used swimming pool covers that I confiscated. I have cut every known shape tarp, wing, or cover possible and still have a working supply. A small brass grommet kit can be obtained from any hardware store and includes dies and spare sets. Pegs: Use a good heavy duty spike. Sand-hogs are invaluable when needed. Double check tarp layout so last peg doesn't need to go right where the fire is !! I once "rented space" (for cold beer and salsa) under a 24' x 36' monster of mine up in the Ozarks when the weather turned sour and everybody's tarp and even a few tents blew away in the cold, gray morning storm ....ahhhh !! It was a decent weekend after all ! One time In Wyoming a daily evening wind would come up for about 2 hours and get to at least +40 mph. Several unoccupied dome tents would fly ...literally fly ... a couple hundred feet into the air and disappear down range. Our tents and tarp would just s-t-r-e-t-c-h and flex back ...some would almost lay flat down and then ease back into shape as the wind would die off. Along the Tex-La-Miss coastal area a good sun-shade is a necessity year 'round. My minimum size set-up is probably 12 x 12. If we are just out playing around an abandoned back-yard beach umbrella goes along. It can be stabbed to the ground quickly and gives a big 9' diameter sun-shade. Leaned against the wind it does fairly well but is heavy and bulky to carry. A properly set tarp should not come down until it is your decision to break camp and go somewhere else. Hope this helps ......Peyton (Louisiana) ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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