Megamid repair

[Moondog55]

Well I need to stretch my old Chouinard Megamid into another winter.
Rather than just patch last years rip I've started on adding some ventilation where the ripped hole is.

Attachments

Rip 150*50mm

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Marked out to determine mesh size

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Cut out

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No-See-Um mesh pinned in place

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[andrewa]

That's turned a big hole into a bigger one!

A

[Moondog55]

YEP!
But the next step is a vent cover with a velcro hold-down
I went a bit over the edge when ironing [ wet brown paper method] and now I am waiting on a silicon glued patch to dry
Follow up tomorrow
This will really be the tarps last winter, I wanted a replacement but GoLite went belly up before I bought the 5

[icefest]

How will you distribute the tension? Noseeum mesh is quite weak in comparison to nylon ime.

[Moondog55]

If you look closely at the picture you will see a line of 8mm tape on the top and bottom of the mesh, sides are doubled but pitiching tension is handled by the taped seams
Actual stress should [ hope fully] be taken by the top cover.
Which will go along the same stitch lines and waterproofed with diluted silicon
But if it lasts one storm and gives me a week I'll be happy

[Moondog55]

Some more work over the week-end
Stitching will be seam sealed
The stiffener and cord idea to close the vent is from Gerry Cunninghams book and is almost foolproof and allows the vent to be closed with ease without having to go outside, a cord-lock should hold it in the closed position
Of course I ran out of bobbin thread 100 mm from the finish of the seam as usual
I also have had to repair the centre pole again, the storm that snapped the pole was the reason for the hole in the tipi.
Spliced and splinted the snapped section and repaired with polyester tape and epoxy. Luckily for me I had some 19mm tubing here to use as an internal splint. If I had some 25mm CF sleeving I'd also use that over the polyester tape but it isn't worth while making a minimum purchase for something this small as i don't think I'd have a use for the other 250mm of 25mm sleeve.

Attachments

Cover fabric on the machine showing the stiffener and the closure cord

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Detail of the stiffening with melted hole

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Another pole repair
Next tarp gets a strong carbon fibre pole

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[Moondog55]

Finished today
Not as pretty as some I have done but will do the job for its last year of service
I'll put it up and give it another coat of diluted silicon on the next sunny dry day

Attachments

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Opened

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Inside showing how cord works

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How big the vent opening can be, big loop so it can be used with gloves on

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[Moondog55]

OK so it wasn't raining today
I put up the tarp and looked it over
i am not really happy with myself but it should survive one more winter
One thing I have never liked about the Megamid is the way the centres pull up when pitched tight to resist wind. I know this diverts rain to the corners but in winter it does let in the cold wind and uplift can be a problem
I have a scrap of proofed polyester so as this is now at the end of its life i can afford to experiment a little with a small triangular skirt for the windward side

Attachments

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Small scrap

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[undercling-mike]

Certainly looks serviceable for a bit longer, as nice as it is having shiny new things there's also something satisfying about fixing gear up and getting more life out of it after others might have consigned it to the scrapheap. What about it aren't you happy with?

[Moondog55]

If you look at the pix showing the mesh cover I sewed it skewed and it doesn't line up properly ; this means some spindrift getting in.
I think a pin slipped when I started sewing as the lines are in the correct place.
I am starting work on the extra depth at the rear; just a small extra skirt of LW and cheap leftovers.
Really makes me want to get the silnylon tarp done [ not to mention the vest project] so I can think seriously about a new mid for next winter

[Moondog55]

Some very quick and rough work in the afternoon
Tomorrow I will re-pitch and see how it works

Attachments

The added bit

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Tie down with reinforcing

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see how much extra I've added

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Corner tie downs for even more strength and stability

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[Moondog55]

I also resewed the attachment that allows me to use my Moss tarp to cover the entry
I added a length of tape inside as reinforcing and moved the tab all the way to the top
More for summer use than winter but it works so long as I take it down when the wind blows storm force

Attachments

polyester tape over the tape edged seam

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detail of the apex stitching

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Exterior at apex

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Detail of the little aluminium tab and the 20mm webbing, should be much stronger than the last effort

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[Moondog55]

Put the tarp up as soon as the rain stopped.This will do for now and as soon as it gets hosed down and drys out another thin coat of diluted silicon

Attachments

From inside

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From outside
Adds some usable floor space

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Ever wondered what those little loops were for??

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Proper view of the extra shade/rain tarp attachment point

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[GPSGuided]

Neat pull cord on the vent flap! Clever.

[Moondog55]

Neat pull cord on the vent flap! Clever.

Gerry Cunningham 1955
From his DIY book