Canvas summer tent

[Turtle2]

At rendezvous, camping in a canvas tent with no netting, I burn bug coils in the tent a few hrs before going in and going to bed then put them out when we go in. this keeps the mosquetoes out without being in a smoke screen.

 

[Robin]

Just an update to my canvas summer tent.

I ordered a custom front screen door for my wall tent from Beckel Canvas, perfect fit,



I sewed a panel over the previous front wall stove jack site,


Next I need to sew a new stove jack into the back corner. Even though this will be my summer tent, I plan to carry my small wood stove with me on northern trips.

 

[lowangle al]

That looks real good Robin. I can't tell from the pictures, is there a sod cloth on the bottom of the screen?

 

[Robin]

That looks real good Robin. I can't tell from the pictures, is there a sod cloth on the bottom of the screen?

Thanks Al, no sod cloth but it does have a folded and sewn hem that I could sew a piece of canvas to if the little critters find their way in. It has 4 loops for tent pegs which should help.
After I sew in the stove jack my next project will be a tarp for the floor and a tarp for the roof, both of canvas. I bought some canvas for the roof tarp but I might just use it for my Chestnut Pal canoe and order some 10.10 oz Sunforger for the roof tarp.

 

[ppine]

When in doubt, use what you have.

 

[Odyssey]

Nice work on the tent Robin. There's a good trip in the making with the screening added and stove ready changes.

 

[Robin]

Thanks Brad, looking forward to getting out there this coming session.

 

[Robin]

So I finished the velcro stove jack and velcro screen, they will look better when the tent is guyed out and tight. Next is a high thread count cotton tarp.

 

[ppine]

With a tent like that, lay over days become a real pleasure, especially in crummy weather. The worse the weather the happier you get when you have a place to get out of the rain, snow and sleet and stay warm and stand up and move around. It is worth the extra weight if portaging is not an issue.

 

[Odyssey]

Great idea relocating the stove to the back wall and in-between the two cots. Means I don't have as far to walk for my morning coffee. (ha)
It really does make so much sense. And the warm weather view from that window will also be a good thing.
Here's an idea, I bet you'd get a lot of views and likes if you filmed the newly arranged tent interior when it gets field tested; gear items, warm weather vs cold weather layout, luxury choices etc. Just a friendly suggestion buddy, not meaning to get needy. The new roof tarp will be interesting to see. Do you have any sewing hacks to share?

 

[lowangle al]

I give you a lot of credit Robin, whenever I drop my baker tent off for repairs I am amazed at how the sewing machine operator can make heads or tails out of that pile of canvas.

 

[ppine]

I have spent a lot of time in wall tents, especially working on forestry operations and hunting trips. With a string of mules carrying one is not that difficult. Same with a solo canoe. The extra weight is not much of a problem. Hunting trips in the West are almost always late in the fall in the cold often with snow. Sometimes it is below zero at night. A canvas tent with a stove is magic.

One memorable trip was hunting elk in Colorado at 11,800 feet. My brother was the cook and I got hired as a wrangler. One of our hunters got an elk down and I packed him up and led 2 black mules back to camp through fallen steep fallen timber. I handed my brother a fresh elk liver that had just come out of the warm elk, and into the warm saddle bags of my horse. It was snowing hard by that time. We were drinking Kentucky bourbon in the big wall tent with the stove going. Cookie decided to cook the liver right on top of the stove, with some bacon and onions. The aroma was like perfume. Half the people in the tent said they did not like liver. In 20 minutes it was all gone. People that did "not like liver" had two helpings. Old ways are the best ways.

 

[Robin]

Great idea relocating the stove to the back wall and in-between the two cots. Means I don't have as far to walk for my morning coffee. (ha)

The new roof tarp will be interesting to see. Do you have any sewing hacks to share?

Brad, it would be great to camp in this tent with you, hopefully we'll get across the border someday, it would be fun to base camp on some big lake up there.

The canvas I bought for the roof tarp is more suited for a canoe so I'll use it on the Chestnut Pal I have waiting for me to finish. I'm still looking for the right option, make my own or buy a finished canvas tarp, not sure yet.

Sewing Hacks? I still make a ton of mistks, (pun intended), keep a sharp pair of scissors, a sharp single edge razor handy and know when to quit for the day.

Here's my wood stove and a bag I made to keep the Woods Pack clean when transporting,

 

[Robin]

I ordered a lighter weight canvas for the tarp, #12. I have used both #'s 10 and 12 on canoes, 10 is tougher but is too heavy, as a tarp #12 will be fine. I wanted Sunforger canvas with it's tighter weave but could only find it in 60" width, I needed 72" to get a decent overhang on the wall tent, and only one seam at the ridge. The canvas I ordered is white, which should let more light into the tent during those dark overcast fall days.

Not sure if I'll go with a beeswax concoction or a chemical waterproofing like Canvak.

 

[Turtle2]

yep Robin, Sunforger is great stuff. I have primitive camped in several sunforger panther primitives tents dozens and dozens of times over the years in all seasons. never a leak. great stuff. My oldest one has roof panels so thin you can practically see through.

 

[stephaniefisher]

I haven't been in a cotton canvas tent other than big semi permanent ones like at scout camp since I was a kid when we had only canvas tents. I took a peek at these and was immediately put off by two things. First on their site they used a term that I despise, "Glamping". That is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me for some reason. Second, the weight is a thing that I am just programmed to avoid after years of UL backpacking and bike touring. Maybe I am unreasonably obsessive about that when there won't be much or any portaging, but I have gotten so used to my gear that I tend to just take my UL gear even on car trips if I am going by myself. My bias probably isn't completely logical.

OTOH, I got to thinking how nice these tents would be as a hunting camp. I also wondered about whether they might suffice as a second home/summer cabin. We have considered buying a piece of wooded land in another state to spend time on away from home. I could see one of these being a good cabin substitute. It could be set up quickly, is pretty inexpensive, and hopefully would last fairly long before needing replacement (at which point replacement isn't all that expensive in the grand scheme of things) in white duck outdoors. The downside I see is that they are subject to damage by vandals and intruders when unsupervised. Due to that, setting up and taking down each trip seems like a good bit of a chore for this usage, but may be necessary between trips. With a raised floor and permanent stakes left in the ground setup would probably be really fast and comfort enhanced.

I'd like to know if anyone here has or is familiar with canvas tents? I know you wouldn't be using it for moto camping but for family camping I am considering one. I found a brand called Springbar. The one I like is a 10x14 but it is not cheap. My sister says she would never own another canvas tent because they always smell musty. I prefer the canvas to the ultra light nylon-like material. What input do you all have?

 

[Robin]

I like canvas tents but I prefer the wall tent designs. That 10x14 looks pretty nice in the ad but I don’t know much about that style of tent. The ad says out of stock till late July. We had a similar canvas tent back in the day and it worked well and lasted a long time.

You almost always have to set up your canvas tent again when you get home to prevent mildew and rot, even the smallest wet area will create problems, and yes, depending on where and how you store your tent it will have a smell that some folks find objectionable. I like to set up my tent between trips just to air it out…I won’t lie, I like to look at it too.

 

[ppine]

I recently bought a canvas Kodiak tent. It is the smallest size they make with a nylon floor, around 5x8 feet. The poles are very substantial. I have not even used it yet.