Large Heavy Duty Tarp's - Where to Buy?

[avd155]

Hi Everyone,

Well, looks like the boat is going to spend another winter in the boat shed and that means I'm going to need a new tarp. I'm looking for a tarp about 40 x 40 or larger. Awhile ago (not sure where) I thought I saw some link to a place that sold very large cuts of tarps at cheaper prices. I seem to remember they were used for billboards or something like that.

Does anyone have ideas on where to buy a 40x40 heavy duty (white?) tarp for a good price? I know a local store, but it's a bit spendy and if I could go bigger than 40x40, I would like to, but that's all based on price comparisons I suppose.

[Rachel]

Here is the thread that had the billboard tarps; talk of them starts about five posts in:

http://www.plasticclassicforum.com/view ... +billboard

It gives the URL of the billboard tarp place:

http://www.billboardtarps.com/

Rachel

[jetboy52]

This place seems to have good tarp prices

http://www.tarpsonline.com/silver.asp

[bigd14]

Try Andy and Bax in PDX. Got mine there and its still going strong. No leaks one year in. I think it was 160 for 30x40. Or maybe thats the local place you are referring to!

Doug

[Skipper599]

When I built the framework for my "boat-shed" I covered it with the ubiquitos blue poly-tarp. It lasted less than 10 months. The next one lasted about the same amount of time.

After the fifth tarp blew out, I decided I had to buy something more substantial and so, I went to a shop specialising in the manufacture of Truck Tarps. There, I ordered a lovely white tarp with additional grommets for tie-down lacings. This tarp has protected the project for 15 years now. It is still as good as new, having no holes or damage . It has survived a number of gale force storms, it cleans up nicely each spring, and will fetch a fair price on resale when I'm done with it, ... hopefully next spring.

This tarp, which is 25' x 35' cost me a whopping $300 at the time of purchase but, its service life works out to far less than the cost of the poly-tarps. Keep in mind, Truck-tarps, are made to survive road travel speeds in excess of 120kms./hr ... Hurricane force??? Poly tarps can shred at lower wind speeds after only a few months in service.

If you want to keep costs low, it is possible to purchase "used" tarps from a tarp manufacturer but maybe not in "white". I can tell you I really appreceiate the white tarp under the summer sun. Also, everything shows in it's natural colour, unlike Blue poly-tarps where all is dull and blue.

[bcooke]

Blue tarps are rubbish and there is no reason for them to exist.

Generally speaking the heavy duty silver tarps will give many years of service with a modicum of care.

This place seems to have good tarp prices

http://www.tarpsonline.com/silver.asp

I used to recommend these guys but my last purchase was a heavy duty 40'x30' that didn't last the season. The seams had gaps where you could see through and the grommets were installed by monkeys. Actually, I think monkeys would have done a better job. The grommets started pulling out in January causing a total failure by late February.

Before that experience I had purchased a tarp from them and it seemed decent and held up well so maybe it was just bad luck.

Cheap is as cheap does and you get what you pay for.

pics here: http://triton680.blogspot.com/2009/11/t ... irect.html

[Skipper599]

Looks like your Silver tarps are no better than the Blue tarps that I started using. How much did you pay for this piece of crap?

At three hundred bucks, I feel I've more than got my money's worth out of my purchase. ... and it's still going strong.

The reason I wrote about my experience, was because many of you appear to live on the east side of the property, where winds are frequently higher than what we experience here in the PNW.

Truck tarps are made up on site from a roll of hd material (F.G.maybe ?) They are of course made to order. Grommets are spaced evenly with reinforcing, at whatever spacing you specify.

Mine happen to be at 18" intervals. I have the tarp "laced" to a piece of 2" x 2" fastened horizontally on both sides of the shed frame. All I use for lacing is a piece of "lineman's" nylon pulling-line which is less than 1/8" dia..

[okawbow]

I just recieved 2 of the billboard tarps that Rachel talked about. They are 12 x 24 and cost $75.00 for the pair including shipping. Arrived 2 days after I orderd them. White on one side and billboard on the other. They are very heavy and appear to be almost indestructable. There are no grommets, but the edges are doubled and strong. I tie old golfballs in the material for tie-downs.

I can see these tarps lasting many years for about the same price as the blue junk.