Attach guy points
Updated: Sep 30
Attaching guy points
Guy points are crucial for the stability of tarps or tents, but some people also want to use them to attach the groundsheet. There are many options, this one is just an example:
A tried and tested method of creating these guy points uses a combination of fabric tape and rigid plastic sheets of polycarbonate (PC) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This construction prevents the guy line from slipping through, secured by a stopper knot like the figure-of-eight knot.
Why use recycled material?
Anchor points can be created in a variety of ways, but one effective solution is to use recycled material. Instead of buying ready-made washers such as plastic gaskets or washers, you can use leftover packaging, which can often be found as food containers, screw and blister packaging and toy packaging.
Ideally, the material should be 0.5-1 mm thick to ensure that the guy lines are held securely. The strength of the disk is particularly important to avoid splintering when punching holes and to ensure that the guy line does not cut into the material during use.
Step-by-step instructions
1. making the plastic disks:- Cut round plastic disks with a diameter of 2-2.5 cm from the packaging scraps. Choose materials such as polycarbonate or PET that are strong enough to withstand the demands.
2. preparation of the fabric tape:- Cut the fabric tape into strips of about 10 cm in length.
Which tapes stick reliably to film is covered in our adhesive tape guide.
3. mounting the bracing points:- Lay the XFOIL flat on a work surface.- Place a piece of fabric tape halfway under the position of the disc.- Place a plastic disc in the middle of the material at the desired position.- Fold the fabric tape over the disc to fix it and secure the XFOIL.
4. fastening:- Punch holes in the material and the plastic disk with a hole punch to create a hole for the guy line. Make sure that the hole is large enough to thread the guy line through without any problems.
5. reinforce the guy points:- Place the assembled guy points on top of each other for a short time and put weight on them, e.g. with a dumbbell, to increase the adhesive strength of the fabric tape.
Notes on the use of guy ropes
Most leave the guy lines firmly attached to the guy point, often with a line tensioner or sliding knot to tighten or loosen the line as needed. However, this can vary depending on personal preference and usage scenario. Almost anything is suitable as a line material as long as it is easy to handle (not too thin) and the knot holds securely without slipping. The lines can then be wrapped around the tarp and pegs for transportation.Attaching guy points
An alternative to plastic discs is 3D-printed hardware – see Anchor points and connections for xfoil. A finished tarp with guy points like these is shown in Ultralight tarp made of xfoil.
3. Fold in the middle over the foil
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