Australia & New Zealand Outdoor Adventure Forum

It was so windy yesterday in Melbourne when I was camping in Great Ocean I managed to survive but my tent was pierced by a falling limb, wth!

Just hope the patching would work and I won't be killed by the rain tonight.

Step 1 - Type Of Repair Tape
You will need the correct type of repair tape and seam sealer for the material of your tent. For a nylon tent have nylon repair tape, and taffeta repair tape for a canvas tent. Similarly, have the right type of seam sealer for your outdoor camping tents.

Step 2 - Small Rip
For small rips in outdoor camping tents, use the repair tape to cover the rip. Use both inside and outside the tent, making sure the tape amply covers the hole. Smooth it down then apply seam sealer to the edges-again both inside and out.

Step 3 - Large Rip Sewn
With a larger rip in outdoor camping tents you’ll either need to use tape or sew the hole closed. Which you use depends on the pressure on the area around the hole. If there’s no pressure, it’s easy to sew. To do this, turn under the top edge of the rip by about ¼ inch and then sew it over the outside of the lower edge. This ensures water won’t enter. When you’ve done that, use seam sealer along the line of your sewing to keep the tent watertight.

Step 4 - Large Rip Taped
Where there’s pressure on the area of the tent you should use repair tape. Make the tape 1 ½ inches larger on all sides than the size of the rip. You might need to do it in strips. If so, start at the bottom and overlap moving up to keep water from entering the tent. Use the tape inside and outside the tent and finish with seam sealer on all the edges.

Step 5 - Patch
Patches in outdoor camping tents will demand a little sewing skill, but they will keep your tent waterproof. The patch has to be 3 inches larger in all directions than the hole you’re covering. Pin it over the hole, then turn the edges in 1 inch on all 4 sides and repin. Now you should sew the patch in place, with the first lines of stitching 1/8 inch from the edge of the patch. Add a second line of stitching ¼ inch in from the first. Now you can remove the pins.

Go inside the outdoor camping tent and trim the hole into a square or rectangle, giving a 1-inch clip to the corners. Turn those edges under, pin into place and then stitch around the edge, before adding a second line of stitching 1/4 inch in from that. To finish, use seam sealer all round the outside patch.

Source: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to ... ping-tents

Just to add a little knowledge to what you've shared.
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outd ... pment1.htm

This is an awesome informative discussion regarding tents. Placing a secure tent is a big task and the prime need for any camping.I will always keep the points highlighted by you fresh and secure in my mind.