Scouts 2024-05-04 Green Patrol Tent User Guide
- June 6, 2024
- Scouts
Table of Contents
Scouts 2024-05-04 Green Patrol Tent
Patrol Tents Marking Tents
When you purchase a new patrol tent for your group, it is important that you mark it as belonging to your group as well as which tent the collective parts belong to, some examples of how this can be done are;
- Using a permanent marker on the tent’s labels
- Using PVC/ Electrical tape (or thin whiteboard marking tape) on poles
- Writing the number of pegs and poles on the respective bags
- Sewing badges/ group nametapes below the labels
- Whipping guy lines with different colour whipping twine
- Some groups even attach clear plastic pockets to their tents so they can slide in the necessary information, such as who should be in the tent during a camp.
- Paint the tops of their pegs or paint their poles to identify which Group they are from.
- Some groups have mixed Icelandic and Stormhaven tents so colour coding this makes it easier to identify – i.e. write GREEN on the Patrol Tent/Carry Bag and paint the poles green.
Weathering Tents
When patrol tents are purchased, there is one essential step to ensure that you get the most out of your tent – weathering, this includes the following;
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Rain
Canvas tents need to be soaked through with constant ‘rain’ (watering with a hose is sufficient) for 2/3 hours. This is essential to the conditioning process of the canvas and seams. -
Sun
Drying out in the sun. This important step swells the cotton thread and shrinks the canvas around it forming a watertight seal. This watertight seal will last the life of the tent.
Peg Sizes
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A – Brailing Pegs (6”)
These small pegs are used without guy lines to peg out the corners or bottom of the tent directly to the loops of rope on the canvas. (Recent/current production of Blacks of Greenock tents do not use brailing pegs (6”), instead they use the 9″ peg.) -
B – Side Guy Pegs (9”) and/or Brailing Pegs
Used to peg out all the side lines and/or for the brailing points. -
C – Corner Guy Pegs (12”)
For the corner guys. -
D – Main/Storm Guy Pegs (15”)
The big pegs – used for the 4 main guy lines on dollies.
Using Pegs
Main Guys
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Dollies/ Finials
The main guys on a patrol tent are attached to the dollies or finials. -
Main Guys
Most patrol tent main guys are 35ft long and should never be tied in any way other than a rolling hitch. This hitch is used to stop the guyline becoming different lengths in use. -
Alternate Pitching ^
Some groups (or during competitive camping) you may initially pitch the main guys out the front of the tent (blue) to allow you to better access the other lines at the side, before returning it to the cross position (red). -
Side Guys
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Pitching Solo (Or with few people)
- Place pegs ready for the corner/ main guy lines to fit onto before you lift the tent.
- When lifting the tent – hold the main guy lines, place your foot on the base of the upright and pull carefully.
- Lace up the doors when the tent is upright, saves you having to go and re-peg when you can’t close the door.
What do you require?
Pitching Instructions
Then, lay out the tent flat, upside down so that the inside of the tent is facing up.
Slide the poles into the tent, ensuring the ridge pole (green) goes through
the loops in the tent and the spikes on the uprights (red)* go through the
eyelets in the tent. Then, fold the other side of the tent canvas on top.
Note: Icelandic II tents have an additional upright centre pole with a
shorter spike and an additional ridge section. Remember not to walk on the
tent or drag the poles across the tent.
Now add the main guys to the tent using the dollies, make sure to untie the lines at this point and lay them out in the rough shape you will need them (lines cross).
Lift the tent upright carefully, if you have enough people, make sure someone is on each end upright, and some pushing the ridge pole up and some pulling on the main guy, if you have less people (or are by yourself) hold the main guys and foot the base of the upright and pull. If you need to, now is when you should move the tent to the correct position (ensure you are lifting all poles).
Now peg in all 4 main guy lines, before tightening them gradually till they are all equally tight making sure not to overtighten one (red). The alternate pitching style (blue) is to pitch the main guys in front of the tent at an angle to the doorway while you peg out the rest of the tent, and then move it to the normal (red) configuration. This is as crossing over the guy lines pulls the poles together. Now you need to lace up (tie) the doors, if you skip this step, they may not close later!
Peg in all 8 (or 4) corner guys, making sure they are either in line with the seam or directly opposing the seam as demonstrated above (this ensures the force is equally distributed)
Now peg all the side guys, making sure that they are in a straight line and
the side walls is lifted. The tent should stand straight with no creases, the
wall of the tent should be straight. Do not pull on the tent so much that the
sod cloth comes off the ground. There should not be a gap between the ground
and tent walls.
Tip: Use sisal and pegs to mark this line – In a competition straight
lines would get you better marks in an inspection.
Put all the brailing pegs (6” or 9”) into the loops on the bottom of the tent
and drive these into the ground. You may need to place the peg in upside down
and twist to tighten the loop around the peg, but take care not to rip the
tent, these pegs should not pull too much on the canvas. Finally check the
groundsheet is snug inside, that all pegs and guys are secure, collect all
tools, spare pegs and put them inside the bag, and store these inside the
tent.
Well done and have a good camp!
Getting Comfy
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Canvas
Be careful not to touch, or let your gear touch the canvas of the tent, especially when it is raining as surface tension will draw water through the canvas. -
Sod Cloths
A sod cloth is a flap of material around the bottom of the open-floor tent. Most of the time the sod cloth should be placed under the groundsheet, ensuring it is tucked in all round the tent. This helps reduce draughts in the tent.
In Winter – The sod cloth is folded out, and you shovel snow onto it to weight the bottom down. The snow sets up and anchors the lower tent wall, so you don’t need pegs. The snow also seals in the heat. -
Vents
While it may seem counterintuitive, make sure you open the vents on the outside of the tent and prop them open, this will prevent the buildup of condensation inside the tent, especially during the night, keeping you dry. -
Uniform Hangers
Use sisal between the poles of the tent and through the support loop to create a ‘rail’ for young people to hang their uniform on (make sure to add hangers to your kit list!). Tip – if you have forgotten your hanger, a hanger can be made using a straight cane or stave with sisal. -
Varying Temperatures
Canvas and guylines can expand and contract throughout your camp due to varying air temperatures and moisture levels.- At night – ensure that all guylines are tightened as morning dew will ‘expand’ your fabrics making your guylines loosen.
- In the morning – loosen your guylines slightly as your canvas breathes and dries from the sun it will ‘contract’ both your fabric and guylines.
-
Groundsheets
You are always best keeping your groundsheet clean and tidy. This means taking your boots off before you enter your tent. In the morning before you start your days activities, you are always best to fold back one quarter of the groundsheet (clean face to clean face). This means the underside of the groundsheet can you walked on with your boots. Ideal when you are wanting to quickly access your bag during the day. In the evening, fold this back.
Hanging The Tent
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How?
If the day is dry you can roll up the walls using the loops provided on most tents for this purpose. You can also air the tent and prevent rotting of the sod cloth by hanging the walls by the brailing peg points onto the side guys of the tent. When airing a tent, you should also fold back the groundsheet (around 1/3 at the bottom) so that the grass can get a chance to breath, and to provide a path for young people to walk in and out of tents during the day. -
Why?
When on a longer camp, it is important to ensure that the tent is aired out and the sod cloths don’t rot!
Inspection Guide
On longer camps (or even over a weekend) it is important that the items inside tents stay neat and tidy. Below is an example inspection checklist.
- Uniform (10 Points)
- Neckerchief – Neatly folded and secured (woggle or friendship knot) – 1 Point
- Shirt – All buttons done, tucked in, all badges sewn on, uncreased – 4 Points
- Kilt – Neat (plus black shoes, lovat green socks with green flashes, scout belt) – 5 Points
- Sleeping Tents (10 Points)
- Walls hung – If raining or rain forecast, keep down – 1 Point
- Pitched Correctly – In line, tensioned, neat – 2 Points
- Interior – Tidy and clean – 5 Points
- Personal – Kit in bags, bedding rolled up – 1 Point
- Ground Sheet – Folded back to form passage (patrol tents only) – 1 Point
- Store Tents (10 Points)
- Walls hung – If raining or rain forecast, keep down – 1 Point
- Pitched Correctly – In line, tensioned, neat – 2 Points
- Contents – raised off ground and neat – 3 Points
- Cookware – Clean and dry – 2 Points
- Foodstuffs – In compliance with camp QM policy – 1 Point
- Clean Dry Dishtowel – 1 Point
- Fire and Wood Pile (10 Points)
- Fire – Stable level and safe (check for burning through) – 2 Points
- Ashes – Cleared (unless hot, if so, sweep to side) – 2 Points
- Fire Buckets – 2 Charged fire buckets, with clean water next to the fire, NO FORIGN OBJECTS – 2 Points
- Wood Pile – Wood chopped ready for next meal, all chippings and shavings on mat and wood covered, tools stored safely – 4 Points
- General Area (10 Points)
- Slop Bucket – Emptied into waste pit, surrounding area clean, strainer clean – 3 Point
- Gateway – Patrol name, functional, safe and neat – 2 Points
- Boundary Fence – Fit for purpose, not used as a clothes line, tight – 1 Points
- Gadgets – Fit for purpose – 2 Point
- Personal Hygiene (10 Points)
- Nails & Hands – Clean and washed (including nails) – 5 Points
- Teeth – Clean and evidence of brushing – 5 Points
- Welfare (10 Points)
- PL / APL – Leading by example, communicating, getting along
- Patrol – Scouts getting along as a patrol and working together
Folding Tents
- Tie up all guy lines then lay the tent flat
- Fold the tent in half in line with the ridge
- Fold the doors in (neutralise the triangles)
- Fold the bottom third of the tent, taking the guys and laying them on the canvas (they must be tied up).
- Fold the top (ridge) edge and pull and shave to ensure a smooth shape.
- Fold both ends to middle.
- Fold over into half (after it has been made a good shape)
- Check the tent size against the tent bag and add another fold in half to match as required.
- Put the tent in the bag, best practice is to invert the tent bag over the folded tent then roll over & lace up from centre to the ends, tie clove hitch on handle.
Cleaning Pegs
- Clean the pegs off (by rubbing them against one another if you have nothing else to hand), and stack them in a ‘Jenga’ style to dry
Striking Camp Checklist
- Is the tent in the same condition as when you arrived at camp?
- Are there any repairs to be made? Make note of them now.
- Is the tent/flysheet dry? Do not leave in store a damp/wet tent. The canvas will rot. Dry it at the first chance you have.
- Count the pegs. Do you have them all? Now count them again. Check you have not left any behind even if you think you have them all.
- Check the poles. Do you have them all? Are they split? Are the spikes still in the uprights? Are they a full set?
- Do you have all the other equipment?
- Make sure you only have your equipment. Do you have anyone else’s equipment by mistake? Even if it is “only a brailing peg”
- Are the poles secured? Do not carry them loose. Keep them as a full set.
- Was the peg/equipment bag and mallets placed into the tent bag? Keep them as a full set.
- Is the site clear of everything? Clear all litter, etc. Personal gear should be removed from site. Place all your equipment near to your pick-up point.
Make sure your site is left as you found it (or better!).
Tents with Flysheets
Some tents have an additional layer called a flysheet (fly) that sits on top of the main tent. When pitching these tents, there are some modifications to make – Before you lay out the main tent, lay out the flysheet and insert the ridge (you will require the same ridge pole length as your main tent) and spacer (see the right diagram below), then lay out the main tent and place in the second ridge pole and uprights, through the main tent eyelets and into the spacers. Then fold the other half of the main tent over first then the flysheet, before lifting the tent and pegging out the tent as before.
When pegging out ensure there is a ventilation gap between the main tent and the fly, this can be done by using long guy lines on the flysheet.
Drying and Storing Tents
The tent will probably spend most of the year in your stores so make sure it is stored correctly. The most important fact to remember is that it should be dry before you pack it away. A wet tent will cause mildew and may even rot if given enough time. If nothing else, they smell terrible! Tents and their related equipment will possibly be the most expensive items in your store. However, properly looked after they can last many years and be well worth the initial outlay. Before you store the tent away ensure that everything has been maintained correctly. Any damage should be marked down and attached to the tent. Ensure that damage is repaired or replaced as soon as possible. Ensure that the tent is stored in a dry but well-ventilated area. Make sure the tent is stored somewhere with easy access or else the tent will be pulled and shoved creating unnecessary damage.
Tent Repairs
Blacks of Greenock repair all mess tents, patrol tents, Force Ten and bell
tents, in their repair factory in Glasgow. They also supply all accessories
for completing your tenting equipment.
Website:blacksofgreenock.co.uk
For a repair quote, please Contact Them with as much detail as possible, and
they will get back to you with a price and timeframe for the repairs. They can
also arrange pick up, with their national network of carriers.
© Copyright 2024 – Scott Downie – All Rights Reserved.19th Pentland Scouts.
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>