Loos Gage

[Sonny10775]

Have been surfing the internet on specific info on the use of a loos gage on a hunter 26.5. I see a list of several boats but no hunters. Do you need to use a gage on the hunter? How do you go about making sure your shrouds have the proper tension. I am sure I saw my port side become slack in 11-15 knot winds. Should I be worried. Any info here is as always greatly appreciated.Thanks, Sonny

 

[John]

Loos Gauge

I borrowed my neighbors guage, and set the shrouds to the tension shown on chart on the guage for that size of cable. His guage even had sizing slots to determine the cable size. On the 26.5 the uppers and lowers are different sizes of cables. I noticed an improvement when these were adjusted properly. My next purchase will be a loos. The 26.5 is such a fun sailing boat, that anything that makes it sail better is just frosting on the cake!!!

 

[George H260]

Loose Gage

Spend some time in the archives on this subject. It is an education. You need to verify the size/type of cable used by Hunter on your boat. My guess is it won't be much different from the H26/260 series but I'd verify. The instructions that come with the Loose gage tell you how to use it. For example, Hunter uses Hackensack 316 Stainless Steel 1/8"/(3.2mm) and 5/32/(4mm) stainless steel cable on the H260. Hunter provided me with a spec sheet that says the nominal breaking strength is 1780lbs and 2800lbs respectively. They recommend rigging be set at 20 percent of nominal breaking strength.I have the PT-1 Loose Gage. Set up RD1 (1/8"/(3.2mm) to 356 lbs This should be about 26 on the PT-1 Loos Gage. Set D1, D2, and V1 (5/32/(4mm) to 560 lbs or about 37 on the Loos Gage.I set my rig at 25 and 35 respectively and there are no slack leeward shrouds at any time. Never did figure out how to check the D2 upper shrouds. The instructions for the PT-1 also has a Kgs tension chart. It says 26 = 170 Kgs for 3mm and 37 = 260 Kgs for 4mm. That seems to work out pretty close. For example: 356 lbs * .455 = 162 Kgs; 560 lbs * .455 = 255 Kgs

 

[Sonny10775]

Thanks for the great help

Wow thats great info, thanks alot, now all I have to do is find out where to buy one And yes your right the 26.5 is a very fun boat to sail. I'm really proud of her  Sonny

 

[Wanderer138]

Where to buy one...and more

You should be able to get a Loos gauge at your local West Marine/BoatUS store or on-line. While you're at it, ask for a catalog. It's full of interesting info including breaking strengths for various sizes and types of wire. What caught my interest in this thread was Hunter's listing the breaking strength of 1x19 5/32" wire at 2800 lb. The West Marine catalog shows the same wire at 3300 lb. While it's probably better to underestimate wire breaking strength, tuning the rig using just somebody's recommended percentage of breaking strength (e.g. 20% for the upper shrouds) may mean that your rig will end up being too slack.Here's the bottom line: The manufacturer's recommendations are a good starting point, but the rig's behavior on the water should be noted. Additional tension should be applied as needed. As you correctly noted, the leeward shrouds shouldn't be slack when sailing close-hauled with full sail in 15 kt of wind. Happy sailing.PeterH23 "Raven"

 

[Dave Busby]

1 x 19 Rating..

Sonny, 5/32 1x19 could be 3500 lbs, but the swage of the fittings are probably only 2700 lbs, so that would be your maximum rating. I have a 86' 25.5 and the standing rigging (all) is 4MM, from eighteen years ago. I just had a replacement shroud made, and 5/32 is what you will get today, unless you are in Europe.Good Luck.

 

[Tom2909]

Loos Gauge -- where to buy online...

I have a H260 and use the Loos 91-Model A (3/32), which I purchased a few years ago for about $40.Tuning your rig and using the loos gauge takes some practice. The first time or two around is going to take a while, but about the third time you'll have it down. Good news is that the cable stops stretching after the first few seasons and should stay adjusted unless you change something.Here are some links...(google.com search for: loos gauge 3/32)http://sailnet.com/store/item.cfm?pid=14094http://www.onlinemarine.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online_superstore/sailing/loos_original_tension_gauge.htm?L+scstore+ytvx2964ffb1fab1+1106065889http://www.loosnaples.com/Loos2/PT.htmhttp://www.pridemarine.com/Loos%20Tension%20Gauges.htmhttp://www.onlinemarine.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online_superstore/sailing/loos_pro_tension_gauge.htm?E+scstoreAlso make sure to follow the rig adjusting instructions from Hunter for your boat to make sure that proper bend and rake is set, and that the mast is centered side to side.Fair winds,Tom