Loos Gauge question.

[Ed Schenck]

I know, "what are you doing online on New Year's Eve?" Well it is early and it is cold and snowy outside and I have to wear a suit and tie to the party and . . .

So I have some items in my Defender cart and want to add a Loos gauge. I have used a friend's pro model but am wondering what you all think of the cheaper model called the "Tension Gauge"? Anyone had acceptable results? Maybe comparing that model's results with a Pro?

My problem is that I have 1/4" shouds and a 9/32" backstay. That requires two pro models. But "tension gauge B" covers both those sizes. So it is $73. versus $300. and important now with my 201K.

Actually saw the boat this week. And the weather cleared on Monday leaving me this picture off the stern:

 

[tsmwebb]

Most folks don't use a tension gauge on the backstay. I have used the old tension gauges and you can get repeatable results but maybe not the results that your sailmaker got

You might enjoy: http://www.usaj22.com/tuning_thoughts.html

--Tom.

 

[newly anonymous]

outrageous!

I have to wear a suit and tie to the party and . . .

You have to wear a suit AND a tie to a New Year's party??? Ed, we have to get you out of Ohio. (Which I'm certain must be the only state in the union where people with cutter rigs own Loos gauges.)

 

[Eric M]

I have used both versions of the gages and unless you are trying to:
1 - get the same reading as others and
2 - racing where seconds count
either gage will get you acceptable results.
FYI the scales on the two gages are not the same. A reading of 10 on the PRO model gage is not the same rig tension as a reading of 10 on the other style gage. Check out the comparison between the PRO and model B at
http://www.onedesign.com/class/j24/j24_tuning_sandiego.html

 

[RanAweigh]

Suit = garb worn for swimming or while on deck

Tie = What you do with he string in the suit so it doesn't fall down

 

[Calif. Ted]

I have a pair of what they call "the old B model", needed both 'cause my shrouds split the ranges. Anyway, I've found that I just use them to get to an evenly tensioned starting point for opposing pairs (port & starboard) while static tuning at the dock, after that seems to work just as well to fine tune like a piano by tapping on the shrouds and matching the notes, and by "feel".

 

[Ed Schenck]

Thanks guys, this has been both fun and informative. Guess what? My Defender order did NOT include a Loose gauge. I read the referenced links and decided that I have been doing it the best way without the gauge. Take the slack out of the leeward shrouds by equalizing the turns on both sides and "snug" the backstay so the forestay slack is good.

To make the New Years story complete I showed my new bride my suit options. She chose the most formal of them all, a grey pinstripe. But some are wearing tuxedos so I guess I shouldn't complain. Meanwhile all my sailing buddies will be swapping racing stories at the yacht club, likely in t-shirts and shorts. She owes me one!

 

[ITMaster]

I use the PT 3 model Ed since I have 4 different sized shrouds on my rigging. What I like about these models http://www.landfallnavigation.com/hlpt2.html is the ablilty to mount the guage on the shrouds and obtain a more acurate reading.

Also, I have been caught tuning my rigging by fellow sailors at my marina and been begged to do theirs also. I offer to do it for free, but they insist on paying me a stipend for my time and having the right tool. Consequently, my guage has paid for itself several times over.