I am a new owner (this summer) of an '88. I was fortunate in that the marina I launched/berth at, the manager was a sailor who helped me raise and tune the rig. I have been thinking of buying a tuning gauge for future use, and wanted to ask the forum's guidance on which tool to buy. Catalina direct lists the Model B for the Catalina 22 as the appropriate tool. My question is, will the Pro-2 cover all my bases? It looks like it is easier to use, and if buying on Amazon, when factoring in free shipping and no sales tax, the price is about the same. For some reason, that Model B isn't on Amazon. And it is much higher on WM. I read back in old threads, and some say use a tool, some say wing it. For those that use a gauge, which one do you use, and if the B, would you see a benefit to the "pro" model? thanks.
loos tension gauge
- Thread starter jdub tn
- Start date
Either the Pro or the Model B will provide adequate results. This is not a precision instrument for a delicate operation. Go with the one where you might get the best price. It is something that is not used very often and I would wait until I needed it to purchase one. I have one I purchased 10 years ago when I needed it and have only used it once other time since then.
So a used one on Ebay would be even better, it sounds like. I was concerned because the Model B is for wire 3/16-9/32, and the Pro-2 is for 3/16-1/4. I thought all the wire is 1/4, but wondered why Catalina Direct didn't offer an option for the higher end model. If everything is 1/4, then it all comes down to price and ease of use, I guess.
$tingy Sailor has a great review:
https://stingysailor.com/2016/06/25/product-review-loos-tension-gauge/
https://stingysailor.com/2016/06/25/product-review-loos-tension-gauge/
My opinion, save your money, checkout the owners manual which give perfectly adequate instructions on how to set your rigging. I thought I needed a Loos gauge too, bought one many years ago when I had my first C-22. It's been sitting in the parts box for many years, can't remember the last time it was used, probably been 20 years or longer.
Don
Don
Gene, help me out here. I am looking at the specs for the model B on WM, and it specifies wire sizes from 3/16 to 9/32. If that is the recommended gauge for the '22, and the wire is 1/8, isn't the wire too small for the gauge?
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I think I may have answered my own question. I went back to Catalina Direct (again), and while the picture shown appears to show a "model B", the description is for a 3/32 to 5/32. I promise that I didn't run to the forum without trying to figure this out for myself. Just trying to find out the wire diameter has been a challenge (and my boat is an hour away so I can't go out and measure it!). Thanks for the reference to Stingysailor's article. I may have seen that before, I am not sure. However the link to the tuning guide is dead, which I did run across when trying to find out the answers sought here. Is there an updated link out there?
jdub tn,
A quick search for North Sails tuning guide revealed a page of links to all kinds of boats.
Here is the link for the Catalina 22:
http://www.onedesign.com/Portals/106/docs/Tuning Guides/NorthSails-Catalina22-TunningGuide-Q07.pdf
A quick search for North Sails tuning guide revealed a page of links to all kinds of boats.
Here is the link for the Catalina 22:
http://www.onedesign.com/Portals/106/docs/Tuning Guides/NorthSails-Catalina22-TunningGuide-Q07.pdf
The links in my review are fixed now, they moved their pages around. Sorry for the inconvenience.
If you raise and lower the mast yearly, or trailer, the Loos PT series is the way to go.
I got the PT-1. My shrouds were loose. Just one more step in learning to be competent with the boat. What's next? Re-rigging the outhaul and/or traveler, or learn to reef? Leaning strongly to reefing as wind should finally pick up as fall comes and I am mostly solo.