Loos & Co. tension gauge

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Halifax Sailor

So with all the input i set my rig to 16 inner and 18 outer for this season and checked it twice during. Last two seasons i have been able to get the boat to 6.5, 6.8 knots once last year with two very experienced sailors trimming and going for it. This year after the input, i set as above and lo and behold, 7 knots on a regular basis ( and hull speed says 6.2 at best according to what i can find). So thx for all the input, i am a cruiser, the gauge is very helpful and all the advice has really helped make this past season a great one (and fast)!! and the rig doesn't bag when on opposite tack.

The highest speed I have hit is 7.5 knots with no crew. My rig is at 440 lbs all around except 550 lbs on the forward lowers set with a loos gauge a few years ago which means it's so tight the mast is bent......prebend

I can usually hit 6.0 knots cruising in normal breeze say 18 knots or so

What does 16 and 18 equal?

[Halifax Sailor]

my rig is 3/16 so i tighten to 16 on the gauge for inners and 18 on outers. i hit the 7 knots with a 130, full main in 18 knots, broad reach.

[chris95040]

Originally Posted by Halifax Sailor

my rig is 3/16 so i tighten to 16 on the gauge for inners and 18 on outers. i hit the 7 knots with a 130, full main in 18 knots, broad reach.

And what are the units of these figures? ("16" and "18")

I suspect you are looking at the number shown on the gauge itself. Those numbers mean different things on different gauges, so none of us have any idea what you are saying when you say "I tighten to 16."

That number is used as an index to a table from which you can read the pounds of tension (or the % breaking strength for a particular wire size) that it corresponds to. *That's* the number that would make sense to post.

[Jman]

I think hand tight +1 turn is not sound advise. Tension is a per boat setting. For example a boat with swept spreaders is counting on the the shrouds to provide backstay function to one degree or another. Obviously tension on 16' skiff is going to different than 100' maxi like Comanche.

Depending on need to optimize you could play with rig tension on any given day depending on conditions. Many one design classes allow you to adjust shroud tension while racing. Most handicap classes prohibit this.

In general cap shrouds should be very tight for most cruising boats. Excessive slop in leeward shrouds will cause excessive wear. Intermediate shrouds should be adjusted to remove any sag in the middle of the mast while sailing upwind in normal conditions. The tension for this can only be sighted while sailing, and will vary greatly depending on number of spreaders and stiffness of mast.

Unless your boat is part of active aggressive one design class you are unlikely to find Loos gauge numbers that mean anything for your boat. Once tuned however, Loos gauge is great tool for returning mast to last year's settings.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[GordMay]

Calibration tables here ➥ How to use PT Series Tension Gauges

[Halifax Sailor]

ok, sorry. so the scale reads 13 = 300 lbs or 6%
18 reads 18 = 500 lbs or 11%
so i figure i am running outers at 18 or 500 lbs and the inners approx 400lbs or slightly less