Rig Tension Gauges... Loos v SureCheck

[Matthew_W]

I am currently in the happy position of buying a Starlight 39 - which has larger rigging (8mm) than our old boat and also has a hydraulic mast ram for adjustable rig tension (an unnecessary complication really but it is there). Being a moderately keen rig/sail tweaker, on the old boat I had a Loos rig tension gauge which worked very well however a new one of the correct size for the Starlight is nigh on £200 which traumatizes the Yorkshire-man in me! The appropriately sized SureCheck gauge is available for £80ish. The question is... are they any good or is it a case of getting what you pay for? I don't necessarily need absolute precision, but reliability in terms of repeatability I think is quite important. There doesn't seem to be much wisdom available through Google, anybody got any experiences?

 

[Schapera]

Loos vs SureCheck

What was the outcome of this query? i have the same question.

 

[Carl s]

The hydraulic mast ram is far from an ( unnecessary complication ) it has got to be one of the best methods for tension adjustments of your rig to suit different wind strengths and in turn get best poss boat performance and comfort , learn too use it ,don't knock it

 

[Skylark]

I have a Surecheck for smaller rigging, max 6mm IIRC and a Loos PT3M for 7 to 10 mm. Neither is worth their relatively high sell price IMHO but having said that I think the premium for the Loos £200+ gauge is worth spending the extra. Physically, the PT3M is a big piece of kit. The measurement results seem fairly repeatable.

 

[jerrytug]

I have a Loos Pro, grotesquely overpriced but sort of essential, it will save on rigger fees in one day for starters... then you are ahead, and it can easily be sold, so I say: invest.

 

[LouisBrowne]

I had two Loos gauges in the 2000s and found them excellent. The after-sales service was also brilliant: Loos re-calibrated the gauges free of charge (though sending them to the USA and back was quite expensive). Regular calibration is important because the springs wear and expand.