Bones, thanks for sharing that. I did in fact buy a Loos gauge from West Marine in a moment of extravagance after getting the M-23 mast up feeling I was doing the right thing after years of winging it. I had no feel at all for tension so I guess that gauge is still useful but I will try to use it with some flexibility. Yes the shrouds and stays seem very tight and I only got them to the lower end or approaching the lower end of the recommended range. This tendency to softer tension will fit with my addled, squishy brain so it becomes part of a larger life style as well. I have been successful at roughly measuring the voltage and current in conductors but it is not a particularly pleasant sensation! I have dropped back to a voltmeter but I can also calculate currents and voltages in conductors using various numerical Electromagnetics programs :). It is a nasty side effect of my night job. Thanks again, Robbin On 6/9/2011 8:12 PM, bownez@juno.com wrote:
Thomas, Robbin, and quality M-folks, I have used the Loos gauges to measure shroud and stay tension on both my M17 and M23. I thought I was doing everything correctly with German precision until I read a report that most of those measurement tools are fairly inaccurate. I would set tension at 10% of breaking strength (as per instructions). It always seemed to me that the rig was too tight. Well, my new formula is to set tension by feel. I do still use the gauges to balance shrouds side to side, bit I am definitely tuning my rig softer. It fits in with my easy going, relaxed, don't rush me state of mind. As always, I'll watch the rig under sail. I'll be checking the slack of the inner shrouds under a hard beat to weather. Adjust as necessary, and check again after several times out. Now, if I could only measure voltage and current by feeling a conductor!!! It would lighten my tool bag on service calls. Bones ____________________________________________________________ Penny Stock Jumping 3000% Sign up to the #1 voted penny stock newsletter for free today! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4df161de772d181d70st05vuc _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
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