Tension Gauge for 1/2" wire
 

I'm a newbie to the forum, but I did a search of "tension gauge" and found 4 threads, but none to direct me where I can find a tension gauge for 1/2" wire. I think I own just about everything in Brion's catalog now **smile**, but he just doesn't resell any tension gauges ... yet ....

Loos doesn't sell anything large enough (I already own their gauge for the largest wire they measure) and I'm looking for a tension gauge to measure my 1/2" wire upper shrouds. I'm not leaving the dock anytime soon, but I'd like to get a good dock tune. Who knows, maybe outfitting will run faster than I think and I'll actually go sailing :) - I appreciate any and all help.

I seem to recall that Brion mentioned "Hanes/Haines/??" as manufacturing a tension gauge for larger wire in the "Tuning Your Rig" video, but I'm just not finding this name with Google for some strange reason - probably just misspelling it ...

Thanks for the help !!
Dennis

Don't know if they make gauges but I'm thinking you are meaning Hayn. http://www.hayn.com/marine/rigging/index.html

Matthew - Thanks for the link !! Aha, no wonder I couldn't locate 'em. That's a great resource for parts. I found a link within their site to tools, but no tension gauges among the four tools offered so I suspect you're right about them probably not having gauges. I'll keep hunting and welcome any more links or paths to follow. Again, I really appreciate the feedback !!

Still Searchin'
 

For the record, I was checking out the link list on Brion's site and www.sailingservices.com doesn't have a gauge large enough for 1/2" wire line.

The website for Schaefer (www.schaefer.com) has apparently been bought out.

Hello,
I have seen gauges for much larger wire on big square-riggers, but have no idea where they came from. For your boat, I'd check tune by other means, like measuring stretch, and dynamic tuning. What is the boat? What is the rig configuration?
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

Brion - I sent you a PM with a link to pics on the original owner's site, which I'm careful not to post publicly in order to make sure I don't overwhelm his site.

For everyone else, my sailboat is a 50' sloop-rigged Columbia 50, which I believe is the last sailboat designed by Bill Tripp just before he died. As I indicated to Brion, please feel free to correct me if my research has misled me there. I'm trying to get a good dock tune and appreciate any help in finding a good tool for 1/2" wire line. I appreciate all the feedback from folks already and welcome any comments, thoughts or general observations :) ...

Brion - When you mention measuring stretch, do you mean using a different type of gauge? I'm up for any decent gauge that will show me the tension on the 1/2" line.

As far as dynamic tuning, I'm OK with making sure that the leeward lower shrouds are not flopping loose and have a slight tension on them, but I'm not sure how to assess the upper shrouds. I just don't have enough experience to trust myself. I want to make sure that I don't create a compression load on the mast, nor excessive tension on the upper shrouds while still distributing the force appropriately with sufficient tension. I figured a gauge would help until I develop a feel for it.

I did find one tension gauge that would work at: http://www.force-gauge.net/dillon_qu...sion_meter.htm, but at $1325.00 I think I'll keep looking for something a bit less expensive :eek:

Search for "Fulmer Tension Meter". It is similar to the Dillon.
Ian

Ian - Thank you so much for the pointer !! I found the Fulmer tension meter at the A. Noble & Son Ltd site (Top match on Google). It's strange that it's under the Electronics products. I wonder how many tension gauges that I've failed to find if they are likewise located under electronics sections ...

Anyway, I couldn't find a price on the site so I've E-Mailed them for some info. I'll let ya know what I find. I'm hoping it's a bit cheaper than the model that looks similar to it. I'm guessing that this one will be out of my price range, but we'll see. Again, thanks for the info on this !!

Dennis
I don't know your land of abode. Nobles are an Australian Company. If you are in the US, exchange rate should be "cheap as chips" (Crikey!:D ). There is a Nobles near me in Rockhampton (Queensland Aus.) although the one in Sydney no doubt has more stock. If you need any assistance let me know.
Ian

Ian - I'm in Jacksonville, Florida in the U.S. so I'm hoping from your note that perhaps it's not too expensive. I did receive a response back on my E-Mail to the Australian company and they forwarded it to the main office, which I believe was in England, to reply back to me since I'm in a different country from their store. I'll let everyone know what info I receive back from the main office once they respond.

I sure appreciate the kind offer for assistance. I'm just trying to find something out there that will let me get the tension for my 1/2 inch upper shrouds. If you run across anything that may fit the bill, please feel free to post it here and I'll gladly check it out. Thanks for the upbeat reply !! :)

Well, after waiting patiently for 2 weeks I replied to both the Australian reseller and the UK Supplier asking for a response. I'm still hunting for a tension gauge that will work with 1/2 inch wire line. I'll keep everyone updated on my progress and am happy to run down any leads that anyone may offer. It's odd not finding anything on this. :confused:

Again, I appreciate all the feedback that I've already received and look forward to more comments, notes or suggestions. Brion offered some wisdom on the dynamic tuning, but I'm concerned with the higher tension on the upper shrouds that I'll either have too much tension or as likely will set the lines too loose because I don't think they will flop around at the higher tension like lower shrouds would when under too little tension. It's tough being wet behind the ears :rolleyes:

Today I received a response from Ian Hunt of the UK Fulmer company. Since a measurement of 1/2 inch equates to 12.7 mm, the Fulmer Rope Tension gauge model 3C will work to check the tension of 1/2 inch wire line. Unfortunately, the pricing for this model is $1,050.00 Great Britain Pounds = $2,065.55 United States Dollars. :eek:


Alas, my hunt for something a bit more affordable continues. I don't need great precision, just something to get me reasonably close. Any and all suggestions are welcome !!

More info
 

Dennis-

You have not mentioned your rig configuration, but I am assuming that you have a double spreader rig. I assume the wire from the tip of the lower spreader to the deck is 1/2", and the wire from tip of the lower to the masthead and the wire to the root of of the upper spreader is smaller? If those upper wires are 3/8" or smaller, you can measure them with Loos gauge -- their tension will vary directly with the big V1.

My V1s are 9/16", my D2 are 3/8", as are the V2/D3s -- I measure tension just above the lower spreader and then go sailing to do a real tune.

Do you have Brion's tuning video, it may help you. The tension via a gauge is just a ballpark adjustment, you need to sail the boat and see how the rig reacts (this is dynamic tuning).

Bob

Bob - You're a genius !! All along the solution has been staring me in the face, but I missed it because I failed to keep looking up ;) ...

Your assumption that I have a double-spreader rig is right on the money (Genius and psychic?). I didn't even realize it, but there is the 1/2 inch line that runs from the bottom of the lower spreader to the deck and another wire that runs from the lower spreader to the top. I took a look from deck last night and it does appear to be a smaller gauge wire, but I'll have to go aloft over the weekend to confirm it.

By the way, I have all of Brion's videos and I think almost all of the equipment he sells other than some recent additions and a few items here or there. I also hear both of you about the dynamic tuning, but I wanted to get somewhat close to the proper tension at the dock since I'm not ready to take the sailboat out just yet.

In fact, your solution actually raises some questions that I haven't seen addressed in Brion's videos. How do you tune when you have two different gauge wire lines running from the deck to the top of the mast in a double spreader rig? Any and all ideas on this are welcome, indeed !!

Thanks again, Bob, for such a brilliantly simple solution. It's one of those that just make ya say, "Doh! How could I have missed that" :)

I can't upload pictures so let's try a very crude attempt at showing my rig:

[]
/[]\
/ [] \
/ [] \
|---[]---| Upper Spreader
| /[]\ |-> Different gauge wire line (hopefully)
| / [] \----> Wire line from outside of lower spreader to
|/ [] \| inside of upper spreader
|---[]---| Lower Spreader
| [] |
| [] |
| [] |
| [] |-> 1/2 inch wire line
| [] |
| [] |
Mast

Scary, huh? Well, maybe it will convey the basic idea ... maybe ... :rolleyes:

My Technique
 

Dennis-

If your rig is designed correctly, the V1 should be larger than the D2 and V2/D3 -- it is carrying the load of both. I would guess those smaller wires would be 3/8 or smaller - meaning you can use a large Loos guage.

On my boat, the D2 has a turnbuckle, but the "upper" does not. I tune the "upper" to roughly 12% by tightening the big turnbuckle on deck. I tune the D2 to 10% since it is so short.

From there I go sailing and tweak it...

Good luck,

Bob