Loos gauge vs load cells?

[Edward Bruce Harland]

I've used loos guages for many years now on a variety of boats. Right now I use a PT-2metric guage which gives me accurate consistent readings. I have more faith in these than the old 90 and 91 tension guages by Loos, but these used to work well also. I race Melges 24's and a 30' cruiser racer and quarter tonners, with 5mm and 6mm 1 x 19 ss rigging. We adjust the rigging every time we go sailing and these are the best tool I know of to check tension.

Hope this helps

[Brion Toss]

Howdy,
I've been trapped at a boat show for a few days, so at least I didn't walk past the bar...
We've used Loos gauges (PT) under way to good effect. I'm sure that they aren't as accurate as a true load cell (and they say so in their instructions), so it really depends what level of accuracy your situation requires. Also, with a lot of use we have found the accuracy of our readings degrading, as the bushings and springs wear, so we regularly cycle our gauges back for rebuilding.
Having said that, I see these gauges simply as ways to speed up a process which is essentially non-gauge-dependent. We first establish whether or not the wire is the right size, then put the mast where we want it, and then do a static tune, but what really matters is how the rig behaves under way.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss