Gear test
SureCheck
PRICE: £85.00
Contact: http://www.baselinemarine.comThe SureCheck is calibrated for 1x19 wire.
Manufactured from stainless steel, the gauge
comprises two arms pivoted at one end, the
other being held together by a coil spring.
A grooved nylon spool is rotated until the
correct wire size is selected; the gauge is
then attached to the stay by pulling on a ring
so that the grooved spool is hooked over the
wire. The two arms should be squeezed
together and released. The reading is
taken against the last red dot exposed by
the left-hand arm. The load reading is
obtained from a graph provided as a
percentage of the break load, based on a
figure of 2,000kg for 5mm diameter wire.
The gauge can be left on the shroud while
adjustments to the tension are made. At the
top end, the graph provided was difficult to
get percentage break load readings from
because the curve flattens out.
This is a robust and good-value gauge,
but it is important to ensure the correct
wire diameter is selected on the spool.Rig tension gauges on test
Loos Standard
PRICE: £84.95
Contact: http://www.force4.co.uk
Readings are based on 1x19 stainless steel
cable: two models are available, each
covering three wire sizes. Manufactured from
anodised aluminium, the gauge cannot be left
on the shroud when tensioning as it has to be
held in position. The gauge comprises two
aluminium arms which are riveted together at
the bottom end. The wire is placed in a groove
at the riveted end, then the gauge is placed
up against the shroud and a piece of string is
pulled so that one of the arms extends to a
maximum value. The reading is then taken
from the other arm on a scale: this reading is
then transferred to a scale on the arm which
enables the tension, in kg, to be read on the
appropriate diameter scale.
This gauge is straightforward to use, and
an instruction sheet is provided.
Loos Professional
PRICE: £119.95
Contact: http://www.force4.co.ukThe Loos Professional gauges are designed
to have a higher accuracy than the Standard
gauges. Readings are based on 1x19
stainless steel cable, and six models are
available – three sizes in either metric or
imperial. The gauges are manufactured
from anodised aluminium, and supplied
with instructions and a conversion chart.
The gauge comprises a flat aluminium plate
with two fixed spools at the bottom and a
sliding nylon hook at the top which engages
the stay. The hook is attached by pulling on
a string attached to the slider, which works
against a coil spring. The slider has a pointer
which runs along a scale. A reading is then
taken from a table on the plate graduated to
wire diameter.
It is simple to use, but care is needed to
eliminate friction in the slider. The shroud
tension can be adjusted with the gauge
attached to the wire.A scale on the arm enables the tension, in kg,
to be read on the appropriate diameter scale
The slider works against a coil spring, and
has a pointer which runs along a scaleThe reading is taken against the last red
dot exposed by the left-hand arm