Tension gauges

[Brion Toss]

Hi,
First of all, there never was a tension gauge on your backstay adjuster; there was just a little dial showing p.s.i in the cylinder, a number which, without further extrapolation, experiment, and calibration, means approximately nothing. As Bob Perry suggested to one of his clients, "Put a piece of duct tape over the damn gauge."
Second, though you might find a cheaper gauge -- and there are electronic ones now that keep dropping in price -- a good one will cost more than you might like. It might even cost as much as one of your pieces of rod rigging. Hmm, relative cost maybe not so high?
Third, remember that tuning is not about gauges; it's the other way around. Gauges can speed up the process, and ensure repeatability. For the professional, they provide efficiency, and a better value for the customer. But they are almost as useless as that pressure gauge unless you understand the principles of tuning. And if you have that, you really don't need gauges at all.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss