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Melges 15 Turnbuckle Twist Adjuster

Fast, reliable rig tension adjustment for the Melges 15.

White and Red

Gray and White

Up to 5x faster than wrenches — most adjustments take under 15 seconds, making quick tuning before launching or in between races effortless
No tools required after installation — adjust tension anytime with just your hands
Quick enough to replace a rig breaker — the rig can be fully detensioned in under 60 seconds, eliminating the need for a separate tool entirely
Adjustable tension indicator — unlike any other tensioner, set it once to your preference and check your rig tension at a glance without a gauge
Snag-free geometry — smooth profile keeps spinnaker sheets, other lines, and clothing from catching during maneuvers

High-Strength, Auto-Locking Teeth

Adjustable Tension Indicator

Allen Key with Line Attatchment Loop

Initial installation takes about 10 minutes and requires no tools beyond the included Allen key. The slides below walk through each step.

Melges 15 Turnbuckle Twist Adjuster Installation Guide

To adjust tension, pull up on the top handle to unlock the device and hold it still while rotating the bottom handle to the desired tension
Always rotate the bottom handle only — rotating the top handle instead will twist the sidestay
Adjust both turnbuckles in turn, keeping each side equal to ensure the sidestays remain the same length
One full turn on each turnbuckle typically results in a change of approximately 1 unit on a Loos PT-1 tension gauge. See Melges 15 Tuning Guide for more information.
Rinse both adjusters with fresh water after exposure to saltwater
Inspect both adjusters before each use. Do not use if any component is cracked, deformed, or shows significant signs of wear. A damaged adjuster may fail to hold tension reliably.
Regularly check that the set screw is tight. A loose set screw can allow the rig to loosen gradually and, if left unaddressed, come undone entirely.

Visit the Projects page to see the design process, technical accomplishments, and the reasoning behind how this was built.

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