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Laser wanted for teenager and mum

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Created by crazydaisy > 9 months ago, 28 Oct 2011
crazydaisy
5 posts
28 Oct 2011 4:31PM
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I had a Laser when I was a teenager but haven't sailed much since. Now I'd like to get my 14year old daughter out on the water. She's a light weight (45kg) I'm 60kg and her Dad is around 90Kg. I used to sail my laser with two people even though it was a bit cramped. No racing, just having fun. Any advice?

rumblefish
TAS, 824 posts
28 Oct 2011 11:19PM
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I'd suggest looking at another boat.

Lasers usually get a flogging and are probably one of the worst built sailing dinghy going around. Anything over about 10 years with alot of use is probably going to have a soft deck which means the foam and glass have seperated and it's a slippery slope from there.

Where abouts are you??

I would strongly recommend a Sabre. They are the fastest growing class in the country and you can pick up well built timber boats in good nick for under $1500, here are some examples www.sabre.org.au/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3361#3361

It is a much better behaved boat than a Laser with the hull form offering far better stability. They also have about 10 times the cockpit space and aren't about to break your knees while hiking as a Laser can do!!!

I also like the idea of a timber boat as you and your daughter can do some maintenance together, there is no better way to get kids into sailing for life than for them to take pride in the boat they worked on over winter!!

cisco
QLD, 12365 posts
29 Oct 2011 1:49AM
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rumble is on the money crazy.

Another worthwhile boat is the Tasar. www.tasar.org/

I sold a good one for $1,000 last year.

crazydaisy
5 posts
29 Oct 2011 1:18PM
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Thanks for your thoughts. I shall have to have a look at some Sabres. I always liked the laser because it was so quick and easy to get into the water. I think they were pretty new on the market in 1975 and it was light enough to tow behind my Mini!

frant
VIC, 1230 posts
30 Oct 2011 8:21PM
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crazydaisy said...

Thanks for your thoughts. I shall have to have a look at some Sabres. I always liked the laser because it was so quick and easy to get into the water. I think they were pretty new on the market in 1975 and it was light enough to tow behind my Mini!


GET LASER . Somepeople dont like them and insist that they are not a very good boat. Well 200,000 of them worldwide proves them wrong. In your case get a 4.7 or Radial rig and you will have a perfect boat.

badinfluence
QLD, 538 posts
30 Oct 2011 9:37PM
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Ever thought about a small cat?? Rediscovered the joys today after a looong break from little boat sailing.

Calypso 16...manageable for me and my 8 year old daughter and 11 year old nephew. They loved getting out on the trapeze!!!

Just a bit more room on a cat with the tramp ....oh, and loads more fun...hush my mouth

Good luck with it all
Trace

sleek1
VIC, 672 posts
31 Oct 2011 2:55PM
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Sabre is a bit small Two up.Tasar would be better.off the beach cat even better.

bdt
WA, 22 posts
31 Oct 2011 2:16PM
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hi if just for her open bic quick to rig fun to sail hard to break no bailing easy
righting great modern little boat
or for the family go the beach cat nacra or windrush good hull volume to carry the weight fast and fun
if going to get into racing later go to your local club see what their racing also will have some courses you may be intrested in.

planesailing
WA, 380 posts
1 Nov 2011 4:36PM
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Hmm.. Where are you situated.? I have an old laser, and for the critics there is nothing wrong with an older laser..... Sure there is some bad ones ...but isnt that allways the case?
Im either selling mine dirt cheap, or spending some time and TLC and selling for more.

halfadevil
WA, 74 posts
1 Nov 2011 8:48PM
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crazydaisy said...

I had a Laser when I was a teenager but haven't sailed much since. Now I'd like to get my 14year old daughter out on the water. She's a light weight (45kg) I'm 60kg and her Dad is around 90Kg. I used to sail my laser with two people even though it was a bit cramped. No racing, just having fun. Any advice?




I would agree at 45Kg, and 60kg the Sabre would be the best bet, they are only 41kg so easy to handle and almost the same size as a 125 so can carry two when teaching. Having sail both laser and Sabre the Sabre is much easer to handle than a laser.

frant
VIC, 1230 posts
2 Nov 2011 8:20AM
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halfadevil said...

crazydaisy said...

I had a Laser when I was a teenager but haven't sailed much since. Now I'd like to get my 14year old daughter out on the water. She's a light weight (45kg) I'm 60kg and her Dad is around 90Kg. I used to sail my laser with two people even though it was a bit cramped. No racing, just having fun. Any advice?




I would agree at 45Kg, and 60kg the Sabre would be the best bet, they are only 41kg so easy to handle and almost the same size as a 125 so can carry two when teaching. Having sail both laser and Sabre the Sabre is much easer to handle than a laser.


At 45kg a 4.7 rig would be best bet. At 60kg a radial rig would be ideal. At 90 kg the full rig is perfect. Stick with the laser. Its a bit like someone telling you that a Toyota Corrolla would be a more suitable small car than a Mini. Its just not true.

crazydaisy
5 posts
2 Nov 2011 7:43PM
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Planesailing - thank you but I'm on the opposite side of the country! Far South Coast NSW. Am on the chase for a local laser that has been passed around the district. The last possessor has forgotten where he's left it. The original owner agrees that it would be perfect for us.

crazydaisy
5 posts
2 Nov 2011 7:46PM
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And Frant - I had a mini when I was a teenager and sold it because someone told me a Toyoto Corolla was better! It broke down three weeks later.

halfadevil
WA, 74 posts
3 Nov 2011 9:38AM
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frant said...

At 45kg a 4.7 rig would be best bet. At 60kg a radial rig would be ideal. At 90 kg the full rig is perfect. Stick with the laser. Its a bit like someone telling you that a Toyota Corrolla would be a more suitable small car than a Mini. Its just not true.


Frant I think you should go for a sail on a Sabre if you haven't already, they are nothing like a Laser at all. they are far lighter to move around, far more stable as they are not round bilged and alround a much better boat for the purpose discribe by crazydaisy. I have both a Laser and a Sabre so I speak from some experence. The Sabre would be more like a BMW to the Lasers Corralla for the purpose described.

crazydaisy
5 posts
12 Nov 2011 7:59PM
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Thanks for all the replies. We've found the local laser so we'll have a go on that and see how we get on.

jezcol
WA, 23 posts
16 Nov 2011 10:57PM
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hello what state do you like in?



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"Laser wanted for teenager and mum" started by crazydaisy