Why are laser 4000s so cheap?

Originally posted by Quagers Out of interest people are saying the 800 is easier to sail, having sailied both boats I found I could get the 4000 going (very fast) ..... Where does this idea of it being easier to sail come from????

Yeah, twin wires apart I guess it is the lower sheet loads, lack of those bloody "wing wangs" on the pole and that it get's going faster earlier.

Jim, totally agree the 505 on a world basis is of course a healthy, top end class for big guys.

But in the UK the 4000 has v.good numbers and the boats are closer matched, being a OOD and being, erm,  how shall I put it - a little bitty over engineered.

If someone wants to spend 10K on a competitive 505 new and all the time on the travellers and bigger events, and has an 18 stone crew, fine. If someone happens to thinking of a well priced club racer with pockets of OD and some chance of being competitive at the nationals then the 4000 would be a better bet for an averaged sized crew.

Urm, the 'fleet' is getting pretty old.......depreciation , hello?

I would actually think there will be a comeback at some point post recesssion because 2k is a steal for an OOD.

This is in contrast to the 505 which is not a neatly controlled one design and has suffered over the last 10 years. A 15 year old 505 may be fun but not really on the pace at travellers, whereas a 4000 you could get in good condition easily.

Despite it's weight, shortcomings etc and that yeah, the 800 and 49er are light years ahead, I would still rather see people sailing the 4 tonner than some old classes. Particularily those built in a certain material which lends itself to carbon...carbon dating that is.

Wouldn't a 29er, RS500 also be pretty close to its niche....and if you go to symetric spinnakers then there must be a half a dozen more boats.

Originally posted by Peaky perhaps the 29erxx if its gets the Olympic nod.

Looks pretty unlikely at the moment. 49ers and 29ers flew out of the shop long before they were selected for anything but so far the 29erXX seems to be the boat no-one actually wants to shell out cash for.

Edited by JimC