49er VS laser 5k

all i can now say is well done to the laser 5000 class for helping me in making my choice.
joining the world of laser 5000 sailing sometime this winter

I want a go in a 5K sooooo much....ohh, wait. I'm sailing Loco Perro this weekend

 

I still want a go in 5K some time, just to experiance it.

Hi

the class is  dead in that no new boats are being (will ever again ?) be built, but there is a group of enthusiasts who sail 5000 and race.  See class association. Also  5000 can race with TASA and similar  organisations if racing is what you're for. 

Okay - you might be looking for some stiff international/national type of competition - then the 49-er or the RS800 is more suited to your purposes.

I have a  5000, but not  particularly good sailing the boat. It's still exciting and have enjoyed my first season with it - definitely an exhilerating ride !

I bought because I wanted to sail twin-wire. Alternatives -  800, 49er  - are considerably more expensive and I wasn't interested in serious racing anyhow.  Other alternatives are the Boss and International 14. 

The boat is heavy - but solid.  The helm is  lovely  - but sheet loads are fairly high.... it is a big boat:  5m long , 8m mast, 30m2 of spinny!

Certain items (rudders, dagger boards) are the same as the  Laser4000, so they are still manufactured.  Sails  can always be  made - actually see laser website for  spare parts and prices, they list many items.   (my mast is only 2-3 years old).

Okay - it isn't carbon, it isn't a trendy skiff (a la cherub/12 foot brigade ) but still a serious craft. 

Rgds

  fin.

PS - I never sailed a  49er - but this was not an issue for me - too expensive for  my requirements (fun/blasting, and occasional race).

 

 

To my way of thinking the 5 Tonner was about the worst boat of it era... And its a dead class, spares will get increasingly harder, you'll struggle to sell the boat on, all the rest of it. If you want a one design get a 49er if you can handle it, if not get an 800.

Edited by JimC

I have sailed both boats, The 49er is in most conditons the easier boat, due to self tacking and lightness, and spinny shute. Once it gets windier the 49er is harder, you tend to see onoy the better guys out and enjoying it, on the other hand this is when the 5 tonner came into its own, its practically indestructable. As for design, I genuinely believe the 5k is a better all round design, it was just a shame when it came to the build, a load of extra weight was added to make the hull stronger. We certainly used to do very well in the light given the extra rocker it carrries. Oh, and the weight equlaisation worked too.

As far as the kite bag is concerned, yes its hard to get used to, but once you have it right as a crew, everything else is easy, esp when you then have the cash to get a decent 49er later on. I have heard of a few nightmare old and cheap 9ers, they are lighter, and hence the hulls dont last as long.

One of the 5k guys on the east coast was talking about making a carbon 5k, wih a modern rig on it, now that would be a fun boat to have.

The bottom line is the cash, 5ks are cheap. Running costs are cheap. Where as the 49er is a bigger investment, and you will break more stuff.

Hope this helps.

 

AndyMCk