New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Laser Tips
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Laser Tips
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <123>
Author
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
EmmyC View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie
Avatar

Joined: 30 Oct 10
Location: Berkshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 39 		Post Options Post Options   Quote EmmyC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Laser Tips
    Posted: 10 Jun 12 at 5:55pm
Hi guys.

I took on all the advice you lot gave me and I got block to block with no trouble. I now, however, have another problem: There is far too much going on at the mast and things are getting into the way of other things - Making sail control hard. Is there an order I should rig things up in in so that there are no problems? Also, how do I stop the outhaul blocks getting caught on the clew strap?

Thanks ;)


Edited by EmmyC - 10 Jun 12 at 5:58pm
Back to Top
jeffers View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 29 Mar 04
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3048 		Post Options Post Options   Quote jeffers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jun 12 at 6:26pm
You can always 'end for end' the top mast (unless it has already been done) just make sure the bent bit points forwards unless you straighten it first.

With the mainsheet if you pull it out the boat and slowly walk along it whilst gripping it fairly tightly until it is fully extended this can help with the kinking and tangling. I do this twice before tying the loose end off at the mainsheet ratchet, it does help.
Paul
----------------------
D-Zero GBR 74
Back to Top
EmmyC View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie
Avatar

Joined: 30 Oct 10
Location: Berkshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 39 		Post Options Post Options   Quote EmmyC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jun 12 at 5:40pm
Originally posted by laser193713

I would suggest a list of things to do would be

1) fit the new harken kicker, be careful not to use too much with all that extra power!
2) tie the end of your existing mainsheet to a fence post or similar, run the rest through your hands and "ring it out" until you reach the other end. Like a skipping rope except not round in circles, just randomly shake it.  That should help get the twists out. 
3) if twists continue try a new mainsheet
4)regularly check your top mast for bends, a bent mast is firsly slow, and secondly not legal under the class rules. 
5) occasionally check the bottom section for bends, i have seen radial bottom sections bend where the sleeve ends on the inside. Somewhere just above the gooseneck i think.
6) if all else fails PULL HARDER! LOL

If you have any other questions just ask. There are loads of tweaks you can do to the laser to make it much more fun to sail without being illegal. Most are free/cheap to do.  Just ask!


Thanks for the help - I imagine ringing out the mainsheet will help as it tangles non-stop.

The top-mast was bent when I bought the boat - I have been putting off buying a replacement for a while due to the fact my priority was the Harken kicker.  I had no idea that a bent top mast made such a difference?
Back to Top
jeffers View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 29 Mar 04
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3048 		Post Options Post Options   Quote jeffers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jun 12 at 12:53pm
Originally posted by EmmyC

I have the Radial which I use most, however I will be purchasing a 4.7 rig for those windier days. I have quite a lot of upper body strength, although most of the time I'm scared of breaking something!

Don't worry about that. Lasers are pretty strong and stand up to a lot of abuse. 

Do inspect your spars and fittings regularly and as soon as they get loose re-rivet them.
Paul
----------------------
D-Zero GBR 74
Back to Top
laser193713 View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 13 May 09
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 889 		Post Options Post Options   Quote laser193713 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Jun 12 at 1:38am
Yes, but by bending the mast with the kicker it is easier to get the mainsheet block to block. It shouldn't be hard anyway, just much easier with the kicker on!
Back to Top
PeterV View Drop Down
Posting king
Posting king
Avatar

Joined: 24 Feb 07
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 131 		Post Options Post Options   Quote PeterV Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 May 12 at 10:03pm
I struggle to understand this post.  I thought there was only one way to go block to block and that's to pull the mainsheet in.  Then, whatever kicker is fitted you take up the slack on it.  The higher purchase on the modern kickers only makes it easier to pull the kicker tighter than this basic setting.
PeterV
Finn K197, Finn GBR564, GK29
Warsash
Back to Top
laser193713 View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 13 May 09
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 889 		Post Options Post Options   Quote laser193713 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 May 12 at 8:18pm
I would suggest a list of things to do would be

1) fit the new harken kicker, be careful not to use too much with all that extra power!
2) tie the end of your existing mainsheet to a fence post or similar, run the rest through your hands and "ring it out" until you reach the other end. Like a skipping rope except not round in circles, just randomly shake it.  That should help get the twists out. 
3) if twists continue try a new mainsheet
4)regularly check your top mast for bends, a bent mast is firsly slow, and secondly not legal under the class rules. 
5) occasionally check the bottom section for bends, i have seen radial bottom sections bend where the sleeve ends on the inside. Somewhere just above the gooseneck i think.
6) if all else fails PULL HARDER! LOL

If you have any other questions just ask. There are loads of tweaks you can do to the laser to make it much more fun to sail without being illegal. Most are free/cheap to do.  Just ask!
Back to Top
EmmyC View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie
Avatar

Joined: 30 Oct 10
Location: Berkshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 39 		Post Options Post Options   Quote EmmyC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 May 12 at 5:57pm
I have the Radial which I use most, however I will be purchasing a 4.7 rig for those windier days. I have quite a lot of upper body strength, although most of the time I'm scared of breaking something!
Back to Top
laser193713 View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 13 May 09
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 889 		Post Options Post Options   Quote laser193713 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 May 12 at 5:40pm
Which rig are you using? The 4.7 is easy to get to block to block with no kicker because of the bent mast, the radial is a little bit harder but because a large amount of the mast is top section which is really bendy it shouldn't be a problem. The full rig can be a bit hard if you aren't a gorilla! 

The kicker will help but don't get lazy and just use that to pull the boom down, it will bend the bottom of the mast far too much and flatten the sail and you will go slow. Best practice is to have the kicker on just so it isnt slack when it is about 10 knots of wind, then as it builds keep pulling and pulling to flatten the sail. 

An important thing to remember with your new kicker will be to let it off when you are sat around between races etc and to ease it enough on reaches and downwind.  If you don't do this you will find yourself bending a lot of top sections! 

As said, the most common mainsheets these days are about 7mm, rooster polylite or similar.  That said, when I finished lasers I was using a development version of the Laser red fleck mainsheet which is slightly under 6mm.  There were a number of versions of that sheet and if I remember rightly Paul Goodison took the yellow fleck version to the olympics where it was light wind, this was about 5.7mm there was a white fleck and a green fleck version too i think.  I quite liked the thin mainsheet but others would definitely disagree! If in doubt use the rooster 7mm sheet.
Back to Top
EmmyC View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie
Avatar

Joined: 30 Oct 10
Location: Berkshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 39 		Post Options Post Options   Quote EmmyC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 May 12 at 5:18pm
Thanks Jeffers - I did try that once or twice but I was far too slow and kept heading into wind quickly - I guess that may have to be something to perfect!
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <123>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.665y
Copyright ©2001-2010 Web Wiz
Change your personal settings, or read our privacy policy