The Laser EPS

Hi,

New here, but not to sailing. I am looking for any comments (good or bad) on the Laser EPS. I am giving some thought to buying one. I have sailed Lasers, OKs and Finns in the past. Tried a Contender for a while but it's not suitable to the lake I sail on. Having been boatless for a couple of years I am looking for a singlehanded dinghy. Nothing wooden, and the EPS caught my eye.

I know that they are no longer produced, but this means that the prices are falling so now seems a good enough time to buy.

All answers gratefully received.

Thanks, Skiver

Why did he struggle? Was he too small, or is the boat a pig to sail. It has a very fine bow and I guess would bow bury easily if one didn't sit well aft.

Having sold old OKs and Finns over the years I know the boat will probably be hard to move on, and cost me money, but provided one buys cheaply enough the cost should be bearable. Especially if I keep the full details secret from my wife  

I've sailed one twice.  Once in the light and once in middling, both time inland.  Nice boat, viceless, fast and planes to windward.  A fine bow slices along nicely but a broad flat aft section gives stability if you move your weight back - so good for gybing.  Difficult not to drag the stern when tacking and the cockpit is very wet in any sort of chop since it sloshes in the sides due to the low freeboard under the wings.  I'm intrigued to know whether it pays to run deep or go for speed downwind but I haven't sailed it enough to form an opinion.  At least with the novel rig which can be over-rotated like a Laser you have a choice.  Nicely put together too and a very easy to read the sail - altogether a feeling of quality. And this is the reason for poor sales as I understand - it was too expensive.

Other fine boat with similar performance are the more tippy 300 and the Blaze which looks like the favorite for strong winds, and then there is the Phantom which seems to have become popular in spite of the price.