Dinghy Prices

At the boat show yesterday, with 10m of each other were the following boats:

Laser 1 'Race' - £4k approx

Hartley Laminates Mk 4 Osprey - £8k approx

Can anyone identify any part of a Mk 4 Osprey that is not at least 4 times as big / expensive / complex as a Laser 1????

Spars - 3 bits of alloy tube vs full carbon spars

Sails - a small sheet of polycotton knocked up in China for £10 vs a big sheet of the plastic filament stuff...oh and a jib....and a ruddy great spinnaker

Hull - 'nuff said

So either the Osprey is the bargain of the century, or someone is making a very handsome profit. Wouldn't be so bad if Laser were reinvesting in some decent boats...but what do they have on offer?? The "Bahia Bathtub" which will 'fly across the water'...with a cool box and rowlocks..

Oh well, feel better for that rant.

PS.  No need for budding economists to explain rules of market forces / supply & demand etc etc.  We all know it's our fault for being prepared to pay Laser's prices....

As the proud owners of a Hartleys Osprey I can confirm it is a fabulous boat!  Having sailed a laser ocaasionally ( and reluctantly - I hated it!) I also get 4x4x4 more pleasure from sailing the Osprey.

If there is anyone in the North who can't get to a show in the south but wants to see one - get in touch with me - we love showing her off.

Do the event sponsors know that they are paying for nothing then, cause it's all covered by the weekend sailors buying new boats.  I think a few advertising execs might be a little suprised!!

Completely agree with English Dave on the principle; and let's also consider the numbers involved here. Using the example of the Osprey you would think that the PRICE of a Laser should be nearer £3k.  Note I said PRICE not COST...we're allowing Laser to make a profit here.

That number also fits the price point for the SuperNova (the Laser's a bit simpler, and Laser make more of them so should get better bulk discounts etc ).  It also seems about right compared to a RS Vareo at £4500...the Vareos a much more complex hull, more expensive mast, better main, assy setup etc.

So that leaves every new Laser buyer contributing £800 - £1,000 for JimC's list of marketing, promotion, supplied boats etc?? No thanks.....

Of course the majority of Laser sailors don't value those things but still buy one. Why? because sadly it's the dominant single-hander at most clubs so if you want decent class racing in a single hander you have to have one. That's the position Laser have cleverly got themselves in and are now profiting from.