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Laser 8.1 - right for me?
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damp_freddie View Drop Down
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Posts: 339 		Post Options Post Options   Quote damp_freddie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Laser 8.1 - right for me?
    Posted: 23 Sep 09 at 1:23pm

Is the laser 8.1 suitable for really heavy, physical sailors?

I'm just looking for a fun boat for time off keel boats and teaching kids,( snipes dying a death locally,) with the potential of building a small travellers where I live in norway. I

The 8.1 would seem to be a good upgrade since there are lots of hulls lying around - I guess I can just import a rig and set it up myself?
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The 8.1 was designed for heavy sailors, I think the ideal weight is 95-100kg compared to the standard rigs 80kgs. Its not really suitable for teaching kids unless its very very light wind or your gonna try double handing it.
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jeffers View Drop Down
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Posts: 3048 		Post Options Post Options   Quote jeffers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Sep 09 at 2:09pm

The 8.1 weight range starts at 90kgs but I find that at 85 I can handle it in most winds (until the standards are planing pretty much all the time offwind then I switch back to the samller rig because my lard helps rather than hinders).

I find it transforms the boat, makes it quite lively and much more fun than a standard rig.

If you can make it over this way at the end of Oct there is the UK nationals taking place at Wier Wood, I reckon if you spoke Steve Cockerill/Rooster there will be a good chance you can have a go in one (maybe even sail the whole weekend).

My personal observations are that is needs a huge amount of kicker, once you get this right you sail the boat using the cunningham (until it gets very windy then ease the kicker off but grind the cunningham on harder). I have had mine for almost 2 years now and I am well pleased with it. The only real alternative to me at my local club was a Phantom (I had a Blaze for a couple of years but the water was a bit small for it) but I didn't have 4-5 grand to buy an epoxy one. The 8.1 is (relatively) cheap thrills.

I know Rooster are trying to establish is in as many countries as possible. The ILCA whilst not actively supporting it are not opposed, neither are the builders because it sells more hulls to people who would otherwise not consider the boat.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that you will need an XD vang, preferably the Harken one because I reckon the Holt one would struggle with the load.



Edited by jeffers
Paul
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damp_freddie View Drop Down
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Posts: 339 		Post Options Post Options   Quote damp_freddie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Sep 09 at 6:37pm
Originally posted by jeffers

The 8.1 weight range starts at 90kgs but I find that at 85


EDIT: Forgot to mention that you will need an XD vang, preferably the Harken one because I reckon the Holt one would struggle with the load.



Is it easy enough to do The XD kit conversion yourself?

Most lasers here were bought in the 80s and have sat in garages!

So a pretty easy way of getting out when I have no crew

What is the PY compared to the finn and phantom for comparison?
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Posts: 49 		Post Options Post Options   Quote chrisclark123 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Sep 09 at 7:15pm
I'd say go with the 8.1, as said above you will needs shed loads of kicker. I have made a kicker myself out of small cruiser mainsheet blocks works a charm as i didnt fancy forking out 140 quid. The PY is around 1054 ish not too shore of how it compares. 
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Andymac View Drop Down
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Posts: 852 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Andymac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Sep 09 at 8:15pm
I'd guess that the 8.1 'class' could be a little more relaxed about modified control lines because it's not actually a 'Laser'.
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Webmuppet View Drop Down
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Posts: 534 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Webmuppet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Sep 09 at 8:28pm
Originally posted by jeffers

Forgot to mention that you will need an XD vang, preferably the Harken one because I reckon the Holt one would struggle with the load.



My boat came with the Holt XD kicker and it seems to have survived OK (so far !), although I would totally agreed that the Harken version looks a bit more robust. Some of the Laser books show methods of upgrading the original style of kicker by adding a couple of blocks - I don't know how effective it would be, but it might be a cheap option to start off with,

Nigel
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Merlinboy View Drop Down
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Posts: 3169 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Merlinboy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Sep 09 at 8:31pm
The Harken XD kicker is much better then the holt, but the holt is up to the job it worked well for ages on my brothers 8.1.  I noticed that a mate of mine took one of the puchases out of his Harken XD kicker as you didnt need it.  Apparantly goodison does the same thing, but that is with the standard laser.
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damp_freddie View Drop Down
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Posts: 339 		Post Options Post Options   Quote damp_freddie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Sep 09 at 9:07pm
what would be the Inc VAT dammage then,  on a full conversion kit from standard laser to 8.1 rooster booster?
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jeffers View Drop Down
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Posts: 3048 		Post Options Post Options   Quote jeffers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Sep 09 at 8:04am
Indeed it would be including the government robbery. It may be worth speaking to Rooster, they might be amenable to do a deal if you wanted a few. I find the outhaul is generally set and forget (unless you get it seriously wrong) but a good cunningham is essential.

There are a number of guides as to doing the 'XD style' control lines yourself floating around. I believe the 8.1 class rules (although not actually published yet) are intended to be exactly the same as the International Laser with the exception of the sail and lower mast section (or extender section).

My hull is a 80's hull that has all the goodies on it and seems to cope just fine .
Paul
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