Laser 8.1 - right for me?
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Choosing a boat
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URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5964
Printed Date: 07 Aug 25 at 9:26am
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Topic: Laser 8.1 - right for me?
Posted By: damp_freddie
Subject: Laser 8.1 - right for me?
Date 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? |
Replies:
Posted By: Quagers
Date Posted: 23 Sep 09 at 2:01pm
| 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. |
Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 23 Sep 09 at 2:09pm
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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. ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: damp_freddie
Date Posted: 23 Sep 09 at 6:37pm
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? |
Posted By: chrisclark123
Date 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. |
Posted By: Andymac
Date 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'. |
Posted By: Webmuppet
Date Posted: 23 Sep 09 at 8:28pm
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 ------------- I am the milkman of human kindness, I will leave an extra pint (Billy Bragg) Graduate 2530 'Galaxy' |
Posted By: Merlinboy
Date Posted: 23 Sep 09 at 8:31pm
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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. ------------- |
Posted By: damp_freddie
Date 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? |
Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 24 Sep 09 at 8:04am
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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 ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: damp_freddie
Date Posted: 24 Sep 09 at 1:30pm
| ...but how much would a rooster rig, sail and the XD pack cost? |
Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 24 Sep 09 at 2:40pm
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UK List for the rig is £350 (when I last checked), the Harken kicker you can pick up the bottom assembly for around £80-£100 and do the rest yourself using other blocks, a full assembled one for around £140. Cunningham you can do youself using a couple of blocks and some rope. I have a mate who has a old style kicker that he has adapted to 12:1 which just about works for him ( he has to be a bit aniaml with it and cannot adjust it at all though). The guys to speak to are Rooster themselves though, Steve is a helpful guy. Failing that rigs do occasionally appear on Apolloduck/Ebay for around £200-£250.
------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: damp_freddie
Date Posted: 25 Sep 09 at 11:53am
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Thanks jeffers what about the mainsail as well though? |
Posted By: Rockhopper
Date Posted: 25 Sep 09 at 12:06pm
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That price is including the main sail its not a laser sail as such so does not have inflated price. ------------- Retired now after 35 seasons in a row and time for a rest. 2004 national champ Laser5000 2007,2010,National Champ Rs Vareo |
Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 25 Sep 09 at 1:07pm
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Wot Rockhopper says ^^ The £350 for the rig gets you a sail (inc numbers and battens) and either a longer lower mast or a fibreglass extension for your standard mast (I would recommend a fibreglass etender as it will save you a packet in courier costs! ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: damp_freddie
Date Posted: 26 Sep 09 at 10:43pm
| cooool! |
Posted By: phil wright
Date Posted: 12 Nov 09 at 3:51pm
| Ive got a Rooster 8.1 Rig to sell now that I've ordered an RS100, where is the best place to advertise it? |
Posted By: womble12345
Date Posted: 12 Nov 09 at 5:10pm
| I think there are all the ex-hire 8.1 rigs for sale, £300 I think and only used for a couple of light wind races at the nationals. |