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Foiling Laser

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PeterG View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote PeterG Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Foiling Laser
    Posted: 12 Aug 13 at 9:41pm
I think a lot of people are missing the point that this is the first cheap and realistic foiler... sure it may not be as quick or refined as a moth but it also doesn't cost £7000, and any club sailor can just pay the  £1000 or whatever and stick it on their old laser!

Unfortunately, a Laser costs about £4000 and the foil set £3500, so it does cost £7000! (Not that you would get a new Moth for that either).

And just how realistic is it? I can see it being fun for a few minutes blasting on a reach in flat water with 15+ knots, but that would pale pretty quickly. How's it going to perform upwind? Or in anything short of strong winds. I think anyone who tries this is pretty quickly either going to give up or regret not saving their pennies towards the real thing.
Peter
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maxibuddah View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote maxibuddah Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Aug 13 at 10:21pm
Originally posted by PeterG

I think a lot of people are missing the point that this is the first cheap and realistic foiler... sure it may not be as quick or refined as a moth but it also doesn't cost £7000, and any club sailor can just pay the  £1000 or whatever and stick it on their old laser!

Unfortunately, a Laser costs about £4000 and the foil set £3500, so it does cost £7000! (Not that you would get a new Moth for that either).

And just how realistic is it? I can see it being fun for a few minutes blasting on a reach in flat water with 15+ knots, but that would pale pretty quickly. How's it going to perform upwind? Or in anything short of strong winds. I think anyone who tries this is pretty quickly either going to give up or regret not saving their pennies towards the real thing.

A cheap old tub of a laser costs a few hundred quid and then you can have fun for not a lot.

So what if someone's wants to do this? Why the vitriol? Let them have fun, enjoy themselves and do it just because they can. So what if doesn't float (or fly) your boat?
Everything I say is my opinion, honest
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yellowwelly View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote yellowwelly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Aug 13 at 10:37pm
A foiling 600 (converted, not a 600ff) sold on the Facebook group I jointly admin the other day.

I did wonder who the feck would want to buy that- no one to race against, a poor interpretation of the real thing (moth) and frankly a depreciation timebomb with a very short fuse... I guess the answer is the same type of person who would put a used set of these foils on their laser... each to his own, good luck and happy sailing, but no, not my cup of tea and I'm amused to think that someone could pimp a laser and make it less appealing to me than the initial product!!!!
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Post Options Post Options   Quote maxibuddah Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Aug 13 at 11:01pm
Someone who just wants a blast, wants a challenge and a bit of fun jimbo I suspect. They might not want racing just something to do as a change once in a while. They know that's its not going to hold its value, or has already lost all of it anyway. Why does everything have to be about doing a race thing, not everyone wants that. I'm even considering a finn for gods sake, just to have a go, not for the considered racing. The same reasons why I bought a 300 when they came out. I had that for 5 years and only twice sailed it in anger against other 300's but I loved it, it was fun and that at the end of the day whichever way you actually achieve it, that is what sport is about, having fun. Who are we to judge another because what they find fun is not what we consider to be fun. I even think that what you've done with the pink coffin is right because you are obviously enjoying it no matter what I thing about the boat. Enjoy it what ever you sail but perhaps don't think poorly on another because it doesn't fit in with popular convention.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote RS400atC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Aug 13 at 11:55pm
It's now a lot of years since 'Icarus' foiled and blew ordinary cats out of speed records.
I reckon with modern materials and what has been learned since then, there is scope for some fun on foils outside the Moth formula.
Not sure how any of this relates to the average bloke who wants to sail most weekends, but each to his own.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote yellowwelly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Aug 13 at 10:09am
Agreed Maxi- it's the same reason I windsurf, and given the conditions, prefer it to dinghy sailing.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Sep 13 at 2:27pm
Com'on chaps are you kidding saying it would sell just a few!

If it WERE £1,000 or even £1,500 my cheque would be in the post already. I weigh a little less than the test pilot and whilst I don't sail lasers any more, there is a good example sitting at the bottom of the garden under a tarp. £1500 to have a laugh and experience foiling without having to buy a new boat, whats not to like and why wouldn't you? Think of all those semi redundant lasers flying around causing havoc on a Saturday afternoon- sounds blinking brilliant to me.

I wouldn't particularly care if it wasnt even raceable, it looks well engineered and the guy behind it has some serious foiling cred.

Unfortunately £3,800 means its still way above my 'having a laugh' budget.

Now my Supernova with a much lighter and stiffer hull together with a nice battened sail......... I'm off to B&Q for some tinsnips and ally Thumbs Up
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Post Options Post Options   Quote RS400atC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Sep 13 at 6:51pm
£3,800 is a lot of dosh.
How hard would it be to DIY it, or how much of it could be DIY, with a few key bits bought in?

Is it a case of getting the right amateurs interested?
There are people out there with DIY 3D printers and CNC routers who could make moulds for foils etc.

When you look at comparable things  (perhaps) like 'special' motorbikes, a key feature is that a lot of money is often spent, but usually over an extended period of time. It keeps you out of the pub....



Edited by RS400atC - 27 Sep 13 at 6:51pm
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Chris 249 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Sep 13 at 2:21pm
According to an highly-skilled amateur I know (A Class, Moth, Canoe vet with 'world' title to his name)) the answer is that it's very, very hard to build practical foils; almost impossible. The loads are just too high and the foil junction just has to be too small.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote iGRF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Sep 13 at 2:57pm
Originally posted by Chris 249

According to an highly-skilled amateur I know (A Class, Moth, Canoe vet with 'world' title to his name)) the answer is that it's very, very hard to build practical foils; almost impossible. The loads are just too high and the foil junction just has to be too small.

Really?



Edited by iGRF - 30 Sep 13 at 2:57pm
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