Foiling Laser

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.

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.

Agreed Maxi- it's the same reason I windsurf, and given the conditions, prefer it to dinghy sailing.

£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

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