Laser2

   Hi All,

I have been sailing for about 6 months but only on a lake, I have now moved and my nearest club is on the sea so this is a new challenge for me. Also my old club use to hire out boats but this club doesn't so i am looking to buy my first boat. I would like the option to sail single handed and the option to take a friend or sibling out. However I am 19st and my son for instance is about 16st and 6ft 4, this is probably the most extreme if I went out with a crew.

I am looking at buying a Laser2 after doing a bit of research, I'm not wanting to race just have a good time on the water and cruise around a bit. 

What are peoples views?

What other boats would be recommended?

I have read that the Laser2 turtles really easy and I know where my new club is it's a bit muddy, so if I am out on my own and the boat turtles what are the likelihoods of it getting stuck in the mud and if so what are the likelihood of me being able to free it and righting the boat and if all else fails what are my options.

I would always sail fairly close to the shoreline if I'm out on my own, until such times that I feel that I have the skills and confidence to go out further. The club is at the mouth of an estuary. 

Any advise on any of the above would be really helpful.

Please keep in mind my size and lack of experience.

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giwy1 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 06 Jul 15 Location: Lincolnshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 19	Post Options Post Reply Quote giwy1 Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Laser2 Posted: 06 Jul 15 at 1:54pm
	Hi All, I have been sailing for about 6 months but only on a lake, I have now moved and my nearest club is on the sea so this is a new challenge for me. Also my old club use to hire out boats but this club doesn't so i am looking to buy my first boat. I would like the option to sail single handed and the option to take a friend or sibling out. However I am 19st and my son for instance is about 16st and 6ft 4, this is probably the most extreme if I went out with a crew. I am looking at buying a Laser2 after doing a bit of research, I'm not wanting to race just have a good time on the water and cruise around a bit. What are peoples views? What other boats would be recommended? I have read that the Laser2 turtles really easy and I know where my new club is it's a bit muddy, so if I am out on my own and the boat turtles what are the likelihoods of it getting stuck in the mud and if so what are the likelihood of me being able to free it and righting the boat and if all else fails what are my options. I would always sail fairly close to the shoreline if I'm out on my own, until such times that I feel that I have the skills and confidence to go out further. The club is at the mouth of an estuary. Any advise on any of the above would be really helpful. Please keep in mind my size and lack of experience.

kneewrecker Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 09 Apr 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1586	Post Options Post Reply Quote kneewrecker Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jul 15 at 2:47pm
	Albacore would be a good bet.... for a singlehander, then really it's a finn or a Phantom. I'd saying 35 is stone in a Laser 2 is pushing it tbh....

Pierre Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 15 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1532	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pierre Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jul 15 at 3:11pm
	As per kneewrecker's comments really. You might want to consider an Osprey as well. Good luck with the mud.......

giwy1 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 06 Jul 15 Location: Lincolnshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 19	Post Options Post Reply Quote giwy1 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jul 15 at 3:22pm
	When you say pushing it do you mean from a keeping the boat upright, balance, control etc or do you mean speed or lack of?

giwy1 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 06 Jul 15 Location: Lincolnshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 19	Post Options Post Reply Quote giwy1 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jul 15 at 3:24pm
	Hi Pierre, So the hole mud thing, seriously if you get stuck in the sea what do you do?

transient Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 21 Aug 12 Online Status: Offline Posts: 715	Post Options Post Reply Quote transient Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jul 15 at 3:38pm
	Yes, as Kneewrecker and Pierre said. As a pair you're way too heavy for the L2. The ideal weight would be about 18-23 stone for helm and crew. It also has a small cockpit, in light winds sitting in would be extremely uncomfortable I would imagine. Me thinks you need two boats.

giwy1 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 06 Jul 15 Location: Lincolnshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 19	Post Options Post Reply Quote giwy1 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jul 15 at 3:53pm
	OK, I think the Albacore would be a good bet but hard to find second hand ones and I don't want a wooden one. So will keep looking or look at getting new in the future!!!, so what do people think about this, keeping in mind not spending too much whilst learning. 1. Buy the Laser2 and sail on my own until I get up to a competent level as they are cheap and quite readily available (there is one near me) 2. Once really in to the sport and confident to take people out buy an albacore or another boat depending which way things pan out. So I guess really what my question is will the Laser2 be ok for just me out on my own at 19st and being new to dinghy sailing? I will keep an eye out for The other 2 single handers that kneewrecker has advised but struggling finding them second hand too which are fairly local and cheap enough as a starting point.

Buzz Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 14 Jun 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 101	Post Options Post Reply Quote Buzz Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jul 15 at 4:02pm
	Laser 2's are very cheap and easy to find. Sail it for a summer and then sell it for what you paid for it. You can always bolt a block of foam to the top of the mast to stop the boat inverting. It doesn't look very elegant but works. When you have finished with the boat unbolt the foam.

transient Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 21 Aug 12 Online Status: Offline Posts: 715	Post Options Post Reply Quote transient Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jul 15 at 4:13pm
	To be honest, your much better off getting something that fits the bill in the first place. The L2 is a two hander and you would not get the best out of it single handed. Sure some have single handed the L2 on the wire and with spinnaker (see youtube) but this is not for the novice and the "Fun" weather margin for this is extremely narrow. The above suggestions look good. A Wayfarer might suit you for the 2 handed situation as well, it has a spinny. Edited by transient - 06 Jul 15 at 4:14pm

kneewrecker Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 09 Apr 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1586	Post Options Post Reply Quote kneewrecker Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Jul 15 at 4:15pm
	I think you'd find the Laser 2 relatively unforgiving... it's designed as a double hander, and having sailed them singlehanded in the past, the sheets are in the wrong place for ease of use. (and they don't work under mainsail along) if you want a cheap second hand plastic boat, that you can sail primarily by your own, then the Phantom would be ok. For a blast-about boat, then an RS Vareo might also be an option - you're too heavy to race it, but it will support 19 stone adequately for blatting about. The only other option - a catamaran. They really are the most versatile for taking passengers. I'd look for a Dart 15 or Sprint 15 (same boat, different name) They're also stupidly stable and very low draft.... so good for the mud.