Laser Replica Sails

Originally posted by Late starter Sadly the management of the Laser "business" seems totally broken, and I hope that the various court cases eventually come to a resolution one way or another.  I'd actually be quite happy to pay a royalty for replica sails, but in my naivety I'd rather be paying that to the guy who designed the boat and has given me decades of fun sailing these great little toys.

Originally posted by davidyacht I am sorry to disagree, what is it that makes it ok to rip off designers in the marine industry, when it is unacceptable in other industries?

The contracts that BK had are a matter of public record due to the ongoing court case and IIRC he received a royalty per new boat sold but nothing for replacement parts, including replacement sails.

So in this case if anyone is being "ripped off" by replica sail makers, it isn't the designer of the original Laser sail.

Originally posted by Do Different Well Jim, I can see your point. The thing is not everyone does still want to buy the product 50 years on, some obviously see it as overpriced & outdated, only fit for fun sailing and not wishing to buy into the whole branded Class events/products.

Originally posted by Do Different ...what I find unacceptable is for designers and manufactures to expect a meal ticket for life from one effort.

If you are smart enough to design something that people still want to buy in 50 years time why should you be the only one *not* to make any money when its sold? Its not as if dinghy designers are generally on a salary and pension...

But the thing about Laser sails is that the true SMOD nature of the class has historically been part of its appeal. In a world where many things are far too complicated you knew you just had to shell out for a standard Laser component and your boat would be just the same as very other Laser and there was no hassle about which sail is best for weight/venue/mast/ everything else.

There are plenty of other classes where you do have to agonise over such decisions, its good that there should be alternates for people who don't need the extra complication in their life.

In some ways the "illegal" nature of the Laser sail keeps prices down, since if "real" Laser sails were multi vendor the manufacturers would compete on perceived performance (take a look at the cost of North Optimist sails for instance!), and the cost would escalate and escalate. As it is the replica manufacturers have to compete on price because front of fleet sailors aren't interested, so they're cheap.



Edited by JimC - 02 May 16 at 9:31pm

No need to be sorry to disagree, surely your right.