Laser Replica Sails

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.

I think if someone had come up with a nice aftermarket carbon mast boom laminate sail that took the thing on to new levels of performance and longevity even I'd be OK with that. As it is I'm not altogether comfortable with the 'replica' thing particularly as seems to be the case the 'replicas' are bigger or better in some way as well as being more affordable which in itself isn't a bad thing if it broadens the market base.

Maybe replica Lasers should be given the old yardstick of 1078, see if they continue to proliferate with that little bonus.

Edited by iGRF - 03 May 16 at 2:53pm

The SMOD makers (well a certain well known individual of that set) themselves have OK'd and even promoted using replica sails on their own boats for beach holiday operators, which rather blows apart the designers' rights argument.

In most spare parts businesses, in the EU, anti-monopoly legislation endorses aftermarket parts.

Of course if people wish to organise themselves into a class association and standardise equipment when racing in that class, that is their choice.
If people are not in the class association, they can race PY at their club.
Calling it a laser for the purposes of allocating a PY is just admin shorthand and clearly the simplest and fairest way of giving it a number.
Clubs opening their 'laser' class race to 'laser hull with rep sail' is just a step on from letting someone race a laser without joining the CA.

Pattern' sails frankly undermine real choice - in that when you sail with a rip-off copy you damage the strict Laser SMOD model in a market with plenty of 'free' alternatives already.  This really does reduce true choice.  So you want to 'cherry pick' the bits you like about the boat but not those you decide you don't .. is it as simple as that  ?    Get over it - If you don't like the SMOD model you don't have to sail one. 

So be very careful what you wish for ....  let's just say the class/Laser suddenly 'saw the light' and decided to go 'open' on sails to a common but liberal manufacturing design guide (maybe extracting a modest design fee from all officially participating sailmakers who then enjoy the right to apply the Laser logo).  Do you honestly think this will reduce sail prices ?  Lots of choice available now and 'legal' as well but ....

It would almost certainly increase them - heck I'd only want a competitive sail and I'd not be alone.  Look at Solo sail prices if you want to see what sort of prices could emerge.  SMODs are really good value when you look at the alternatives.    As Lasers are relatively inexpensive anyway many could afford both a full cut sail and a flatter one as well to deal with different conditions more effectively - so to race you might now need TWO sails and both of them more expensive.... 

The road to hell is usually paved with good intentions ..... or maybe some of you have never ever studied at the hard school of unintended outcomes.

As for comparing Lasers to designer sofas, would you expect to have to buy a new throw to put on the sofa from the designer?