Lasers

Originally posted by fab100 Originally posted by Demelza   I have absolutely no axe to grind for LP. I only question where the UKLA are taking the class and the the cost of ILCA boats as opposed to an LP Laser which would entirely suit the average club sailor.   If Rastagar had actually played by the rules, paid the royalties and let someone check he was building the boats properly and consistently (it is an Olympic class after all) the whole sorry mess would not have occurred. And wasn't it LP who started proposing a totally new, different carbon/mylar rig?  The carbon top section is working out cheaper than the ally ones that the top sailors were bending permanently in no time at all. Who wants to buy 5 top sections a year? No performance gain so club sailors not impacted. If you're working from a base of fully amortised, sunk production set-up costs, don't (wrongly) pay royalties or ISAF fees, don't invest in the class or provide support, can totally ignore QA and build standards, you probably can, in the short term, bang ‘em out cheap and still make a cash profit.  You can’t  have it both ways - the class got where it is as a strict SMOD, same for everyone. But if you want to blame something for cost differentials (if there are any, look at new Aero prices) you’re barking up the wrong tree. The issue there is the pact-with-the-devil that is Olympic class status.

I don't think Olympic Class status is the whole picture, the die was pretty much cast last century. Laser built up a massive (by sailing standards) distribution machine, then the market reduced from over 10k boats a year to less than 5k. Most products would have been consigned to the skip of history sometime shortly after.

Originally posted by Demelza   I have absolutely no axe to grind for LP. I only question where the UKLA are taking the class and the the cost of ILCA boats as opposed to an LP Laser which would entirely suit the average club sailor.

Originally posted by Grumpycat Originally posted by Demelza Stick to the subject. if you want to discus Kayaks do it somewhere else !! You have no idea how threads on forums work do you ? Doesn’t Mr Rasty let you play with the interweb much ?  If you ready want publicly for LP Lasers, just buy an advertisement.

Originally posted by 423zero Griff, if I mention 'Lasers' in a post it won't be drifting the thread will it   you have got a cheek rubbishing 'Gul' for selling cheap Chinese rubbish, when previously you got quite shouty   because several of us suggested you could keep your out sourced rubbish 'Lasers' for £1500 for a starter boat

I think you're becoming confused again, best get matron to up your dose, or stop spitting out your medication.

Gul is no longer a company in it's own right it is now just another brand name bought up by Sports direct, like Head the tennis racquet brand. You won't find it being sold anywhere else or a Gul customer service department.

Laser on the other hand still functions as it always has albeit delinquently, but essentially the item produced is still basically the same, my point being it could be made cheaper offshore, but that will never be allowed to happen because of the inteference of its status as a 'Class' a bit like my awful Contender, not being permitted to be brought down to weight for similar reasons.

I never shout, not here, not at crew, not even at the breadknife and least of all at or via a keyboard at poor unfortunates exposed to my worse failing.

Griff, if I mention 'Lasers' in a post it won't be drifting the thread will it   you have got a cheek rubbishing 'Gul' for selling cheap Chinese rubbish, when previously you got quite shouty   because several of us suggested you could keep your out sourced rubbish 'Lasers' for £1500 for a starter boat 

Edited by 423zero - 02 Feb 22 at 7:40pm