Laser Whinging Thread

I'm convinced that half the whinging is done by people that know they'll get rise out of people that'll rush in to defend the Laser, claiming that it is the best design ever in the wrodl, that no better boat can possibly be designed, that 200,000 buyers can't be wrong and that anyone who disagrees clearly wants sailing to fail and cease to exist (I may be paraphrasing here).

So I'm gonna take the bait and spoil the whinging thread with a piece of praise for this classic...

Having owned several Lasers (of varying competitiveness! I got one 'free' by rescuing it from the weeds) I moved on to other classes and now have little desire to go back to one...

That said, if it; the Laser, isn't the #1 "iconic" dinghy from the 20th century then I'd be very suprised. 

Yes, the Mirror is legendary in Britain, as are the N12, MR, Albacore, Wayfarer, FB, FF, Topper etc... but apart from the Optimist, which does run it close, I can't think of a simpler, more accessible, fun for your bucks, way into sailing or one that constantly challenges you even if your name is Goodison... to get better with practice.

It's bl**dy popular for a reason.. get over it whiners!! (you want some cheese with that?)

Seems to me that the Laser is popular because there's lots of them. The Laser fleet here has gone from an average turnout of about 3 to an incredible (if more occasional) 15+ in the space of a year, facilitated no doubt by the fact that there's 50+ of the things in the boatpark. It's a lot easier to build a decent racing fleet if the boats are already there, or are available very cheap. The Laser ticks those boxes. Like so many other popular boats, it's not the best example of the genre. But it's much easier to mobilise existing owners with the promise of close fleet racing than it is to sell them on another class altogether.

I'm another person that would rather praise the Laser than whinge about it.  I kept a Laser for years as a spare boat after moving to other classes for racing.  They are a great boat to blast around in when its too windy to sail something more fragile (or difficult !), and its also great as a boat to stick on the roof of the car and take on holiday.  And yet they are also sailed at the Olympics. What remarkable versatility, what a great little boat. 

Originally posted by ASok This thread is back-firing

Definately.

I had a laser for 6 years, learnt to sail on it, upgraded it, raced it on the circuit for 2 year, sold it to get a "more exciting" boat that had more ropes and sail area!

I think it is an easy boat to rig from trailer to water, offers a competitive racing opportunity for different ages/weight range of sailors but the only drawback being the cost of parts/sails for a boat that has sold over 200k. I recall been offered a brand new sail for less than £100 so i know deals can be done.