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Blaze vs Laser Comparison
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maxibuddah View Drop Down
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Posts: 1760 		Post Options Post Options   Quote maxibuddah Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Blaze vs Laser Comparison
    Posted: 11 Nov 11 at 10:50am
the phantom is a right larf in waves, and easy to surf, etc. Which kind of leaves me even more baffled as to why I ran for the bar at the nats. Close together and confused waves was what did me in, oh and a lack of practice too this year. I would have been more scared in a laser I think had is sailed it, been there done that.
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jeffers View Drop Down
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Posts: 3048 		Post Options Post Options   Quote jeffers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Nov 11 at 11:04am
Having been one of the few who have sailed and race both classes I feel qualified to comment...
 
My experience was that the Blaze was a relatively easy boat to get around the track but much hard to master and get around the track fast. It rewarded a lot of time in the boat, it really was noticeable if I didn;t sail for a few weeks then got back in, I just didn't have 'the edge' and that made a big difference.
 
This is possibly because I sailed on a small pond (approx 60-7- acres) and boat handling is key, especially in the Blaze which tacks relatively slowly compared to other boats.
 
However that aside it was a great boat to sail, a little hard on the knees on a run because you have to kneel but nothing a good set of knee pads could not cope with.
 
I found it to be relatively slow on acceleration compared to a Phantom but the ultimate speed was higher on a given leg.
 
In a breeze it was amazing, upwind was so easy due to the racks and comfortable hiking position. Off wind, hold on to your hat and enjoy the ride.
 
So why you may ask did I sell it and buy another Laser....
 
Simple, at this point in my life I do not have the time or resources to put in to sailing the Blaze effectively (and I can be a competitve sod on the water). However I know that if I don't sail my Laser (or 8.1) for several months I can jump back in to it and still be roughly where I was before, the lack of 'edge' does not make as much difference.
 
I enjoy both boats and I am sure that when time and resources are a little more free that I will once again join the Blaze fleet. they are a great bunch of guys from all walks of life.
 
Also the fact that an older boat can be competitive is a major attraction for me. I believe boat number 611, a relatively early hull was up in the top 5 at the recent inlands....
 
Just my 2p, I would always advise having a go in any boat before you knock it rather than go on hearsay (come on Grumpf, admit it you love that Blaze and would jump at having it back).
Paul
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G.R.F. View Drop Down
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Posts: 4028 		Post Options Post Options   Quote G.R.F. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Nov 11 at 11:15am
Originally posted by jeffers

(come on Grumpf, admit it you love that Blaze and would jump at having it back).

I did love it, it was my first actual owned by me single hander, the MPS was a loaner, but I enjoy equally watching the pleasure it gives it's new owner and how he has gone from a guy who'd pretty much given up on dinghy sailing life and was becoming a bit of a short board only windsurfer (the scum of the earth Wink) and is now back with massive enthusiasm and often at the front of our fleet, which to me is more worthwhile than my own selfish ends. (I still have the Alto and my wishes will eventually be fulfilled with the new boat I'm sure).

However it is still far too heavy for me, I'm not a big bloke and whereas once upon a time I was stronger than the average guy never mind the average guy for my height, but now with the onset of years, humping these boats around can and has hurt my back. So the refreshingly light weight of Barrys Phantom for the size of boat it is ( on a par with the Blaze) absolutely staggered me, hence the crusade.

 Dinghies don't have to be heavy, it could be argued making them stay heavy is against H&E regulations you wouldn't get baggage handlers to lift them, so classes that enforce weight ought to be sued, in fact I've a mind to see if that could stack up in court. Wink
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Andymac View Drop Down
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Posts: 852 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Andymac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Nov 11 at 11:29am
Originally posted by G.R.F.

Originally posted by jeffers

(come on Grumpf, admit it you love that Blaze and would jump at having it back).

I did love it
 
From Grumpf, that is praise indeed!
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blaze720 View Drop Down
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Posts: 1635 		Post Options Post Options   Quote blaze720 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Nov 11 at 2:09pm
Hi Greame

The Phant minimum weight is I believe 68kg ... compared to the CA minimum weight of 72kg for the Blaze with required correctors (and we could easily build lower but this weight is 'easy' and durable, + it means older boats CAN still be competitive).   So on the weight issue there is not  much in it really is there ?  Maybe you did have a bit of a 'clonker' there - sounds like it is still going well though. 

Do remember the wings are not weightless items - but they define the Blaze experience and do prove rather useful ....  Today within our 72kg they contribute about 8kg to the overall weight and in the past they could be over 10kg !  

Why not come over and try a recent minimum weight one sometime ?   I try anything offered or I can get my hands on myself ... the benefit is you get to try out things that might appear on the 'next boat' all the time - like the dangly N12 jib pole system we use on Icon .... or the off the boom sheeting we now almost universally use on both Icon and Blaze.   Who knows what you might 'borrow' from a modern Blaze for the V-2 !  

Mike L.






Edited by blaze720 - 11 Nov 11 at 2:10pm
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Nov 11 at 2:30pm
So how much over the target weight are some of the older Blazes?  If some are over, how many?
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G.R.F. View Drop Down
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Posts: 4028 		Post Options Post Options   Quote G.R.F. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Nov 11 at 2:43pm
My Blaze was actually quite a light one as they go (or so Mike told me on seeing it as I passed through Burleigh, Burwell, Burfield whatever that lake is by the M4) but it had to be knocking on the door of 80kgs, the Phantom is 61 kgs and frankly feels lighter than that, if it had weights in it I dare say my chum would have done the decent thing with them and used them for what they are some good for, keeping buoys in position. Anyone who adds weight to a dinghy has to be a total idiot unless it's very windy of course and he doesn't want it to blow away. Unhappy

Honestly y'all need to listen to yourselves some time, I'm adding weight to my dinghy which I've paid a lot of money for in order that someone else who hasn't paid a lot of money can be competitive with me..

Get some help will you.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Nov 11 at 2:56pm
Quite a light one as they go @ 8kgs overweight?    What would a bad one be then?
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Neptune View Drop Down
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Posts: 1314 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Neptune Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Nov 11 at 3:29pm
Originally posted by blaze720

   I try anything offered or I can get my hands on myself ... !  

Mike L.

   

Your welcome do do a boat swap with my 600 one weekend Mike....   Wink
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maxibuddah View Drop Down
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Posts: 1760 		Post Options Post Options   Quote maxibuddah Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Nov 11 at 4:43pm
yep grf is right, the phantom min weight is 61kgs. I have picked up a couple of the original poly ones at 14kgs overweight and boy is there a difference, and they are still lighter than a blaze.
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