Dinghy development: 420 sail on a laser 2? Possible?

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420 sail on a laser 2? Possible?

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10763
Printed Date: 17 Jul 25 at 6:11pm
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Topic: 420 sail on a laser 2? Possible?

Posted By: Whirlpaul
Subject: 420 sail on a laser 2? Possible?
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 4:07pm

Hi,

I've been looking at getting my hands on an old (read cheap) laser 2 and was wondering what people thoughts were on using a 420 mainsail instead of the standard sail. I already have a decent(ish) 420 sail and the boat I've currently got in mind comes with a battered main.

Can anyone think of any reason this wont work, it looks as if the mast length where the luff is would be roughly the same.

The 420 sail is slightly bigger - but I think it gains its extra area at the roach

Replies:

Posted By: pondmonkey
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 4:10pm

you might need to check bolt rope thickness, and also don't forget a 420 main will be cut for prebend on a decent selden/superspars section... not the two part scaffolding set on the Laser 2 rig.

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Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 4:18pm

I do this sort of cobbling together all the time. Some times it works, more often it looks like a dog's dinner. You won't know till you try. It's often the luff and foot length that makes you come unstuck unless you can get busy with a needle or have a local friendly sailmaker. Trying to get hold of a 420 boom would be a good idea. What are you trying to achieve?

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the same, but different...

Posted By: Whirlpaul
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 4:24pm

Mostly trying to save a couple of hundred quid TBH. (I'll just tell the club its a 420 and sail off a slower handicap)
Didn't think of the boom. I have access to one of those too.
The aim is to save the cash for a month or 2 and probably buy a proper mainsail after that. I've found some new ones for just over £300.

Slight concern now is the 420 sail possibly bending the outdated mast.

Posted By: Medway Maniac
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 4:38pm

Originally posted by Whirlpaul

(I'll just tell the club its a 420 and sail off a slower handicap)

What a great idea. I could put a Graduate main on the V3k and get a Graduate PY!

Seriously, if your club is anything like most, you'll run into all sorts of flak as soon as you get a decent result. You could offer an alternative PY, even the Laser 2 PY, but people would continue to grumble unless and until you'd accepted a PY that left you totally stuffed.

I shared Pondmonkey's worry about lack of spreaders/pre-bend, until I remembered that the standard L2 sail desperately needs pre-bend in light airs but doesn't get it! I guess the 420 main would fare no worse. On that basis, I wouldn't worry about bending the mast either.

A 420 boom would seem to be essential, given that the 420 main with its foot bolt rope will be set up to use a groove in the boom which the L2 doesn't have, the L2 main being loose-footed.

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http://www.wilsoniansc.org.uk" rel="nofollow - Wilsonian SC
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Posted By: Andymac
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 6:36pm

Originally posted by Medway Maniac

A 420 boom would seem to be essential, given that the 420 main with its foot bolt rope will be set up to use a groove in the boom which the L2 doesn't have, the L2 main being loose-footed.

And then bodge the gooseneck fitting, because that will be different as well.

Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 7:49pm

Just suck it and see. Can't imagine it will race well, but it would get you on the water.

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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 9:55pm

Other than it looking like hell why should you really worry about setting a bolt rope sail with a loose foot. Its not going to set any differently, not with modern sail cuts.

Posted By: Mister Nick
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 10:13pm

Bolt rope might not fit.

Luff curve on the 420 main will definitely not match the laser mast luff curve.

It'll work in the sense that the boat will be sailable but it's going to be slow and you're unlikely to win any races with it. If it gets you on the water it'll be well worth it though!

Posted By: Medway Maniac
Date Posted: 12 Mar 13 at 11:52pm

On a 420 PY, he should win for sure!

In my experience, bolt rope sails such as on the Fireball & Wayfarer need a lot more foot tension on the beat than the loose-footed sails I've used on 3k, L2, L2k and 3k. Might be difficult to achieve that on an L2 boom/clew outhaul set-up, esp. after you've eased it for the reaches.

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http://www.wilsoniansc.org.uk" rel="nofollow - Wilsonian SC
http://www.3000class.org.uk" rel="nofollow - 3000 Class

Posted By: transient
Date Posted: 13 Mar 13 at 9:41am

Originally posted by Whirlpaul

Hi,

I've been looking at getting my hands on an old (read cheap) laser 2 and was wondering what people thoughts were on using a 420 mainsail instead of the standard sail. I already have a decent(ish) 420 sail and the boat I've currently got in mind comes with a battered main.

Can anyone think of any reason this wont work, it looks as if the mast length where the luff is would be roughly the same.

The 420 sail is slightly bigger - but I think it gains its extra area at the roach

If you're looking for an old Laser 2 it will probably come with sails, even an old knackered laser 2 sail will be better than trying to fit a 420 one.........You may find (almost certainly) that the bolt rope has shrunk on the one that comes with the boat. This can be remedied at no cost and although it won't be perfect I would say that it'll certainly do better than a bodge.

If you like experimenting and the L2 sail is totally knackered, i.e.ripped to shreads, you might as well give it a go though.