Dinghy development: Is my laser overweight ?

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Is my laser overweight ?

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=12017
Printed Date: 08 Jul 25 at 11:17pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Is my laser overweight ?

Posted By: bob3021
Subject: Is my laser overweight ?
Date Posted: 26 May 15 at 9:49am

So it was pretty windy/gusty yesterday - and the courses we had included a long broad reach and a long tight reach.

For some reason - I admit it could be technique, ability, fitness, setup etc my laser wouldn't jump onto the plane at the same time as the boats around me (mid fleet).

Afterwards as I looked for excuses I began to wonder if maybe my old(ish) laser is actually 5-10kg heavier than the newer boats around me - and whether this could be a big part of the problem.

So, how does one go about weighing a laser ? (the club doesn't have a boat hoist readily available)

Is this really likely to be my problem or am I deluding myself ? (in a couple of races a few weeks ago, last time out - in more moderate sub-planing winds - I scored my best results of the series, so not sure why the sudden drop down the fleet)

Replies:

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 26 May 15 at 10:14am

unless I am mistaken there is no published weight for a Laser, so you'd have to weigh a whole bunch of Lasers and see where yours fell in the range. Bathroom scales at bow and stern would be better than nothing.

Posted By: chrisg
Date Posted: 26 May 15 at 10:58am

It might be your technique, but at the risk of sounding rude are you sure its the boat? Are you similar size/weight to others you are racing? I am a LOT heavier than the other guys that sail 300's at my club and I can just about keep up with them if no-one is planing and am fairly close if we are all planing, but if its marginal conditions then they are off and I won't even see which way they went. Its definitely not the boat weight that's the issue in my case....

Posted By: turnturtle
Date Posted: 26 May 15 at 11:03am

Did you let the kicker off.... I always used to and then wonder why I didn't plane as early as others. And as per Chris- I last sailed Lasers at 95kg... That's too heavy for them.

Posted By: piglet
Date Posted: 26 May 15 at 12:24pm

In my experience it's never the boat, BUT,

Weighing a small boat isn't hard with only 1 set of bathroom scales, just get the boat on balance point on 1 gunwale on the scales, tip it towards you so there is no weight in your hands and so that you can see the dial/readout.

I weighed an old Contender like this without problem.

Posted By: Chris 249
Date Posted: 26 May 15 at 1:11pm

My rule of thumb has always been to look at conditions in which boat (or crew) weight could not be an issue. If you are almost always at the top in those conditions (ie howling beats if you're heavy, marginal planing if you're light, shifty stuff etc) then you are obviously sailing well some times and therefore any specific problem areas could be a boat problem. Similarly, if you are very consistently dropping back against boats each side in most conditions, it could be a boat problem.

If, on the other hand, you're always really slow (ie even when it's really fluky or really heavy) and/or inconsistent (ie losing 6 boats in a shift, then hanging in for two legs and losing another 5 boats at a mark) it's not the boat that's the problem - it's you. If you are light, but cannot roll tack really well and win on a marginal planing day, then it's not boat weight - it's you. If you are heavy and you cannot win on a strong day and capsize on the gybe, it's you. And if you cannot regularly (if not always) win in a club fleet where the top sailors are not in with a chance at national/world level and never have been, then it may well also be you.

I'd never normally blame the boat for a general performance issue, unless you have good evidence that it's the boat - say, for example, you had previously been on the podium in championships in that class. However you have identified a specific issue that occurs in conditions when a specific factor could logically be the problem. So (IMHO, speaking as someone who sails old Lasers in titles) it seems that you may well be on the right track.

I sail so many classes that, for economy, I tend to sail old gear (and I get too sentimental to sell stuff and use the cash for newer kit) but it can still get you into the chocolates in 40 boat fleets, at least some of the time. To me, the key is that when you can do well some times but specifically identify a problem area that could logically be closely linked to a potential boat problem, you may be on the right track. On the other hand, those people who say "I never get better than 25th but it's because my sail is two regattas old" are just blaming their tools.

As noted, since you have identified a specific problem and admit it may not be the boat, it seems that you are not falling into the trap of blaming your gear, therefore IMHO it could be the gear.

Posted By: PeterG
Date Posted: 26 May 15 at 1:14pm

Technique is far more likely the issue.

However, if it's quite old and has hard treatment the bottom may be soft. I once had a 30 year old Laser that had been shingle beach launched for a long time. The bottom was noticeably soft when pushed. That doesn't help getting on the plane. When I changed it for a one year old one the difference was clear.

-------------
Peter
Ex Cont 707
Ex Laser 189635
DY 59

Posted By: furtive
Date Posted: 26 May 15 at 1:34pm

Try lifting your boat (with a friend, unless you're feeling super-keen) and comparing it to others at your club. If one is significantly heavier you should be able to tell.

And/or try swapping boats with someone for a race. See if you still have the same issues in another boat, and if your friend is suddenly having problems in your boat.

Posted By: NHRC
Date Posted: 31 May 15 at 10:26am

I have done a fair bit of testing with lasers and they do vary in weight, in shape and in build quality massively. Any keen laser sailor should try a tour of the factory before purchasing a boat to see how they are built.

For example measure the depth of the centreboard slot often different aged lasers, it can vary as much as 20mm.

Feel under the deck lip where the hull is glued to the deck, some have a 20mm deep lip others a five.