Laser woes.
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Technique
Forum Discription: 'How to' section for dinghy questions and answers
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=14012
Printed Date: 25 Jun 25 at 3:10am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Laser woes.
Posted By: 423zero
Subject: Laser woes.
Date Posted: 20 Apr 23 at 12:16pm
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Laser radial, sails well on starboard, move to port and speed drops right off, boat needs constant rudder to keep it in a straight line. Several people have tried it, does exactly the same? ------------- Robert |
Replies:
Posted By: PeterG
Date Posted: 20 Apr 23 at 1:27pm
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I'd start by checking rudder in line? C/B in line? Mast post in line? ------------- Peter Ex Cont 707 Ex Laser 189635 DY 59 |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 20 Apr 23 at 1:29pm
| Not many options on a Laser... I'd try a different rudder and centreboard first as it should be easy enough to borrow one of each. |
Posted By: GybeFunny
Date Posted: 20 Apr 23 at 1:40pm
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Laser mast rakes are all over the shop, stick a full rig bottom section in the hole and measure between the back of the bottom mast and the bottom of the transom lip in the middle, it should be 3815mm ish. Also check the distance from top of mast to each back corner and maybe some other point on either side to see if the mast pot is straight. Turn boat upsidedown and fit centreboard and rudder, sight from front and rear and check that they are aligned.
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Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 20 Apr 23 at 2:00pm
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One explanation I heard, there are steel rods in dagger board and it could be bent, never heard of this before. ------------- Robert |
Posted By: fab100
Date Posted: 20 Apr 23 at 3:26pm
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How about sailing it backwards on port? I'll get my coat... ------------- http://clubsailor.co.uk/wp/club-sailor-from-back-to-front/" rel="nofollow - Great book for Club Sailors here |
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 20 Apr 23 at 3:35pm
Been backwards many times  ------------- Robert |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 20 Apr 23 at 3:39pm
| There are certainly steel reinforcing rods in the board. The matrix is pretty brittle though, I'd be surprised if it could bend much, but warped daggerboard is the first thing that occurred to me with the symptoms. As well as trying someone else's foils in that boat try those foils in another boat. |
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 20 Apr 23 at 4:27pm
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I suppose with a gentle curve and the shape of the dagger board you would get unwanted lift, advantage one side to the other. ------------- Robert |
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 21 Apr 23 at 10:04am
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Had another look, it appears the deck is detached from the hull on port side, I think the boat is actually distorting, you can easily push the hull inwards. Foils looked ok when compared to others. ------------- Robert |
Posted By: fab100
Date Posted: 21 Apr 23 at 1:04pm
That would do it. Does not sound like a repair even Steve Bolland could carry off with his duct-tape skills Surprised you're not filling the hull with water if that's the case ------------- http://clubsailor.co.uk/wp/club-sailor-from-back-to-front/" rel="nofollow - Great book for Club Sailors here |
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 21 Apr 23 at 1:26pm
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There is some water in the hull but not a massive amount, probably a pint.
Should be a easy fix, force a gap then sikaflex, remove blocks and clamp back together. ------------- Robert |
Posted By: davidyacht
Date Posted: 21 Apr 23 at 1:51pm
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Did wonder if there was any movement at the mast step ------------- Happily living in the past |
Posted By: Do Different
Date Posted: 21 Apr 23 at 3:50pm
| Yes Davidyacht. Would you think it worth cutting a 150mm hatch into the deck beside the mast pot to check bottom block is still intact. If deck and hull separating likely of an age that other areas are failing. |
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 21 Apr 23 at 4:20pm
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Boat not that old, between 10 and 15 years, mast pot holds water. will push a engineers camera through the gap and have a look. Never thought about the mast pot rocking backwards and forwards, no signs on the bottom of the hull. ------------- Robert |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 21 Apr 23 at 4:35pm
| Laser hulls aren't hard to get hold of,. maybe you should consider that rather than a PITA repair. |
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 21 Apr 23 at 4:56pm
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Deck to hull will be a simple repair, not much evidence of sealer from original build, (quality issue) probably why it's had so many owners. Mast pot repair will be a PITA, but lad can't afford another hull. ------------- Robert |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 21 Apr 23 at 6:03pm
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They are about:
Where are you? Shepperton W of London: Free dinghy hull - obviously a LAser stripped of all fittings. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1352731951966826/ Southend This one at 50 quid is in the "too good not to have an invisible flaw or be stolen" category... https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3890097251217393/? Sailing club clearouts of abandoned boats are a good bet, they're usually grateful to get anything at all for an incomplete boat, and you can always flog off the second best of anything you have duplicates for. I'd send a round Robin to all your local clubs on the line of "young sailor with no money desperately needs to replace hull on his Laser, anyone got a half decent abandoned hull cheap?" |
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 22 Apr 23 at 9:59am
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Thanks for links jimc.
Have camerared hull, appears sound. Going to sikaflex join, see what happens. Hull finish is very good, no chips or dinks anywhere. Hopefully issues caused by failed joint. ------------- Robert |
Posted By: Oatsandbeans
Date Posted: 22 Apr 23 at 6:05pm
| I am not an fully up to date with the current Sika range of products but Sikaflex materials used to be more of a sealant than an adhesive.You want something with a bit of “stiffness” rather than just a low modulus gunk for this. I would suggest using an epoxy. It will be better for sticking to an old laminate and will take the loads a bit better. |
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 22 Apr 23 at 6:14pm
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Sikaflex 252, good adhesive, used it for years. ------------- Robert |
Posted By: Oatsandbeans
Date Posted: 22 Apr 23 at 8:01pm
| Robert- just checked on the 252. It’s a one component PU. Probably be fine. It reacts with moisture on the surface to cure. There should be no problem there! It is a lot simpler than an epoxy -no mixing |
Posted By: Do Different
Date Posted: 22 Apr 23 at 10:02pm
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Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 30 Apr 23 at 3:59pm
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Boat sailed normally, very little to no water in hull, adhesive seems to have worked. ------------- Robert |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 30 Apr 23 at 4:11pm
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Well done.
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Posted By: Dakota
Date Posted: 30 Apr 23 at 4:28pm
| Congrats on the fix . |