Choosing a boat: how much to spend on laser

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how much to spend on laser

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Choosing a boat
Forum Discription: Ask any questions about the sport!
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=837
Printed Date: 10 May 25 at 3:14pm
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Topic: how much to spend on laser

Posted By: alex d
Subject: how much to spend on laser
Date Posted: 05 Jul 05 at 9:40pm

Ok, so I dicided that a laser is what |I'm going for due to the club I've joined and the amount of racing available with good fleet. The next problem I have is how much to spend. I will probably only ever be able to attend club racing for the next few years due to young kids. I would like to be competative but it's easy to get carried away with all the xd this and that gear. My budget would go to £3000 max but should i spend that much or at club level will it not make that much difference. Should I go cheaper (£2000) and save the money and buy a newer sail for the race days. I will be interested in everyones opinions especially laser sailiers.

Cheeers

Alex

Replies:

Posted By: redback
Date Posted: 06 Jul 05 at 12:39am

You could buy a well looked after example with trolly but no trailer for £1000. If the sail is not too tired you have enough to win club races. Just to feel confident buy a new sail and you'll still have change out of £1500. Add a couple of hundred if a trailer is in the equation. What is more, if you keep the boat in good condition it will depreciate by about £100/yr, whereas something newer will depreciate by more. Sailing a club competitive Laser has got to be one of the cheapest ways to go racing.

Posted By: TonyL
Date Posted: 06 Jul 05 at 12:09pm

Originally posted by redback

. Sailing a club competitive Laser has got to be one of the cheapest ways to go racing.

Agree completely. I sailed Lasers for 15+ years mainly at club level but also the occasional open. I owned one new and 3 older boats and probably lost under £1k in depreciation in all that time.

At that level I think an older hull in reasonable nick plus a decent sail is adequate. The xd stuff does transform the boat though, so I'd prioritise that too. Would have thought £1500-1800 was ample budget for a decent club Laser?