Making an old Laser go fast |
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EmmyC ![]() Newbie ![]() ![]() Joined: 30 Oct 10 Location: Berkshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 39 |
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Hello all,
My grandparents have just bought my uncle's Laser off him for me and I think it is fairly old. I know about rigging the cunningham on one side etc. but is there anything else I can do to make an old Laser perform at its best? Thanks ![]() |
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Neptune ![]() Really should get out more ![]() ![]() Joined: 08 Jun 09 Location: Berkshire United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1292 |
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Get yourself as fit as possible!
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RS300 and RS200, ex Musto Skiff
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JimC ![]() Really should get out more ![]() ![]() Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6358 |
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Top of the list has to be making sure you have a half decent sail, and if you do don't let it flap in the breeze for ages between races so as to turn into a rag.
Time spent making sure foils, most especially the rudder, and to lesser extent the hull surface are smooth is unlikely to be wasted. Time in the boat practising,and especially at coaching events, is never wasted. At such events you'll hear what more subtle things might be of advantage and which ones are most important. |
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Contender443 ![]() Really should get out more ![]() ![]() Joined: 01 Oct 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1206 |
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Invest in an XD kicker as a minimum upgrade if you don't already have it. Well worth the investment and makes sail control much easier.
Also check hull and foils for any damage and repair. Also a newer sail will be worth it. Check out ebay or other club members. A lot of Laser sailors upgrade their sails once or twice a year so you can pick up one of their seconds.
If all is sound and you know it then you can concentrate on your sailing.
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Bonnie Lass Contender 1764
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Andymac ![]() Really should get out more ![]() Joined: 04 Apr 07 Location: Derbyshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 847 |
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Seconded, investing in the nut on the end of the tiller will probably give the best performance gain.
The newer XD controls certainly help, but if on a tight budget can be mimicked fairly cheaply with strategically used pulleys. Even an 'XD style' kicker can be made with the use of a couple of cheek blocks (It was good enough for Robert Scheidt).
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PeterG ![]() Really should get out more ![]() Joined: 12 Jan 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 772 |
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This is quite a good source of info on DIY upgrades to the control lines If you are really on a tight budget it's amazing what you can do with thimbles, though blocks certainly work better!
Edited by PeterG - 01 Oct 11 at 12:01pm |
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Peter
Ex Cont 707 Ex Laser 189635 DY 59 |
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Peaky ![]() Really should get out more ![]() Joined: 15 Nov 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2775 |
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Make sure the hawes is pulled on as tight as possible, practise tacking and sail it flat.
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radixon ![]() Really should get out more ![]() ![]() Joined: 27 Oct 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2407 |
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Another thing to do is look at what others have, if you have a tired mainsheet and block, maybe ask them if they have their old one you could have. I had 2 spare mainsheets good enough for someone else.
I'd agree with the above comments: Sail Controls using blocks Tighter traveller Get advice from sailors at your club (which is your club in Essex?) |
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Jon Emmett ![]() Really should get out more ![]() ![]() Joined: 15 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 985 |
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Why not come along to one of the UKLA Training events and see if a bit of coaching can help:
http://www.kbsuk.com/laser/training/ |
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Jon Emmett ![]() Really should get out more ![]() ![]() Joined: 15 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 985 |
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