Turbo Charging your Laser at Reasonable Cost: Here is How

 Many of us have a more or less old Laser in our garage, with some blades, mast sections, boom, sails etc. Can this be transitioned towards a "Turbo Laser" at reasonable cost?


Many of us have a more or less old Laser in our garage, with some blades, mast sections, boom, sails etc.

And because of all the small incremental changes/enhancements brought to the boat, and the associated obsolescence, the equipment is no longer competitive, except maybe at the club / local level.


 

For sure, you can use that equipment, and still have fun.

But what about putting a powerful turbo to this equipment, at reasonable cost?

Currently, a class legal boat retails at approximately 8500 - 10,000 US$, depending on the chosen options. Recent second-hand boats, ex-charter and others, can sell for 6000 - 8000 US$, approximately.

 

But what about getting a boat that is much faster, thanks to a brand new high performance hull, at a more affordable price?

 

This may become a reality very soon, and it will depend on whether or not the hull of the just announced “Rascal” is made available for purchase separately from its carbon / mylar rig.

 

Remember, the hull of the Rascal is the same shape as the one of a Laser (the 423 cm version - for those who follow the recent controversies), yet it is in carbon and is 19 kilograms lighter, which is huge and makes it much faster than a conventional Laser or even the fastest available new ILCA.

 

Thanks to the compatibility of the new carbon hull with existing rigs (Laser 4.7/ILCA 4; Laser Radial/ILCA 6, Laser Full Rig/ILCA 7), it will be possible to sail the boat with an existing rig (the one you may have in your garage), a second hand rig or even a non-class, affordable brand new conventional rig.

 

Let’s do some quick estimates, and see how affordable this “Turbo Laser” would be.

 

Spoiler’s alert: while faster than a normal Laser/ILCA, this carbon hull / conventional rig hybrid would be particularly affordable.

 

Continue reading at: 

 

https://dinghysailing.substack.com/p/turbo-charging-your-laser-at-reasonable-cost 


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