Recent content by michael_s_garman

I put the wear strips on a new boat and it locked the mast. I just use McLube, and that's it. Keep the tube clean and McLubed. Boats don't last forever, but it should last long enough.

The Harken sleeve only works well with McLube. I apply it frequently and the sleeve slides easily. Without McLube, it jams.

I have found that the wear strips lock the mast so you cannot gybe freely in light air. Everything is way too tight. I have removed the strips and thrown them in the trash. I keep sand out of the mast step, and spray the inside of the step and the mast itself with McLube. This works incredibly...

Replica parts or not $530 is too much for an official Laser sail. Why the ripe off?

As a Laser fleet captain, I consider it my responsibility to inform members of our fleet that they will need official sails and parts for anything but club racing. Some of the old boats that people find have missing parts. There is a $500 Laser in our area with no spars. A set of official spars...

We are a new fleet. People buy inexpensive older boats because they provide a low cost of entry into the class. With a replica sail, they can be competitive and not get overpowered in heavy air without spending more on a sail than the hull is worth. We had one member buy a complete boat for...

We are a new fleet. Many members have old boats with blown out sails. These blown out sail no longer match the dimensions of a new official Laser sail! These members buy inexpensive replica sails so they can compete on a more level playing field in club races. Replica sails and parts keep the...

Re: Kirby's New Carbon Weekender If that post were real, it would be called the Bladerider. Too bad those aren't $1000. Wal-mart does have a marine section, so maybe it's not made up ;)

Pickup truck method works We have a fleet member that uses the pickup truck method for transport. It works. Just pad under the boat with towels or moving blankets. Boat should be deck down hull up

This boat that won 2 worlds has a deck plate on the centerline forward of the mast. I have a contoured viking port. Why won't this work? http://www.sail1design.com/m8_view_item.html?m8:item=12698

I'm getting an Intensity Sail for Christmas! I think Replica sails is one of the greatest developments for the class. People with older boats who might not spring for a $600 new sail can have the same thing for $200. This means more and better competition for everyone. Anyone buying a new boat...

Wow! The problem I see here is the boat has to be dead lifted up the side of the car. Flipping the boat over the back of the car, the weight seems far less than 120 lbs. The boat is either resting half on the ground or leaning up against the rack. It does not seem like much wieight at all...

Those are really scary! WOW. They just seem to really over complicate something so simple. Seems like a lot of extra weight on the roof, and alot of heavy lifting. Seems like overkill when there is a much simpler solution - hitch mount.

Both Thule and Yakima make a side extender. I have the yakima extender and it is way too flexi and even bouncy for a Laser. I used it once and almost dropped the boat. The bar is too thin and flexes downward, so it does not work...

YES!!!!!!! You can certainly load and unload a laser onto a car top.........single handed!!! I have a Yakima Dry Dock. It is a device that fits into my car's trailer hitch. http://media.rei.com/media/692391Lrg.jpg I simple back the laser on it's dolly up to the back of the car, a few...