looked at a laser today, little help please

Hi,
Looking at picking up a Laser from a friend of mine. He recently acquired it from one of his friends families and used it this summer. People he bought it from bought it new he thinks in the mid-90s and hadnt used it much lately but it was stored on a rack for the 4 years previous to him buying it. (They had a few I think)

Anyways its got a tealish looking bottom in ok shape, some scratches and what looks to be some cracking/spiderwebbing in just a few spots I would say is typical of a used boat. Would shine up very well I think with a little elbow grease.

Overall it presents well. Hull is kinda soft, not real soft but not stiff either. Where you sit on deck is quite stiff... The mast step section has been replaced with what looks to be a quality new square section fitted (looks well done and recent)

Could not find the serial # on the rear anywhere. After coming home and reading more some are on the nose? We looked all over and didnt find anything...

He had never drained the hull from sailing it this summer and when I opened the rear plug water came out...is this a really bad sign? We couldnt see where any water would come in but who knows how long its been in there. Thoughts?

I was going to try and find out some more info on the serial number and we were going to weigh it this weekend...

Centerboard is wood and original, ok shape
Rudder, brand new
Fittings/lines - all working, some new/replaced. its ready to sail.
Tiller, ok - totally functional
Boom/Mast - great shape, no corrosion
Haarstick Sail - comes with 1 sail, has a rip by the batton but could be taped pretty easily and used without worries...

No trailer/dolly. Comes with tyvek cover for deck...I would be cartopping it.

Asking price is a bit under 1k...and Im very picky so I prob nitpicked it more than some would but wanted to see what you guys think. Forgot to take a camera, maybe this weekend when we head back up there. This would be for fun sailing mainly, Id like to race it but Im pretty busy and for now this would at least get me back sailing when time allows.

Thanks,
Sam

Faded "Tealish" hull, no serial number and wooden centerboard (brand new rudder) sounds like early 70s rather than mid 90s.

Water inside would be the point of concern for me. A watertight 70s boat could be worth about a grand. But I wouldn't pay that much for one that had a bad leak that needed an "all day" glass repair of some type.

Depends on where you are, also. In my area, used lasers come and go off the market so fast you can't afford to be real picky; though now that it's Novermber, that may be less true.

no way does it sound like a 90's boat to me either .... If it is "soft" in places .. that is cause for concern i would think.

sounds like a 80's boat because i have noticed that 80's boats are softer then 70's and in like 93 laser's started having a stripe and white bottom and didnt have wooden dagger boards unless not original.

If its a teal coloured boat and there is no markings on the stern then take the fairlead off of the bow (where the painter attaches). You should see a 4 digit number etched into the gelcoat with an engraving tool. This is your hull #. Mine is 1488 also teal coloured

Thanks for the comments guys, keep them coming.

Its not really soft in "places", the hull feels the same pretty much anywhere I applied pressure..the hull itself just isnt really stiff. The deck is quite stiff however.

I will check the bow for an etched hull number, thanks.

Im guessing you guys are correct that its an earlier boat.

My next questions:

If we totally drain it, check the mast step for leaks and its fine, do we pretty much have to sail it to see if water comes in again and how much?

If it weighs in about right around #130 what do you think its worth as it sits? I can prob get some pics/close ups this weekend.

Your location would help, so we could tell if all those years of leaking/being wet caused freezing damage. The weight will be informative.

It is probably a '74-76, if the wood board is original. You don't have to remove the bow eye to see the number, as they are just 4 digit. The leak is likely the thru hull at back of cockpit. They used plastic parts. Even if it was replaced with the newer brass thru hull, it probably is the leak.

The patch at the mast step devalues it greatly, as it was likely to be an amatuer job, thus suspect.

1000. is a lot with all the original equipment and sail. Depending on your area, you'd do better, but may have to go to 1500. But, it's a good time to be looking.

Al

Thanks Al, very informative!

I live in Indianapolis, IN and it was previously kept in a barn a bit farther north. Very freezing cold winters.

I dont mind going higher, just not seeing alot for sale. We have a few sailing clubs in town and Ive looked at their websites (sent an email out earlier on a 89 laser) but might have to look in the Atlanta / Chicago areas as well.

if it's a 70's boat, and he wants 1K forget it! give him 300-500 and call it a day!

my first laser was a 82 I beleive, and had about 7 sails, 2 sets of boards, 4 rigs, 3 sets of covers, a trailer, and various other stuff, and I paid $1500

your paying for sentimental value my friend, and getting ripped off

Thanks Ross. I found another one Im going to look at tomorrow.

89, "excellent condition" no damage / no leaks, complete with trailer for $1500. We shall see...

Ok went and looked at the second one this morning. Its been for sale for about a month and I dont know how its not sold. 1989 with red stripe, deck stiff, hull stiff, no cracks/spiderwebbing, maststep looks great, bottom only has a few minor scratches - gelcoat still in great shape, everything is super tight/nice, no leaks, centerboard/rudder basically as new, sail is original I believe. Trailer in good working order/clean. Has the original build information / documents for both hull + trailer.

Question- looking at the boat, on the back it said: Made in Canada IIRC..but the identification number started with PBS which was in RI. Any thoughts?

Thanks! Think this is the one, so clean / well taken care of.

November's a great time to be shopping for a boat.

Anytime is a great time to be looking at boats.

Anytime is a great time for Mcdonalds, too.

this has been a unpaid advertisment from the Ronald McDonald corp.

Buying the second one, thanks for your help guys. Looking forward to it!