Thoughts on Pricing of class approved Sails.
This topic is starting to become a loud talking point around all levels of lasers sailors. At a meeting at our club, this topic was almost shut down straight away from people not wanting to even think about using a generic sail or illegal sail for simple club racing only.
Our reason for wanting to do this is to keep our expensive Class approved sails for offical races etc and use our less expensive sails on normal club days.
Alot of people are against this.
While I'm not on a mission to upset people, I would like to know some answers. Current Australian Prices for Class approved laser sails are $1025 and $850 respectively. Our U.S friends get theres alot cheaper Taxes aside. Now there's a generic option availbe which is not class approved but is very afforable.
It makes you wonder how much cost is in a sail really.
We are now at the point were Laser sails are becoming very expensive in a time when I personaly believe sailing is generally at a low point especially with the youth. Less poeple are learning to sail, clubs are shutting down.
I also believe we are preventing poeple from enjoying the sport. Having good equipment or a higher standard of equipment is out of reach.
While I don't want to degrade the class or change it in anyway, other options need to be looked at to keep the class strong in the future.
I understand that a proportion of the price of the offical laser sails sold goes to the ILCA, but no one can tell me how much and what its doing.....
I know it makes people angry to want to change the laser, all I want is a cheaper option to help out the batlers, and maybe get some of the older boats back on the water and put some life into them.
Yes you can always put a good second hand sail on an old boat, but new Generics are still cheaper.
Peoples thoughts please, maybe if we all asked questions, things might happen.
This topic is starting to become a loud talking point around all levels of lasers sailors. At a meeting at our club, this topic was almost shut down straight away from people not wanting to even think about using a generic sail or illegal sail for simple club racing only.
Our reason for wanting to do this is to keep our expensive Class approved sails for offical races etc and use our less expensive sails on normal club days.
Alot of people are against this.
While I'm not on a mission to upset people, I would like to know some answers. Current Australian Prices for Class approved laser sails are $1025 and $850 respectively. Our U.S friends get theres alot cheaper Taxes aside. Now there's a generic option availbe which is not class approved but is very afforable.
It makes you wonder how much cost is in a sail really.
We are now at the point were Laser sails are becoming very expensive in a time when I personaly believe sailing is generally at a low point especially with the youth. Less poeple are learning to sail, clubs are shutting down.
I also believe we are preventing poeple from enjoying the sport. Having good equipment or a higher standard of equipment is out of reach.
While I don't want to degrade the class or change it in anyway, other options need to be looked at to keep the class strong in the future.
I understand that a proportion of the price of the offical laser sails sold goes to the ILCA, but no one can tell me how much and what its doing.....
I know it makes people angry to want to change the laser, all I want is a cheaper option to help out the batlers, and maybe get some of the older boats back on the water and put some life into them.
Yes you can always put a good second hand sail on an old boat, but new Generics are still cheaper.
Peoples thoughts please, maybe if we all asked questions, things might happen.