Laser Versus Force 5?????

S

Sunray

New Member
Yes, it's me again. Still no Laser. But my brother was over just now to use the internet for work (after hurricane Wilma he has no power or cable or internet) and says the director he is currently working with (my brother is a location scout) and has known for years turns out to be the force 5 world champion! I thought that was cool....

He says that he let this guy know about our interest in buying Lasers, and the guy says that he has not encountered a protest in more than 5 years of racing force 5's, and that the Lasers are full of kids who recklessly whip around courses, without any disregard for the rules and that makes it less enjoyable.

Do you think he is reffering to racing at the club level?? I would think so, as there is a senior class, a master class, e.t.c. Maybe he is simply 'pro force 5'..

I have not done any research on the comparisons between the 2, other than to note the force 5 is heavier, and there are only 12,000 boats out there, compared to 170,000 Lasers!. I want to get into Lasers BECAUSE there is so much competition out there.

It IS weird to see that there is far more Laser activity in the Northern U.S. than in the South!! COME ON PEOPLE!! I can sail all year long here...come on down!!!

There isn't really a question here...I want to join a class where there is tons of competition and the Laser fits the bill, I was just curious.

Any thoughts on the differences--pro OR con..would be interesting

Ray
Miami Beach
 
Sunray said:
my brother was over just now to use the internet for work (after hurricane Wilma he has no power or cable or internet) and says the director he is currently working with (my brother is a location scout) and has known for years turns out to be the force 5 world champion! I thought that was cool....


Ray
Miami Beach
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Ray - your brother's friend is full of s**t. There is no such thing as a Force 5 world champion. Under ISAF rules only designated International Classes can hold world championships and the Force 5 doesn't qualify as an international class because basically it's only sailed in N.America.
 
first i have to say there is plenty of laser action down here in south florida like in miami they are having the biscayne bay yacht racing assoction one-design racing series and plenty of other races near you or maybe a couple of hours drive away. and second of all we dont need the language because out of all message boards i have ever been to this is the cleanest when it comes to language and we dont want to ruin that.
 
I have sailed both boats. I will not get into the differences between them...that has been covered to death. So simoly put if you wish to race the laser is the way to go...lots more activity.

The force 5 was a fun boat but I perfer a Laser
 
The Laser is the way to go if you want to sail against a lot of boats. I'm sure there are more protests in the Laser class because there ARE a lot more boats at every event. I think the Force 5 NA's average around 10-20 boats. At a Laser NA event you'll see 80 boats. As for the competition you just can't compare the two.
 
I suppose my brother got it wrong.....maybe it was the national championship, or whatever. I did look back at previous posts comparing the 2, and I got more than enough information. My only hurdle to buying my first Laser now is to see if I can get a trailer ( Miami Beach does not allow boats on trailers), or to see if I can invent a system so, by myself, I can load the boat on a roof rack without killing my back.....
 
Sunray said:
I suppose my brother got it wrong.....maybe it was the national championship, or whatever. I did look back at previous posts comparing the 2, and I got more than enough information. My only hurdle to buying my first Laser now is to see if I can get a trailer ( Miami Beach does not allow boats on trailers), or to see if I can invent a system so, by myself, I can load the boat on a roof rack without killing my back.....
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Cartopping threads:
http://www.laserforum.org/search.php?searchid=63012
 
Hi,

I'd forget storing it at home, if I had this sailing center nearby:

www.usscmiami.org/

I'd get a dolly instead of a trailer, store the boat right near the racing venue. I think you'll end up using it more, and there will always be someone available to help you hump it onto the roof, when you want to sail elsewhere, or have to move it for hurricanes, or one of their big regattas.

Al Russell 182797
 
Also, if you wanted to keep it at home and if your garage is high enough, you could rig a hoist (there's a site where you can buy one, i don't have it at the moment) so that you can hoist it on/off your car.

A dolly is definitely a good idea, cause you can store the boat on it, put it in/out of water, and take it apart and throw it in your car when you're done.
 
computeroman2 said:
Also, if you wanted to keep it at home and if your garage is high enough, you could rig a hoist (there's a site where you can buy one, i don't have it at the moment) so that you can hoist it on/off your car.

It does not work too well with an automatic garage door opener though.
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After a little research (definately NOT a call to the local Miami Beach code enforcement!!!), I have seen that a whole lot of folks have boats on trailers in their property. I believe that people only have problems if someone--without anything better to do-- puts a complaint against them--people WILL do that, even if only to spice up their day....

I think I'll just take a chance and do that. Also, I have learned that all the boat ramps around here are free access (you can park all day with a trailer if you want). If I can figure a way to launch the boat (just like all the power-boat guys, I guess), I'll be able to log a lot of water time--problem solved!! I'm going to get a hitch put on my element tomorro. That way I'll have no excuse NOT to go out and pick up a boat.

Still off topic, I met with a sailmaker today who bought a vanguard franchise. I saw a Laser for the first time today!! look at me!! Under a rock!!!. He had a few which are 'charters' for the orange bowl regatta. He'll have some after the race for $4,200. He'll also have 15 for the christmas season for $4,895--new, of course. What to do.What to do.....

Thanks for your comments.......what was the question?? LOL
 
If you do get a trailer for it, based on my experience I would still recommend getting a dolly especially if you want to save the hull from the ravages of abrasive launching and are buying a new boat. At the Newport (RI)frostbiting I saw that Seitech is making a trailer that stows the dolly with the hull still on it; slick setup but I am suspect $$$. I fabricated a rig of my own so that I can trailer and launch the boat from the dolly single handed - it lets me go sailing solo easily. I am sure there are photos of other set ups on this forum. As others have said, there's usually someone around who can help you turn it over if you go the car topping route (that method seems to outnumber those trailering). I have seen some really good trailer set-ups where the hull was trailered upside down, had a sliding side tray setup that enabled one person to trailer it and launch it (again using a dolly). Plus you'll need a dolly when you go to any decent size (esp. 2-day) regatta because they often keep cars away from the boat launch/prep area. Good Luck
 
there are a couple ways to rig a cheap box trailer so that you can ride the seitech dolly right up to the edge, then pull/slide it right onto the trailer and clamp it down.

lots of people have some unique systems they use, but your results may vary :)
 
I have done exactly what WestCoast mentions above. Being a mechanical engineer I designed some brackets that fit onto a $199 special harbor freight trailer (doubles as an utiltiy trailer). Good cheap solution but not great for trailering long distances or on bumpy roads due to stiff springs.
 
I donated my force 5 to the local sea scouts. Then bought a new laser !!!!

Laser76489 said:
I have sailed both boats. I will not get into the differences between them...that has been covered to death. So simoly put if you wish to race the laser is the way to go...lots more activity.

The force 5 was a fun boat but I perfer a Laser
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