Laser 2 Jib Tracks

UDMBert02

New Member
Hello,
I've been sailing my laser 2 for a couple years now, really enjoying every chance I get to sail. I like to race a little in mixed fleets around Michigan and wanted to put a few modifications to my 1981 Laser 2 sailboat.
1. I would like to add jib tracks. My boat didn't have them when I purchased it and when I am sailing in 15-20knots, the upper tell tales flap when the bottom ones are good and vice versa. I can't seem to find the ones most people have on the laser 2s. The harken parts, although I am sure they are good, seem a bit pricey for my boat too. I take care of her but she is only worth how much I really like her. Any advice on what the tracks are and where to find them/ something else that works well to change the clew position upwind would be really cool.
2. I don't have a spinnaker chute on the boat. I've been toying with making the on deck version but as I'm a trailer sailor, adding another thing to take on and off would not be ideal. A couple year ago there was some photos and examples of someone who put a diy chute in their laser 2. Does anyone know that article or where to find it. I've been looking in archives but have not been able to find it recently.
Thanks for your help and happy sailing (or for us up north people, dreaming of sailing soon).
 
1. This is what the class rules say:

The jib sheet fairlead and cleat may be replaced by an adjustable fairlead and cleat on a track maximum length 305mm (12”). The fairlead shall not contain any moving parts. The jib tracks and cleats must be positioned within the maximum and minimum dimensions shown on Measurement Diagram 1, providing the jib tracks do not overhang the cockpit.

Here's "Diagram 1":

rulesdiagram1.gif


The standard tracks/cars/cleats are Allen models that I don't think are made anymore. I'll look into this in more detail later today :)


2. I guess an in-cockpit spinnaker launcher would be possible. but instead of spending time and effort (and probably money, too) to design, build and test one, I'd just bag the sail. If your boat doesn't have a spinnaker bag (they have a strange tendency to vanish), here's the measurements of what I believe is an original one:

20220123_210921.jpg


20220126_125918.jpg


I'd add an extra flap or some other mechanism that prevents the sail falling out of the bag in case of a capsize.

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The standard tracks/cars/cleats are Allen models that I don't think are made anymore. I'll look into this in more detail later today :)
I was wrong! Allen still makes the A4274, albeit with newer style cleats. This is the best deal I found with a quick search: Allen 377mm Sliding Fairlead Track w/ Cam Cleat

You need to shorten the tracks by at least 72 mm, and you can take even more off, especially if you mount them fore-and-aft (which I think is definitely better).

_
 
Wow Thanks LaLi,
That's a wonderful find on the jib fairlead track.

I do already have a spinnaker bag and have been following your advice when they guy who was restoring his Laser 2 had one to dimension.
I also don't think my hand crafted version is to the right dimensions you suggested. My only thought was when I was sailing alone it's hard to move forward to get the spinnaker back in the bag and trim all the other sails at mark roundings.
For now I will adapt my bag closer to the dimensions you suggested.
Thanks again for your help!
 
... sailing alone it's hard to move forward to get the spinnaker back in the bag and trim all the other sails at mark roundings.
Sure. But the Laser 2 isn't a singlehander either :rolleyes:

I like to race a little in mixed fleets
The L2 class rules actually require a minimum crew of 2. (Fun fact: there's no maximum :D ) So whenever you're racing, even in a handicap fleet, you need to have someone else on board in addition to yourself.

(And now that I think of it, adding a self-designed spinnaker launcher would be outside the rules, too.)

_
 
i found a guy on etsy making them and ordered one. you definitely need to have someone up front for it. still have not tested it, was bust sunfishing most of last year and ooinly had the laser out a few days. hoping to split time a little more this year. thats what i get for telling everyone to get a sunfish to get them more into sailing. now finding crew is even harder. haha.

i hadnt thought of it until now but the chute deck part could be 3d printed too.

j
 

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