Recent content by Old Dude

Encountered exact same thing in similar conditions while frostbiting this weekend. Using my vang off wind pre-set was wayyyyy to much vang off. New sail seems to need more vang down wind to avoid the vertical fold or pocket you described.

AlanD, That is all great in theory and accurate in sea-lawyering terms but is that really what is best for fleet growth at a grass roots level? I can understand your view at an elite level (Olympics, etc...) but not a grass roots level. The types of generic parts and sails that are allowed...

I don't know if I am part of a silent majority or minority, but I disagree. I am glad the new sail and spar is not released. I see it as nothing more than a way for the sail makers and builders to extract more money from sailors and make our sport more expensive. The changes will not make...

Are you guys saying its the class association's job to protect fools from themselves? I have to pay more for a sail and everything else from somebody the owns a monopoly, and we don't set a sail or boat spec and open it up to all manufacturers giving us lower prices and more access for more...

nicely said jotag. you nailed it. i am all for 99%, more manufacturers, lower prices, and increased access. but i am just a silly old dude

Alan makes a good point here and prior. I agree that the strength of the Laser class should come from club level sailors but it does not because they don't join the class association to the same extent that the top sailors do. I find it odd that so many here and in other forums have so much to...

I think you are technically correct Deadrock. But yet it gets done and the parts and sails are used with increasing frequency. Those using the gear are not shunned; it seems more likely that somebody protestingt the gear would be shunned at many clubs. Might that not tell us something about...

That's fair thoughI will say that bouncing ideas off folks be it in a forum or in the dinghy park over a beer are what leads to to those proposals... Did not intend to raise your blood pressure; just an exchange of views.

I respectfuly disagree. Neither you or I can know for sure why the class became strong in the first place. Personally, I suspect it has far less to do with SMOD and much more to do with an easy to rig boat, that was reasonably affordable, did not need crew, could be transported and maintained...

Emilio - Well done. You document a 136% mark-up for the TM parts that have no measurable differnce on performance. If you added in the sails, masts, and blades it becomes closer to a 300% mark-up (or even 500% depending o the market/region). And clearly many club fleets do not consider the...

Yea, I am kinda in agreement with Jeffers on the second line. Not so sure this helps, as opposed to hurts, the typical club level race. On the first part maybe we are just thinking about different levels of sailors but be it Opti, Snipes, 420s, etc... it just seems like paths other than SMOD...

I hear you but a benefit of having sailed in a number of different classes is that you see the pros and cons of different structures. For the average club racer there are OD classes you can think of I am sure that use a structure different than Laser and similar to what I have described, and it...

Well said and likely true at many levels. With the response and counter-claims now out I can't help but think if even half of what both sides are claiming is true we would be so much better with out all of them. In an ideal world the class would control the trademark (and oddly Kirby might...

The Old Dude is not so sure Torrid. They keep pushing this Torch in our faces and I wonder if its real or just a negotiation ploy. If it is real why will nobody tell us who is making and selling them in the US and Europe? How much it costs? Why can't I buy one? And while it may be their...

I would be less concerned about the Laser I own because there is an existing functioning class and regattas. I would even not hesitate to buy a new Laser for the same reason. Its covered under class rules. I undeerstand that people will come up with wild theories that under some set of...