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  1. M

    Laser Clew Sleeve at APS

    No, it won't eliminate the need for the bungee unless the sleeve slides very smoothly on your boom. I use one on my boat and I like it. It does require lube and the bungee is need to allow the foot to loosen if the sleeve isn't sliding smoothly. It boils down to personal preference. I'm...
  2. M

    Novice Perceptions of Sailing Lasers

    All, I'm a novice Laser sailor. I, probably foolishly, opted to jump in with both feet in getting used to my Laser by frostibiting it. The first time I took the boat out was in November and here I am racing it in the dead of winter. Fortunately Maryland winters are somewhat milder than Maine...
  3. M

    Anthony Bourdain sails the Devil Laser

    Here's the video. Start 2:18 in for the segment. Shot of him righting the boat. Matt
  4. M

    Anthony Bourdain sails the Devil Laser

    All, My wife called me into the bedroom to watch a segment with Anthony Bourdain. He was in Maine sampling some local cuisine and was inviting to engage in some Maine frostbiting. I don't know the club he was sailing with but they had several low number classic Lasers. One was sail number...
  5. M

    soft hull

    No one has told me to cut up my old '73 Laser. Yes, it has a crack on the aft deck that has been somewhat poorly repaired. Yes, I have repaired the mast step and it no longer leaks. Yes, I dropped it off the roof of my truck onto its dolly and opened up a four inch gash in the bow that...
  6. M

    Newbie Questions

    If the bung leaks a lot, considering rebedding it with new sealant. Not a lot of water should be coming in from there. As to sail numbers, do any of the numbers match? The last 4 digits at a minimum should match the hull number after the builder code. It is possible you have a class sail...
  7. M

    Dry Suit Advice

    I bought the Henri Lloyd TP1. The Gill wasn't offering anything different in terms of fit or feel that the TP1 didn't. I consider them about equal based on material and feel. Initial impressions: Fit is good. I'm 6'1" and 200lbs. I found the suit comfortable and it didn't bunch up. The...
  8. M

    Dry Suit Advice

    Not meaning to keep anyone in suspense. I'm going to APS this weekend to try on and select a suit. Cost is the primary driver. As much as I like the Musto I'm not sure I can justify the price tag. So I am going to be comparing the Gill and Henri Lloyd. Whichever I feel more comfortable in...
  9. M

    Dry Suit Advice

    Thanks for all the responses! I think I am agonizing more than I should be. I'm going to go to APS this week with my thermal underlayers and dinghy boots and try on the dry suits and see which fits best. With frostbiting starting in a month, I'd like to get some time on the water in the gear...
  10. M

    Dry Suit Advice

    Hi all, I'm looking forward to frostbiting my old Laser with the sailing club this winter. I decided that why wait until Spring to learn the ins-and-outs of racing. Better to jump in with both feet into ice cold water! With that in mind... I have this real aversion to hypothermia and...
  11. M

    Howdy Howdy...

    Perhaps. I consider a 29 year old boat a classic just like a car. What do you think? I would argue a Laser could be argued as being classic when every other sail number in your local fleet has six digits and the lowest is in the 130,000 range. That short sail number does stand out a little...
  12. M

    Howdy Howdy...

    Raymond, How about an extra-long drill bit from Sears? They sell ones that are 24 to 48 inches long. An auger or general purpose bit will allow you to drill out holes and essentially grind away the excess epoxy. Measure depth beforehand and mark the bit with tape for the maximum depth into...
  13. M

    Howdy Howdy...

    Nice to see another person looking to keep a classic Laser alive. Mine's a '73 that is almost as old as I am. Try to avoid having to do full step repair by cutting away the deck and installing a new tube if you can manage it. If you can find a way to grind down the epoxy ball in place and...
  14. M

    Laser Winter Storage

    Lasers can be safely stored on their gunwhales. Rather than build bunks, just tip it onto its side and lean it up against a fence, house, shed, etc. That way the decks won't be bearing unusually loads and the snow will roll off the mostly upturned hull. That is how my Laser is presently being...
  15. M

    Why did you choose sailing over a Powerboat?

    Why did I buy a sailboat over a powerboat? Cost is one reason. While both require upkeep, a sailboat is easier on the wallet on a daily basis than a powerboat. Foot-for-foot, I think you get more value in a sailboat and a sailboat for a given length tends to be cheaper than a equivalent...
  16. M

    Older Laser Questions

    Eric: Thanks. That clears up the blade issue. sail2484: I have no issue with my wood daggerboard. It's straight and smooth. But I did change out the shock cord and brake setup. I have the new brake assembly in place of the old "W" rubber brake and my shock cord is the APS downhaul kit...
  17. M

    Older Laser Questions

    All I can offer is an amateur's perspective since I am in the same boat so to speak. I don't believe the new GRP blades are compatible with the older hulls. I've read the blade sizes are different. I may be wrong on that though. As to upgrades, how much do you want to spend? :) I picked up...
  18. M

    New centerboard brake

    I have one sitting in front of me. According to the instructions you don't need to drill new holes. Just use the supplied screw in place of the old ones. Matt
  19. M

    Inspection Port Questions

    Tighten down partially until the silicone starts to squeeze out the edges. Then let the silicone cure, tighten all the way down and trim the excess. Helpful reference: http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/39.htm Matt
  20. M

    Inspection Port Questions

    For plastic inspection ports, silicone or silicone/polyurethane hybirds depending on if you want an adhesive or not. The latter is an adhesive. Don't use epoxy or polyurethane (5200) as you'll never get the ports off again. Do not use 4200/polysulfide. It will attack the plastic. I'm in the...

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