Interesting point. In fact, I have been wondering why the mast step (hole) was elliptical, rather than circular. You may have explained it for me...Hi. For secondhand spares try ebay, apolloduck.com or Maldon Sailboats
New- Rooster [including replica stuff ie cheaper but not class legal] and other mail order chandlers - Northampton Sailboats? or Maldon again.
By the way the mast step is the most ingenious bit of design on a laser. It lets the mast rake back when sailing upwind and forward downwind. Including mastbend the mast tip moves a substantial amount. This can sometimes be seen on a wide angle bow mounted camera. Other classes spend hundreds of £££s and endless string to achieve this, I know I also sail a Flying Dutchman.
There's also a UK based facebook group that has second hand dinghy bits n bobs http://www.facebook.com/groups/dinghies/Hi. For secondhand spares try ebay, apolloduck.com or Maldon Sailboats
New- Rooster [including replica stuff ie cheaper but not class legal] and other mail order chandlers - Northampton Sailboats? or Maldon again.
Design or lucky accident ?By the way the mast step is the most ingenious bit of design on a laser.
No, keep it like it is.
Well, if what one could call common knowledge on this forum is true, then the mast step tube/hull connection is a weak spot in North American -built Lasers of the 1970s. Being watertight is a good sign but not a guarantee. The thing is that if it fails, it does so catastrophically and destroys the deck, which means a lot more work than any preventative repair would have required. It's going to look fairly ugly, too, no matter how well it's done. I understand that the consensus here is that it's better to be safe than sorry, but those more experienced with this will likely give more detailed answers below.
Don't really know if there is a difference between Californian and Canadian hulls in this sense. I am much more familiar with the European (British/Irish/Swiss) -built boats, and the mast step doesn't seem to be a widespread problem with them. Or maybe the broken hulls have been just thrown away...I was wondering if you knew if one built by Don Trask in San Rafael Cal. in May of 1976...I have heard some years have been better than others as far as reputation in some makers of the Laser. Any personal insight appreciated.