As you may remember, I stumbled upon one about a year ago. I could go someday to see if it's still there (it appeared to be very abandoned), this time with a cameraStill holding out for any info on the elusive Graffiti version!

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As you may remember, I stumbled upon one about a year ago. I could go someday to see if it's still there (it appeared to be very abandoned), this time with a cameraStill holding out for any info on the elusive Graffiti version!
Nice thread!!
Does anyone have pictures with the hull decals or other details of the savannah edition?
I have one (I think!?) number 158149 and the ancients said she´s a savannah edition.
Some decals are gone and I intend to make new ones, recovering the original savannah visual. And the only that I´ve found, so far, is that inside the cockpit in the begening of this post.
They made 12. I wonder who has them and where they are...
Shouldn't be as that's a post-1983 PSE boat. But it's on the IYRU sticker visible in the first picture.Is that sail number imprinted into the deck?
The 1996 sails didn't have a button, but I have a '99 sail that has it, so it was introduced at some time between those years.no ILCA button but with the 3.8 new numbers patch so pre 2001 I think ?
Not a worry at all. I’m not sure how they get the serial number plates onto the boats. It’s recessed into the transom so perhaps they’re a stamped plate that goes into the mould when they’re built ?Sorry, I misunderstood the word "imprinted", and didn't look closely enough at the last picture
The 1996 sails didn't have a button, but I have a '99 sail that has it, so it was introduced at some time between those years.
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Yes, and remember that "class events" include all sailing that counts as "racing". Contrary to what many think, there are no different rules for different levels of racing.I understand the sails need to have the class button and laser patch on them to be ‘race legal’ for class events now?
YES. Not that only the most high-end Laser regattas have anything that could be called "measurement", nor that passing that doesn't mean that your boat is actually completely legal (another common misunderstanding), but HEY, at leastWith the changes and updates to the class rule book I’ve been trying to make sure everything I buy or do to the boat is within the rules so that if I ever get to go to a regatta it’ll pass measurement.
I already bought a cleat for this but probably won't install it... I basically hike with legs fairly straight, with the strap close to my toes, so if I need a tighter position, I just move the strap to the ankles, or even hike with legs crossed.on the bright side, a camcleat now being allowed in the toestrap line for adjustment feels like it’ll make a real difference to getting the feel right on the water.
That all makes a lot of sense. The pre-button sail is the least crisp of them so would be for bad days at club level only. My main concern with legacy kit isn’t so much that it’s not class legal but that the measurement at regattas relies on the experience of the measurers. With the class getting on for 50 years old there’s got to be all sorts of stuff that was original at some point and thus legal but wouldn’t look quite right to someone who hadn’t been technically involved in the class for a long time ?Yes, and remember that "class events" include all sailing that counts as "racing". Contrary to what many think, there are no different rules for different levels of racing.
That said, sails from the "buttonless" era have never ceased to be legal. Fortunately it's rather easy to tell them apart from more recent fakes.
YES. Not that only the most high-end Laser regattas have anything that could be called "measurement", nor that passing that doesn't mean that your boat is actually completely legal (another common misunderstanding), but HEY, at leastsomeone has read the class rules! And it's the principle that counts
I already bought a cleat for this but probably won't install it... I basically hike with legs fairly straight, with the strap close to my toes, so if I need a tighter position, I just move the strap to the ankles, or even hike with legs crossed.
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Personally, I would be surprised if they sold many of them at all.
At £10,000, ten years ago, that is a huge premium on a full race spec Laser now, let alone then. I would imagine, if you wanted one like that, you could have got a vinyl wrap done much more cheaply than that!
And it is unlikely that either hull or sail would be class legal, so I don'tthink that a racer would have bought one. However, there is no accounting for taste and people's wallets, so it is possible that they sold them all.
The article here has a little more detail
Laser Sailboat - Marian Bantjes
Here are some more photos of the wrapping process. In the background, you can see another wrapped hull, so it looks as though at least 2 were made if not the full 12.
Quick question for the oracles on here.
I’ve got the Ben Ainslie Savannah laser posted on here. It’s got some fairly deep scratches on the hull and its showing its age (1996).
I’d be keen to understand if it’s possible for a boat repairer to preserve the limited edition graphics and refinish the hull and indeed if cosmetic refinishing/ maintenance is seen as permissible within the class rules (not trying to fair or finish the hull in a manner that removes mould imperfections or create a speed advantage through application of a finish. Just hate looking at a nice boat scratched to death).
Not sure how this would be achieved though. I’m guessing sanding the finish down till there’s just the deep stuff left and then fill it with a colour matched gelcoat and flat off/polish the whole thing to look factory fresh.
Sorry if this is in the wrong thread- just keen to understand if this is something generally done to refresh older boats for competition (within the class rules) and looking nice before I go bothering boat repairers for cost quotes etc.
Thanks,
John.
I used to own a black 1987 laser. Was this what the "black magic" laser was?There is one for sale at the moment which is 140xxx which would be what, late 80's sometime
"Black Magic" was PSE's (the European builder at the time) marketing name for their black boats from the late 1980s on. The spars were originally black, too. I don't think it was used by other builders, including the Canadian one who most likely built your boat.I used to own a black 1987 laser. Was this what the "black magic" laser was?
Makes sense, didn't come with black spars and it was indeed a ZID (Laser International) that was produced in Canada. Thank you for clearing that up!"Black Magic" was PSE's (the European builder at the time) marketing name for their black boats from the late 1980s on. The spars were originally black, too. I don't think it was used by other builders, including the Canadian one who most likely built your boat.
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Where did you find this being listed?Not sure if this one is covered yet or not. Laser Millennium spotted for sale.
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