snipeguy said:I've just got back into Lasers after quite some time being focused on another class. I raced avidly as a teenager. I owned 12561 out of the box. I want to retrofit my current Laser 66*** and have no money. I couldn't finance a cheeseburger at the moment. I do have tons of bits of gear that I could cobble together to make a new syle boomvang, outhaul and downhaul setup. My question is would it be legal or do I have to buy the upgrade kits.
snipeguy said:If someone actually protests me I will gladly retire....from the race.
rock steady said:Just get out sailing. Legal or illegal, then refine your boat with time. Get your firends to help. If you have been out of the Laser for a while you will find that your boat handling will influence your speed more than any other factor. The upgrades will help you fine tune once you have stopped capsizing on runs and during gybes.
Merrily - The whole "Help Section" seems to have vanished since the last upgrade?
Merrily said:I'm putting on a regatta today (see Laserlips! announcement) but after that I'll ask him about it.
Merrily
computeroman2 said:I could come up with more if you gave me a couple more minutes, but the kits are so overwhelmingly better that they have a higher priority than a new sail on my list. Plus, there's a mental edge that you think you can do better.
rock steady said:The upgrades will help you fine tune once you have stopped capsizing on runs and during gybes.
Thanks for all the feedback. First of all, I'm not exactly a newbie. I went to the Ottawa Valley Masters in August and won my age category(masters) It blew like stink all weekend and I didn't go over once. Best finish was a third out of 34. Just to prove that I am indeed a Master, I forgot to put the plug in my boat for the first race. Doh!computeroman2 said:Speaking from experience, I would STRONGLY advise you to save your money for the upgrade KITS. My laser is a '76 with slightly-modified and legal rigging, and i can give 5 reasons right off the bat why you should get the kits as opposed to doing it yourself.
1. Vang-the difference between 16-1 and 3-1 is HUGE!
2. vang-the new cam-cleat on it makes it so you are now physically capable of adjusting the vang downwind, and it makes it easer in general
3. Outhaul-You can actually adjust the outhaul off the wind.
4. Cunningham-again, the power of purchase- the difference between 1-1 and 6-1 or 8-1 is huge. I have a 4-1 that i made with 3 thimbles, and without pulleys it doesn't do much.
5. everything is right in one place- right now, i have to reach to literally 5 (i just counted) different places to make all the adjustments I may need.