Laser 2 or something else

[giwy1]

Hi All,

I have been sailing for about 6 months but only on a lake, I have now moved and my nearest club is on the sea so this is a new challenge for me. Also my old club use to hire out boats but this club doesn't so i am looking to buy my first boat. I would like the option to sail single handed and the option to take a friend or sibling out. However I am 19st and my son for instance is about 16st and 6ft 4, this is probably the most extreme if I went out with a crew.

I am looking at buying a Laser2 after doing a bit of research, I'm not wanting to race just have a good time on the water and cruise around a bit.

What are peoples views?
What other boats would be recommended?

I have read that the Laser2 turtles really easy and I know where my new club is it's a bit muddy, so if I am out on my own and the boat turtles what are the likelihoods of it getting stuck in the mud and if so what are the likelihood of me being able to free it and righting the boat and if all else fails what are my options.

I would always sail fairly close to the shoreline if I'm out on my own, until such times that I feel that I have the skills and confidence to go out further. The club is at the mouth of an estuary.

Any advise on any of the above would be really helpful.

Please keep in mind my size and lack of experience.

 

[gregcope]

Laser2 is quite old and could be hard to shift if you change your mind.

If afraid of going over you can get Mast floats to prevent it going turtle.

Have you considered something less sporty, like a Wayfarer? May suit yourself+son better size wise (bigger/more room, more stable)

 

[Iain C]

Laser 2 is very much a "sit on" kinda boat rather than "sit in". I'm more of a dinghy racer than a cruiser, however I also think you could probably get something a bit better than a Laser 2. Tell us your budget.

Can I advise whatever you do, do not fit a mast float if singlehanding. Trust me, if the wind suddenly pipes up and you tip it in, you would much rather have the mild inconvenience of righting from turtle, as opposed to the disastrous situation of a boat being blown downwind on it's side faster than you can swim. With your size, there are very few boats that you would not easily be able to right singlehanded with the correct technique and a bit of patience.

 

[capetown]

A Wayfarer could well be the boat for you.
Can be an issue on a steep slip but you can manage with chocks & block & tackle or a long rope & the car.
A foam triangle can be inserted into a pocket sewn onto the main peak.
I've heard of some being fitted with a metal centre plate.
Have a word with the class association, they're a friendly bunch with unlimited knowledge.
The "Apollo Duck" site have many for sale as do the C/A

 

[michael_w]

You will be far too heavy for a Laser 2. What boats do they sail at your new club?

 

[jwilson]

You will be far too heavy for a Laser 2. What boats do they sail at your new club?

Agreed - Laser II was designed for large children/fit and not too big teenagers. I was lumbered with a couple as sailing school boats when a previous principal bought them, but disliked them in general as training boats for beginners/improvers, mainly because of their preference for inverting on every capsize. I used to quite enjoy singlehanding one (at 5'7" and slightly tubby) on a breezy day but at your size and weight you'd struggle to sail two up with your son - they are just too small.

 

[Skylark]

The Wayfarer seems a good choice. I also like the Laser 16 but I don't think that there are many around. There are a lot of newer, more up to date dinghies around 16ft that look like fun but I guess that they are a lot more expensive.

Laser 2 is a bad choice!

Good luck in your search, please do let us know what you find. Welcome to the forum and I hope you enjoy your new boat!

 

[Gin]

Hi All,

I am 19st and my son for instance is about 16st and 6ft 4, this is probably the most extreme if I went out with a crew.
Please keep in mind my size and lack of experience.

Given the two elements of weight/inexperience and wanting a boat less likely to capsize you could do a lot worse than find a good used YW Dayboat- a 14ft dinghy, originally clinker built and evolved to a grp clinker style- they were modelled on a Bristol Channel cutter I believe, and a very capable sea boat; I learned to sail in one such on the tidal Thames in a fairly hairy commercial anchorage where lighters and other commercials were rafted up, sometimes 6 deep, (one did not want to capsize uptide of such dangers). The dinghy has a very heavy galvanised centreplate, it can be used for camping,class racing(as we did), is very stable and forgiving and extremely difficult to capsize; actually it was a real struggle trying to haul it down on its side to practice capsize drill.

 

[Quandary]

The Wayfarer seems a good choice. I also like the Laser 16 but I don't think that there are many around. There are a lot of newer, more up to date dinghies around 16ft that look like fun but I guess that they are a lot more expensive.

Laser 2 is a bad choice!

Good luck in your search, please do let us know what you find. Welcome to the forum and I hope you enjoy your new boat!

They used to race laser 16s up at Ardfern, they are big heavy stable boats but really hard work to launch and recover, most were kept afloat. I had a laser 13, another very similar cruising dinghy also stable and very sturdy but easy to launch and also, like the 16, with a roller furling jib and a 2 piece mast. They have flotation foam in the top panel of the mainsail. There are few about and they usually sell for just under £2k. I used mine for teaching, it could carry up to 4 adults but still be sailed by one beginner. The Laser cruising club used to list those for sale.

PS There is a really nice looking one for sale on Apollo Duck (in Winchester) asking £1650 inc. trailer, but you will always get your money back when you sell.

 

[rwoofer]

Consider an Albacore as well. Lighter and faster than a Wayfarer. Can take the weight of both of you and you can singlehand it (I single hand mine at 15 1/2 stone). Able to cruise as well as race.

 

[Skylark]

I had a laser 13, another very similar cruising dinghy also stable and very sturdy but easy to launch and also, like the 16, with a roller furling jib and a 2 piece mast.

My first dinghy! I had sail number 248 (iirc). I was a lousy dinghy sailor (some would say I've carried over my skills to cruisers) and spent most Sunday evenings scrubbing the sail in the bath at home to remove liquefied coal dust. What an awful sailing pit that was. Great memories, though!

 

[lw395]

I would think either a Laser 2, or a Laser 13, carrying 35 stone, would be guaranteed to put people off sailing dinghies?

If the OP is serious about sailing together, I would not look at anything smaller than an Albacore.
It would pay to consider whether a spinnaker is wanted or not.
Asymmetrics are easy to use and add a lot to crewing IMHO.

 

[DaveRo]

Asymmetrics are easy to use and add a lot to crewing IMHO.

My son had an L2 which he sailed with a friend (I still have half the boom). Definitely a young man's boat. My wife and I had a Wanderer. Both had symmetric spinnakers, but at Sunsail clubs I sailed various asymmetrics, and I would definitely recommend one. The Topper Buzz was fun - OK for two adults.

But that was 15 years ago - don't RS make something suitable?

 

[flaming]

I would think either a Laser 2, or a Laser 13, carrying 35 stone, would be guaranteed to put people off sailing dinghies?

We had L2s at uni for team racing. Hateful boats, and totally unsuitable for the sort of size people we're talking about.

For someone 6 months into sailing getting a 1st boat I'd go safe, stable and with a good resale potential - as you'll probably want to trade up for something else after a year or two.

Though as to what that is I'm not too sure, it's been a while since I had any interest in dinghies.

 

[DJE]

Laser Stratos or RS Vision I would of thought more suitable for two big lads.

 

[Jungle Jim]

Laser Stratos or RS Vision I would of thought more suitable for two big lads.

You beat me to it.

Highly recommend a Laser Stratos. They are like a big wayfarer but imho more stable and much more comfortable. I'm 6 feet and 18 stone and it can take two my size in loads of comfort, up to 4 without too much drama. I sail in tidal waters and it's great. Get a masthead float, I've been in a few times and it's heavy enough not to disappear downwind. The float is important in muddy areas, DO NOT invert it in the mud (don't ask how I know).

Available now for 1800 quid (no connection):

http://sailingdinghies.apolloduck.co.uk/display.phtml?aid=432349

It is heavy though, so launching on a steep slipway will challenge two of you, although me and my (lighter-build) femail sailing partner generally manage.

 

[dragonvc]

Boats I have seen successfully sailed by the larger helm ,best of all the Albacore,wayfarer,a 505 not as a race boat but the 35+ stone crew enjoy the sailing dragging huge quarter wave in fresh conditions.I have not seen large crews in a Kestrel but should work at modest cost for a secondhand starter boat,also as said Laser Stratos and possibly Comet Trio .One certainty is that Laser 2 or 3000 will not fill the requirement.